We're still here...just trying to keep our heads above water!

Sorry it has been so long since I posted last. We've been ill and we've been busy.

Seems that the stomach bug made its way through the Chapman household. A week ago Friday (2/8), Rob stayed home to take care of me, Lily, and Ella - all of whom were throwing up! Then, by Friday afternoon, just as I was starting to feel a bit better, Rob started throwing up! Somehow, Rachel seemed to miss out on the "action", but she decided to get sick all on her own this past weekend...she's had a fever of 102 degrees since Saturday; when I took her to the doctor today, we found out that she has the flu (despite having had a flu shot!) So, she is spending her days off from school (today and tomorrow) sick...Rob already informed her this was NOT the way to make the best use of her days off from school...she is supposed to get sick when she can miss school. :) Chalk it up to being a Kindergartener...she hasn't learned these "rules" yet.

This has also been a difficult week with my dad. Last Tuesday, he and my mom came up for his appointment and bi-weekly treatment at Duke. We were told that even if he can improve a little (he's been quite weak since having pneumonia) and continue treatment, we can expect to only have a couple more months with him. Any setback or stopping treatment will cut that time short. On Friday, he was back in the hospital. We found out that he has bleeding in his esophagus - probably from the combination of chemo and his history of acid reflux. Since being hospitalized, his chemo has been stopped, and will not be resumed until his next appt. at Duke next week to reassess if we should even restart it. This is just the kind of setback we were warned about, and can now plan on having even less time with him. My heart is very heavy, but it has been such an encouragement to have such loving friends care for and support us and pray for us during this time. I am so incredibly blessed!!

So, that's what we've been up to.

No real "news" about the girls, but I'll try to think of something to share...

Rachel - she LOVES to read and keep a reading log to be turned in at school every month. When she turned in her log the other week, she had read 611 minutes for the month!! We are hoping this earns her the "top" spot (and prize) for the entire Kindergarten class.

Lily - We enrolled her in preschool - to start in Sept. She'll go to Rachel's old preschool, which she used to point out every time we passed it. Now, she says with excitement, when we pass..."That's MY preschool!!! I go when I'm 3!!" Lily has also been singing sounds she's learned from Sunday School (from her favorite teacher "Miss Sally")...she goes aroudn singing "bwessed Je-us, bwessed Je-us...." She does it when she thinks no one is watching. Too cute!!

Ella - she FINALLY started sleeping through the night at 6.5 months old (the latest of our girls)!! But, that only lasted about 10 days, when she started waking up in pain from teething. She now has one tooth, and another trying to push its way out. This is a new experience for me...nursing a teething child. Rachel and Lily didn't get teeth until they were 11 and 12 months, respectively.

Love and blessings to you all, my dear friends!!