US Botanical Garden

We took an early quick trip down to the Capitol this morning to see the trains at the Botanical Garden. We did this last year as well and it was just as thrilling this time around. They added a 25 foot suspension bridge to the outside display this year and a new biomass of train tunnels and road. Basically, the whole outdoor train display is made of natural stuff. Twigs, sticks, evergreens, etc. Hard to explain so take a look for yourself here, very cool. We also played with the boys new remote control cars on the Capitol lawn. Thank you Aunt Rachel.

Not much going on this weekend but we are trying to get the boys out as much as possible. Sam wants to run around but is pretty limited with what he can do right now. He did fall down the steps yesterday as he tried to hop downstairs instead of sliding on his butt like we told him to. He has a shiner but it could have been much worse.

Here's a link to the pictures from our trip to Minnesota.

Take a Ride

Another sledding video. This time it's me and Dylan heading down the hill. Turn up the volume, the giggling isn't me.

Safety First

Safety First
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We made it to the plane in time this morning in spite of more snow. It never stops here. The boys are reading up on the proper safety proedures before takeoff.

Sleding Accident

Since we got another couple inches of snow today we went sleding down at a small park down the street. It was a much smaller hill than yesterdays outing at Orono Golf Course but made it much more manageable to bring Sam back up to the top. The video is of Sam coming down the hill and finding a piece of playground equipment. Everyone is ok and they totally enjoyed themselves.

You can also check out some video of the boys and their cousins sitting by the fire last night on my sister's blog. http://carpcake.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-2007.html It's kid madness.

Merry Christmas

It's snowing again here in Minnesota. We expecting another couple inches of white stuff by the end of the day. It's nice to just be sitting around doing a lot of nothing before our travel day tomorrow. Maybe some more sleding will be in store in a while, tugging Sam up the hill is a good workout

Waiting on Santa

He may be too tired to show up. Long day of taking Sam back to the clinic for a sinus infection, seeing Sweeney Todd with my brother and Dan, sleding at the Orono Golf Course (hauling Sam up a really long and steep hill) then dinner and presents. Time for bed. I'm sure Santa will be able to deposit presents in stockings and under the tree before we pass out.

Santa Clause is Comin to Town

We had Santa all to our selfselves at Main Street Grill in Hopkins last night. We all went out to a kid friendly restaurant and it was empty due to the 4 inches of snow and 30 mph winds making it nearly a blizzard. I ended up watching the Vikings make fools or themselves with Dan Abts later at another bar. It was good to catch up with him but it was not a fun game to watch. We have a good foot or so of snow on the ground here in Minnesota and a very white christmas in store.

Blue Toe

Blue Toe
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

So I'm in an urgent care center with Nicole getting her baby toe x-rayed. I didn't go into the x-ray room this time, figure I've had enough radiation for a while with all of Sams pictures. Nicole fell down the stairs holding Sam yesterday morning. My parents house, it was dark, didn't turn the lights on, we've all done it. She's basically ok but she seems to have broken her baby toe. That smarts. Our insurance company is going to love us this month. I'm going to be sure to look both ways before crossing the street.

Big Bad Wolf

We took in a production of Little Red Riding Hood today at the old log theater in Deephaven. Nice little joint I used to go to when I was a kid. The show was alright and the boys loved it. Plenty of snow around here which is just what the doctor ordered for this Christmas. Sam has a little wheel chair that Grandma and Grandpa picked up for him to use and he is getting pretty good with it. He can wheel around he house all by himself and is able to get up into it from the floor. He has also mastered hopping around on one foot to get from place to place. He's looking good and in good spirits which has to be a good sign.

White Christmas Afterall

Nicole, Sam and I spent 7 hours at Washington Hospital Center and the Cancer Institute. It was a long day but we were bouyed (sp?, hey I'm writing this on a blackberry) by the orthopedic oncologists theory that Sams problem may be a broken bone after all. I think the additional image (CAT scan), blood work and cast will help us figure out what this is without surgery and a biopsy. We don't want to cut him open if we don't need to.

Because we got all the tests in yesterday we were able to make our plane to MN at 6:40 this morning. The boys were really looking forward to making the trip, seeing the cousins and getting some snow time. Its going to be tough hauling Sam up the sleding hills with his cast on but worth it. He's been a real trooper through all this and seems to understand its necessary to get him better.

Nicole and I really appreciate all the thoughtful comments on the blog as well as the emails and phone calls. I think all your positive vibes are making a difference. We are hoping our latest opinion is on the money but are having all the information double and triple checked with prominent physicians across the country thanks to Linda and Gil.

We probably won't get any new information until after Christmas so this blog will revert back to my typical nonsence posts at least for the next 5 or 6 days.

Btw, Dylan is doing well and very concerned about his brother. He was very upset last night when we were gone for so long, as was blanca. Today he broke down a little because Sam had to be patted down in the TSA because of his wheel chair and cast. Sam was deemed harmless and we are on the plane preparing to land.

Cat Scan

Cat Scan
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

We are on our way to a non sleepy cat scan. Since is leg is in a cast we are just going to try straping him down and getting the pictures. The lab closes at 6 and we are going to try to get the blood drawn today too. If it all works out, we can head to minnesota for christmas.

Casting Call

Casting Call
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Some more good news and a different theory from the orthopedic oncologist. They took more flat xrays today and think sam may have an occult fractrue or a non visible break. Basically, the lesion they are seeing may be new bone. It means he will need more blood work (sam doesn't like needles) to look for specific tumor markers and a CT scan that may mean more anthesia but the whole thing is moving in a better direction now.

He doesn't seem to mind the cast but its not quite dry yet. Not out of the woods yet but not but a better option than some of the previous opinions.

I Have Something to Tell You

That's what Sam said yesterday right before he fell asleep from the anaesthetic being administered before his hour and a half MRI. He woke up pretty groggy but was back to himself in a couple hours.

The bad news is that the MRI confirmed the Bone Scan results showing some sort of a lesion on or in his left tibia. Needless to say, it's not suppose to be there and we are on the path to getting it looked at and biopsied by an Orthopedic Oncologist. This all started with a simple limp and a complaint of pain by Sam. We were hoping that it was growing pains or even a fracture since he does play rough with his brother but after the x-ray, bone scan and MRI it appears to be something more complicated.

Whether it's an infection, or a tumor of some sort he's in for a bunch more time in hospitals and around doctors. Nicole and I are fairly freaked out about the whole thing and Sam and Dylan know that something is not quite right. We are all doing fine and have great support from friends and family.

I wasn't sure I could write about this and it has been kind of hard. We don't know everything yet but we are hoping for the best and have people looking for solutions on both coasts. I guess I will try to keep this blog updated with what we know when I have the energy to write. Maybe writing about this experience will be thereputic for me and provide interested readers with some useful information. That might be good.

Keep you fingers crossed for Sammy.

Jewish Stocking

Yes, we finally got Nicole a stocking to hang with the rest of the socks over the fireplace for Santa to stash some booty. It took a few years but Sam, Nicole and I went shopping between tests at the hospital on Friday and Sam picked this "super hot" stocking out for Nicole. In case your confused, it's the one on the upper right that's all red and shiny, just like Nicole. We mostly burned a lot of firewood this weekend between holiday parties and work events for me. This week should be interesting and hopefully good. More soon....

AIA Inaugural

AIA Inaugural
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Here at the annual black tie event to celebrate our next president, Marshall Purnell. We are in the brand new courtyard of the National Portrait Museum. Beautiful space with a very modern glass roof on a 175 year old building.

Hospitals

Hospitals
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

I really don't like the cafeterias because they remind me of many stressful meals when the boys were in the nicu and when my brother was in a coma. We started our day at the hospital with some breakfast in the fairfax inova hospital before sam got his bone scan to help us figure out this mysterious leg pain. He got a nuclear isotope injection, which he said, "this isn't good" and they scanned him for a while then we had to leave for two hours and we are back now for the bigger scan. I think we will all be happy to get out of here.

The Eight Night

With presents for every one of them. I'm not sure they will survive the couple weeks till Christmas and more presents. I'm sure they'll manage one way or the other.

More Lights

I added some lights to the side door this weekend to appease the commenter in the last post. It's not a lot but gives the door a festive feel. Nicole and I went to a co-workers party last night and had a nice time. Our new baby sitter worked out really well and we are hoping she'll be back to sit again. More skating lessons today and a lot of laying around because it was kind of blah outside. More and colorful lights help take the blah away.

First Snow

We got our first snow today with about three slushy inches falling over most of the day. Nothing too serious but enough to mess up traffic a bit and send people scambling to the stores for toilet paper. It doesn't take much around here to get people to buy toilet paper. Anyway, the boys opened another hanukkah gift tonight and we built a fire to keep warm. They have both been rather sick the last few days and Sam missed school today because of it. I went out into the yard and took this picture of my lit up holly bush with the Christmas tree in the background. I'm thinking of adding some additional outdoor lights this weekend. The dark nights with the silence of snow falling is getting me in the mood to decorate. It may pass.....

Happy Hanukkah

The beginning of eight crazy nights. The boys do like lighting their home made menorahs. They also got to open Grandma's and Grandpa's special New York Subway car presents. They liked those.

Christmas Tree

It's a little blurry but you get the picture. We put up a Christmas Tree on Sunday before skating lessons and Ben's birthday party. The boys got into the whole hanging of ornaments thing this year. In fact, too into it and we had to stop them because we buy a mid-size tree to begin with. Hanukkah starts tomorrow, the holidays keep on rolling in.

Alexandria Parade of Lights

We missed the Scottish Walk this year because of a birthday party but we made it into old town for the annual parade of lights. We went down before sunset and had dinner at Overwood then walked back and watch a bunch of the boats sailing by with all sorts of lights attached. This is us trying to do a family shot pre-dinner. The boys weren't being all that cooperative. They were pretty good at dinner and they enjoyed the boats all lit up. More skating tomorrow then another birthday party. December goes so fast, I know it's only the 1st but we have things going on every day this month and it will be February before I know it.

Mike Lee

Mike Lee
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Ran into Mike Lee at the chop tonight. This is him and Nicole in a mike lee type pose. Mike blogs a lot and has many face shots with different people. He is actually the reason I started this blog, I'm glad I did.

Portrait Gallery

Portrait Gallery
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Had a nice couple happy hours last night with the local cec folks and some of the jacks I used to work with. This is the newly reopened east entrance to the national portrait gallery. Walked by it on the way home last night.

Thanksgiving Pictures



I uploaded a load of pictures to flickr from our 6 days in New York along with the above video clip. We did a ton of stuff including a trip to the MET, a ride on the Statin Island Ferry, a visit to Grand Central Station, shopping in Soho, a ride on a carousel in Bryant Park and of course the fantastic house seats Adam got us all to Mary Poppins. Pictures of all these things are in the photo collection along with some other random shots of Washington Square Park and Broadway holiday lights.

This week has been back to work and other home chores. We hope to do the parade of lights in Old Town this weekend while fitting in to 5 year's birthday parties. Ahhh, the holidays.

Handsome Boys

The boys loved their handsome jackets they worn to Mary Poppins on Wednesday. They wore them again for Adam's party on Friday too. Today was rather low key, we took them to a skating lesson, Nicole and I skated as well. Tomorrow, back to work.

Looking up Broadway

It's been a jam packed couple days with a big group for Thankgiving dinner and a bigger group for a party last night. I've been eating way too much and still feel stuffed this morning. Thursday's warm weather turned into blustery cold on Friday. We took the boys up to Grand Central to see some model trains and then over to Bryant Park to watch some skating and take a ride on the Carousel. Nicole and Grandma did some shopping along the way. We then took a bus, yes a bus because Dylan was begging to take a bus down to Soho for lunch and a little shopping for me. We packing up now and should be on the road in a couple hours. It will be nice to get home and chill for a bit.

Lady Liberty

Seen from the Staten Island Ferry. Really the best bargin in New York. It's a free ride past the this and Ellis Island with great views of lower Manhatten to boot. The boys liked it quite a bit but jumped out of their skin when the boat blew it's horn when it left South Ferry. Lots of cooking still going on and I'm getting a little hungry.

40 Bond Street

40 Bond Street
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

A new funky building in noho. The sun is out and no one is on the street this thanksgiving morning. I'm at the gym getting a little sweat in before I eat like a pig. Nicole, adam and grandma have been cooking up a storm for a couple days now. Grandpa has been washing dishes and have mostly been on boy duty, oh yeah and I rearranged and put away a ton of wine in the wine room. Good responsibilities in my book.

Oppenheimer at the Mecury lounge

Oppenheimer at the Mecury lounge
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

This is the band I saw in soho in August and they still rock. Nicole and I are enjoying.

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Waiting for the show to start. Rode the Staten Island ferry this morning and then we were off to the matinee.

Hangin with the Mummys

We made it down to the MET today to seemummies and some arms and armour. Not much more for the youngsters there but we wanted to give it a shot. On the way home we stopped off at FAQ Schwartz on 5th Avenue for some toy shopping and quawking at really big stuffed aninmals. Tonight it was pizza and the start of some major cooking. We are seeing Mary Poppins tomorrow and then home for more cooking I suppose. I'm going to steal away tomorrow night to see Oppenheimer at the Mercury Lounge in Soho at 10pm. Those guys rock.

Bleecker Street Window


Bleeker Street Window
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Good dinner and a little window shopping in the village.

Mr.Dennehy's

Mr.Dennehy's
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Made it to nyc in reasonable time. Got into town at 4 and got ourselves situated and are having a pint of Harp and waiting for dinner. Its a dark picture but that's dylan and gil.

School Pictures are Here

We got the school pictures yesterday during our first Parent\Teacher conference at the new school. Both boys are doing great and are turning out to be class leaders. Yesterday was the last day of work for 10 days are we are off all week for Thanksgiving. It will be a nice break.

One Laptop Per Child

The Nick Negroponte OLPC project is off and running and you can now order your own $100 laptop that actually turned out to be about $200 but it was close. For the next couple weeks you can pay $400 to get one and send one to a child is a developing nation. You get to write off half the price on your taxes and you will also get a one year subscription to t-mobile's wireless service found in many hotels and starbucks all over the world. I ordered mine on Monday morning. It's not a replacement for a full featured computer but it is designed more for children and the boys will love it.

I saw a couple prototypes of the laptop a couple years ago. Mike Lee and I discussed it with Nick at SFO waiting for a flight to Monterray where Nick talked about the project at TED 2006 and Nick brought a model of the laptop to AARP for a discussion shortly after TED in 06. Mike has continued the MIT and OLPC relationship since I left AARP and has blogged about the development. He was a serious alpha tester.

Check out all the details and buy one here. http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php

It's a good cause.

Old Dave

Old Dave
Originally uploaded by homerclees.

Wacky dave is 52 today and doesn't look a day oer 51. He's off to Springsteen tonight, I'm heading home in a few.

Scooter Boys

Here's the video I was referring to below.

Razor Boys

It has been a pretty mellow weekend considering the last few. We opened up Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter's birthday presents and took them out for a few rides on Saturday and Sunday. The boys are already scooting along pretty well and love them. Dylan choose the purple one and Sam the green. We watched Ratatouie and ET with the boys on Friday and Saturday and watched Sicko after they went to bed. All in all, ET is still the best movie. I'm going to try to post some video of the Razor fun later if I get a chance.