Looking for the Deep End...

WALK ON THE LEFT!!

2011-06-27T22:44:00.003-04:00

How lucky is it that I have a blog to go to when I have a rant to share with the world?!?! How lucky are you that you decided to check it out and read my babbling rant?!?! Yes. We are LUCKY!

You know who else is lucky? The plethora of individuals that do not know the rules of the bike path. Hey...you...the dude walking on the right...in front of me...with your back to me...I'm talking to YOU!! This rant is for you. I'm here to inform and educate. No need to thank me. I'm happy to help.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, inexperienced or even slightly curious, here are a few things to keep in mind if you venture out to a bike path for a bit of fresh air. For those of you who really couldn't care less...if you fail to read this and are walking on the right in front of me...I reserve the right to run you over!!

1) If you are a pedestrian (walking, skipping, hopping, running or standing) you should be on the LEFT side of the bike path. I realize that this is contrary to our conditioning here in the US to stay right, but learn it, live it, love it! Why, you may ask, should you walk on the left? It's a safety issue. A bicyclist can be riding anywhere from 10-35 MPH. An unexpected stop is not a pretty thing for a cyclist like me! I'm clipped into my pedals, so any sudden stop will likely end with me on the ground with my bike on top of me. Entertaining to watch, I'm sure, but not overly comfortable.

If you walk on the right, that lightening fast bicyclist approaches from behind you...where you don't have eyes...thus cannot see them coming. This means the cyclist has to anticipate where you may move, pick a path, and hope that you don't make any sudden moves as they pass you...moves that may force them to swerve, or stop...and in my case, most likely fall. If you're WALKING ON THE LEFT you see them coming! They are still going to move to avoid/go around you, but it's more like a team effort. You see them, they see you, and if something unexpected happens, you can take evasive action much easier than the bike.

For those of you with difficulty remembering such complicated rules, there are convenient reminders to help boost your memory. There are the pretty pictures painted on the path at every entrance (a walker on the left, a bike on the right), a nice dotted yellow line to help you tell which side you're on, instructions posted on signs at the path entrances...and SIGNS every 1/4 of a mile along the path that say "Walkers Keep Left Facing Bicyclists".

Incidentally, this is the same rule for running or walking on the side of any road. Stay to the left, left, left!!

2) If you are walking a dog, keep them a) on a leash (yes...there was a dude walking a dog without a leash on the bike path tonight...moron!!); and b) on the outside of the path. I take some little bit of comfort in the fact that when your dog decides to give in to it's natural instincts and chase the person on two wheels, perhaps getting tangled in the spokes or getting a grip on an appendage, that said K-9 will have to cross in front of you first.

3) Consider the bike path like you do the road and look before crossing!! Stopping on the side of the path to rest, look at flowers, pee in the bushes or pick up the dog poo may be necessary, but should you decide to jump back out onto the path without looking, you may very well jump into the path of an oncoming cyclist. (please see note about speed and stopping issues, above)

4) Fellow bikers...stay to the RIGHT! If you're riding in pairs or groups, you don't automatically get control of the entire path. You have to yield to oncoming riders and anyone who may need/want to pass you.

SIDE NOTE: NEVER wear headphones. You need your ears!! Specifically, you need to hear other riders...like me...when I'm yelling at you that I'm trying to pass...

If you need to pass another cyclist, pass on the left, and call out to them to let them know you're coming ("Passing on your left")! If you're being passed, please move as far to the right as possible...I promise that no one will place a black mark on your masculinity card if you get passed by a girl.

Oh...and if you're under the age of 18, wearing a sideways baseball cap, pants that miraculously stay up by synching the waste at the top of your thighs, and riding with 12 other similarly clad chaps, you should consider NOT running down the pedestrians...or riding in a serpentine pattern so that you cut off the passing cyclist that has yelled at LEAST 8 times "PASSING ON YOUR LEFT". It tends to make the passing cyclists cranky.

Ok. I'm done with this rant. I'm sure I'll have another one about squirrels later in the season, but they were good to me today, so I'll leave them alone for the time being.

Slow and steady...

2010-04-18T09:17:00.002-04:00

My first 5K is in the books! I decided to start adding weekend 5K's to my training to help me get used to the distance and the feel of a race. This one was a fundraising event for the local Goodwill Industries. Ringling Brother's was the main event sponsor, and there was a clown theme to the "Red Nose Run". (luckily, very few creepy clowns involved)

It was cold enough for all of us to have a red nose without any help from the plastic ones they provided, and it was misty/rainy, but that just makes it more fun to be able to say "I did it!" As my friend Joan loves to remind me, we're hard core!

They had only scheduled 30 minutes between the opening of registration and the beginning of the race, which I thought was a tight window...until we got there. There were only 22 people pre-registered for the race, and I think they said a total of 27 by the time the race started. I have to admit, this made me nervous! The more people you have in a race, the more likely there are others with my lightening speed. (aka...I won't be LAST)

Joan generously stayed with me for the whole race (she's MUCH faster than me), and I was bringing up the rear for much of the race, but I'm proud to say that I did not stop to walk at any point. It was a pretty challenging course, lots of hills to conquer, but it was a nice route through Roger Williams Park. Beautiful park! I'll have to go back there for some training runs. Toward the end, my slow and steady approach paid off a bit, and I think we ended up finishing ahead of 3 others.

I've been running with a Nike Plus running monitor, and it's kinda fun to see my distance, pace, calories and time at the end of each run. Yesterday's run cut 30 seconds off of my mile pace and clocked me at a personal best. Hopefully, that's a scenario that I continue to experience.

My training schedule calls for a 4 mile run this week. I just ran 3.5 for the first time last Sunday, so I'm a little nervous to add that half mile, but I'm surprised how much I'm actually enjoying this process.

Got my bike back after it's tune up, and I'll start rides to the training mix now. Much more fun than spinning wheels indoors!

Whether or not my body is going to keep up with my goals remains to be seen, but so far I'm learning a lot about myself and having fun. Hard to ask for more than that.

On a more somber note, my grandmother (who we called Tutu) passed away this week. She's had a long battle with Parkinson's Disease, and the last few years have not been an easy road for her. She is finally free of pain, and reunited with Grandfather and it's hard not to be happy when those two things are taken into account. Despite the sadness of loss, this is a time to celebrate the life she had, the love she shared, the family she created and the memories she left us. Rest in Peace Tutu.

In the Pink?

2010-03-28T23:08:00.002-04:00

So I decided I needed to buy a kickboard to use in my swim workouts. Target had them on sale for $4.36...great deal! Downside? They had two choices...blue Dora the Explorer or pink Hello Kitty. I opted for Hello Kitty. Perhaps I will be mistaken for someone trendy and very cool. Either that or I will be the subject of much pointing and laughing. BUT, I will have a great kick workout!

This past week was kind of a bust as far as my workouts were concerned. I came down with a killer cough that had me hacking up a lung with any physical exertion. I didn't even try to swim for fear of choking mid lap. I'm sure it would have been entertaining to watch, but the discomfort and potential need for lifeguard intervention kept me from attempting it.

I'm hoping the time away from my runs hasn't affected my distance much. I'm excited about my progress, and am looking to add an additional half mile to my distance this week. We'll see how that goes!

On a more serious and reflective note, heading into this week, I'm reminded of the beauty of the coming holiday...Easter. The celebration of the gift of Life that Christ gave us through his sacrifice. It's a time of redemption...of new beginnings. What a beautiful thing to be reminded of as we enjoy the emergence of Spring.

Life is a beautiful gift. May we all look forward with gratitude for the past and hope for the future.

Love to all!

Time to get back to the Blog!

2010-03-17T19:00:00.004-04:00

Ok, it's been nearly a year since my last blog, and that is just embarrassing! Let's see if I can be a little more regular with these things. Sheesh!

I'm not even going to attempt to catch up with the events of the past year because that would take forever and only serve to dissuade me from completing this oh, so interesting post...SO you're stuck with me here and now. :)

I just got back from a run, and I'm having a battle with my brain, trying to convince it that the pain I feel is "good". Not sure exactly what that means, but I've got to believe it if I intend to get back out there and do it again tomorrow...which I have to do if I intend to be able to run the Bolder Boulder in May.

Surprisingly, I really am enjoying this whole running thing of late. Until now, I was never able to run a full mile without really, REALLY wanting to quit, and hating every minute of it. The few races I ran were torture. Not sure what has changed, but I'm glad it has because I'm going to be doing a lot of running this Summer.

I've registered for the Bolder Boulder 10K (6.2 miles) which will be in, yes, you guessed it, Boulder, CO...which means it will be at altitude. Not sure what I was thinking, but I'm dragging all sorts of people into the race with me to run in honor of my Bob Amato as a part of TEAM ANDREW, so there's a bit of motivation to do it right.

After I torture myself in CO I'll be back in RI to ride a 150 mile bike ride for MS at the end of June. Feel free to check out my profile for the ride, join our team or donate to my effort by clicking this link: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/RIRBikeEvents?px=7796836&pg=personal&fr_id=13992

By that time I'll be in such great running and riding shape that the Sprint Triathlon season will be like CAKE! Since I didn't update this blog last summer, you may not be aware that I completed my first Sprint Triathlon last September. A Sprint Tri is a shorter version of the Ironman Triathons (which I have NO desire to attempt). Most are a 1/4-1/3 mile swim, 12-20 mile bike ride and a 5K (3.1 mile) run. I didn't set any records, and it wasn't exactly pretty, but I finished, and I met all of my personal goals. Most importantly, I loved it!

I discovered that I really love to bike, and that I'm pretty good at it. I've always loved to swim, and I can hold my own there...and that just leaves the dreaded run. I'm really slow, but the fact that I'm running at all is really kind of miraculous. Seriously...ask my dad. I am not his athletic child. I think he's still in shock over this whole thing. With all this training, I almost qualify as an athlete (almost). How crazy is that?

This year I'm planning to do 4 Sprint Tri's, including the one I did last year at Buzzard's Bay. At very least, I should look great by the end of this craziness...if I don't kill myself training for it!

Anyway, Happy St. Patty's Day!! I hope no one got overly pinched!! Speaking of which, most of the people I talked to here in RI today were completely unaware of the rule that you get pinched if you're not wearing green! What's up with that?!?! I enlightened them, although I refrained from pinching in an effort to avoid being reported to HR for harassment.

With that, I'm going to call it a post. Much love, many hugs and infinite smiles to all of you!

Always,

Amy

Where has my wisdom gone?

2009-04-29T16:38:00.003-04:00

Hello all! I know you thought I had traveled to Siberia without any internet access, gotten abducted by aliens, or trapped under something heavy, but in reality...I'm just me. (aka: Blog Slacker)

Spring has finally sprung here in RI, and I'm loving it! The trees outside my house are covered with white blossoms, and the grass is green. The sky is blue, and there are buds and flowers everywhere. I'm sure it will get hot and muggy soon enough, and I'll be back to whining about missing Colorado weather, but for now I'm appreciating the tardy arrival of the long awaited Spring.

Last Thursday I had one of my two remaining wisdom teeth removed. I had the top two removed when I was 21, and the bottom two have been grown in and minding their own business for several years, but my dentist didn't want them in there anymore. Apparently my ability to keep them brushed and flossed way back there was less than stellar, and to maintain my amazing luck in the dentist's chair (no cavities since I was 10), he said they needed to go.

Dr. Morriseau decided to take one out at a time so that I would be able to eat, which I can appreciate, but after that experience he's going to have to do some serious sweet talking to get me back in the chair to remove the last one! What happened? Well, let's just say that the tooth did not want to go quietly.

It was supposed to be a simple, quick procedure. 30 minutes. In, out, done. As you can probably guess...not so much. I was awake for the whole procedure, which made it so much more fun!

He shot me full of novocaine, got me good and numb and then started the process of "rocking" my left wisdom tooth out of my mouth. Only, THIS tooth didn't want to rock. It didn't want to move at all, and because there was very little room to move around back there, he decided to pull out the drill. Nothing more pleasant than the sound of a drill accompanied by the smell of burning...something...coming from inside your mouth! FUN! He broke the tooth into several pieces, grasping and "rocking" each piece as he broke it away from the rest. There was so much pressure on my jaw that at one point I had to reach up and apply upward pressure on the left side of my jaw to keep it from feeling like it was going to rip off of my face!

Dr. Morriseau was literally leveraging himself against the dentist's chair to work on it and at one point said...out loud..."Oh, come ON!" Very soothing. (please note, I really like my dentist a lot, and actually almost laughed when he said it...but the fact that he has his hands and instruments in my mouth at the time kept me from enjoying his frustration out loud)

The last piece finally gave up the ghost, and he sent me on my way with a prescription for Vicodin and instructions for taking care of the gaping hole in the back of my mouth.

This past weekend was a bit rough, and I spent a lot of time on the couch with an ice pack and a bottle of Advil (didn't fill the prescription...I'm too tough to need prescription drugs!). I still have to depend on Advil, and have a dull ache nagging me pretty much all the time, but I can handle it. I can't really chew, which is getting old, but it's improving. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to eat a nice big filet...but not tonight!

I went back today for a check up, and he removed the stitch. Interestingly, he decided to tell me a story. He said that Friday he was golfing with a buddy who told him about a tooth that he had to pull that was so difficult that he actually told the patient that if he wanted another tooth pulled to please go to someone else. Dr. Morriseau said that hearing this story, he immediately thought of me. Glad to know it wasn't a pleasant experience for him either!

So there you go. My latest blog entry. A real gem, don't you think? Perhaps I'll be back again before Summer!

Life is good!

The Little Things...

2009-02-07T11:09:00.003-05:00

What better time to post to my blog than when I should be studying! It's the perfect procrastination activity! I've spent most of my "free" time for the past week studying for a certification test I have to take next Friday, and I'm still not even close to ready. This weekend is supposed to be my "buckle down and LIVE it" time, but there are so many more appealing things to do that I'm finding it difficult to commit. I'm sure my level of commitment will alter come Thursday night!

Anyway, this week I've been reminded of some of the little things in my life that add to the overall sense of contentment I have been blessed with of late, so I thought I'd share.

1) Music. This one may not be so little really, but it's affect in my life can be subtle at times. I love music in all (or at least most) of it's forms. Anything that gets me humming along or tapping my toes is a welcome addition to my life. I'm the girl that sings along (and sometimes dances) to the music in the Grocery store. It makes shopping so much more fun, and to be honest, I can't help it. Even if I try...it just cannot be stifled! The music has GOT to come out! :)

I always have my iPod playing through little desktop speakers at work, but this week I did two things differently.

First, I started listening to my full library of music rather than playlists. Just set it to random and let it go. Some of the songs that pop up are slightly embarrassing, some are hilarious, but most are just pleasant little gifts. Songs I haven't heard forever, but liked enough to load onto my iPod at some point. They make me smile...and that makes my day so much better.

Second, I started listening with my headphones instead of the speakers. There were a few projects I was working on that required some focused attention, and I discovered that even with the music playing, I was more focused and got a TON done by blocking out the world around me with the music that, as previously stated, makes me smile.

There are definitely some downsides to this approach...it's not overly social, but I tend to be TOO social, so maybe a little restriction in that realm is not a bad thing. I also tend to sing along on occasion (ok...most of the time) and when no one else can hear what you're listening to, an unplanned public performance can to be a bit embarrassing. So far I think I've caught myself before anyone has heard my serenade, but it's only a matter of time before someone stops by just as I'm singing along to Fire by the Pointer Sisters (that one really gets me going).

2) A Garage. Ok, so if you have spoken to me, read my blog, or followed my Facebook statuses, you are aware of my severe disdain for the weather we've been experiencing here in Rhode Island. I'm not shy or quiet about it. It sucks. (sorry...no other way to say it).

HOWEVER, I did find something in the midst of the suckiness that made me grateful...the fact that through this entire nasty winter I have not had to clear my car of snow ONE time to go to work in the morning. I walks straight from the cozy warm safety of my house directly into my very own garage...no walking through snow and ice to GET to the car, no clearing snow and ice (or even FROST) off of the car, no warming up the car...it's WONDERFUL! I don't know how I lived the first 35 years of my life without one!!

3) Blue Skies. No matter how cold it is outside, when the sky is clear and blue it makes me happy. I think it may be a little bit of a reminder of home. I've always loved the intense blue of the Colorado sky. There are times that it is so amazing that it takes my breath away. Any small piece of that brilliance brings a happy jump to my heart. Recently the blue has had to work its magic through windows because as soon as I walk outside into the frigid wind the affect of the blue sky is negated by the impending frostbite of my nose, but at least it helps me get up the motivation to brave the cold when necessary.

There are plenty of other little things that make me smile...help me through the days that aren't so great...and make the great ones even better. I'm grateful for the little things.

Baby it's COLD outside!

2009-01-30T18:52:00.004-05:00

Perhaps there should be a prize for Blog neglect! I could TOTALLY win!!

I'm supposed to be studying for a certification test I have to take in 2 weeks, but my brain hurts, so I'm taking a break and using my blog as procrastination tool!

Before I get started, in case any of you are here to check on Andrew's status, his fever is down, and he's doing better. He's still not keeping any food down, but Brittany says he refuses to admit that he doesn't feel well. Little trooper/twerp. Thank you so much for your prayers and words of support for our whole family, and most especially for my little, bald Bob Amato.

Be sure to check out his website. He has posted some video messages there that are precious! http://www.andrewvanderploeg.com/

Life here in Rhode Island has been great save the weather...which I complain about on a daily basis. I've developed a truly pationate distaste for Winter this year. I can't ever seem to get warm!

I love my home, but I'm convinced that THIS trip into the world of mortgage slaves is supposed to teach me something about patience and humility. Three weeks ago my furnace died and I had to spend the weekend with space heaters keeping my pipes from freezing and a fire in my fireplace to keep me from freezing. Now I've got a brand new furnace, and it works great, but for some reason I'm still always cold!

The front of my house is north facing so it doesn't get any direct sun, which is only a problem because there is a huge pile of snow and ice on the roof that creates a disturbingly steady supply of water dripping on my driveway. Unfortunately, because it gets no sun, it turns to ice again almost immediately when it hits the driveway, causing a fantastic "ice rink" effect. I asked the HOA to do something about it multiple times with no luck, so the ice just continued to get thicker and thicker. Last weekend I had to take 4 running starts to get my car into the garage, so I decided it was time to to take matters into my own hands and get to chipping away the ice.

You can check out pics of the whole ordeal here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=72534&l=ac452&id=714881782

Sadly, all my hard work has been continually undone since the minute I finished the job. Looks like I'll be out there chipping away again tomorrow! (another procrastination technique!)

The ice build up on the roof has also created a wonderful phenomenon known as an ice dam above my bedroom window. Basically the snow against the shingles melts during the day and then freezes when the sun goes down, expanding (as ice does) it's way under the shingles. When the ice melts again the next day it is UNDER the shingles and it leaks into the house. I've had lovely puddles of water in my window seat on randome days for a few weeks, but luckily there hasn't been any visible water damage, and the HOA has had contractors out to deal with the problem on the roof, so hopefully we are done with that issue.

Like I said, patience and humility! I really do love my home, and despite the cold I find all of the little adventures it's brought me rather humorous. Honestly, sometimes all you can do is laugh!

The nasty weather here has made me a bit more homesick for Colorado than usual. Friends and family there are continually notifying me of the temperatures in the high 60's...I think they enjoy being cruel! I did get to spend almost 2 full weeks home in Denver for Christmas, so I guess I can't complain that much. I'm a New Englander now, so I guess I've gotta toughen up! That and buy some warmer socks!

Brand New Site for Andrew

2008-10-13T14:42:00.001-04:00

Andrew's dad, Dave, has posted a new site for Andrew with a bunch of pics, some videos and all the updates. You can visit anytime at www.andrewvanderploeg.com

XOXO!

The Move

2008-10-11T21:00:00.004-04:00

I am excited to report that I am officially a homeowner...again! The closing went off without a hitch, and the new stairs look beautiful! Wait...rewind...I suppose I have to explain that one. The inspection turned up one major issue...the main staircase was not uniform. The bottom step had a 7" rise, the next 10 had an 8" rise and the top step had a 9.5" rise! Not only a code violation, but a significant trip hazard. I'm shocked that no one had done a header down the stairs before. Having just spent the past 6 years of my life working in insurance claims, I could not, in good conscience, accept that kind of liability, so I had to give a hard line demand that it be fixed or I wouldn't buy the property. That required that the entire staircase be taken out and replaced...which they did!

SO...back to the update...the stairs look beautiful, and the place is all mine! I really love it! We closed on Wednesday, and Thursday morning the movers showed up with my stuff. My friend Stacie was generous enough to take the day off of work to come help me move stuff from my temporary apartment, direct movers and be the official record keeper to check off boxes as they came off the truck. HUGE help!!! (she also tried to re-enact the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet off of my front deck, but no one was willing to play Romeo...)

We moved most of my stuff out of the apartment in the morning just in time to meet the movers at my new home. The moving crew was fantastic, and all of my stuff was in the house, set up and unpacked (out of the boxes anyway) by about 12:30pm. They even found a way to get my huge bed and couch up the stairs...well, not really the "stairs"...they sent them up over the back deck and through the back door instead. I chose not to watch...way too scary!

There was still a TON of work to be done organizing and putting things away, but seeing my furniture in the rooms of my new house really made me feel like I was home.

Once the movers left Stacie and I made a trip to the apartment to get the rest of my stuff and turn in my keys, but were met with...let's call it a "surprise". The cleaning staff hired by the relocation company had already been there to clean and had THROWN AWAY ALL OF MY STUFF!!! Clothes in the dryer, Clothes hanging to dry, a full fridge and freezer, a new leather laptop bag (luckily not containing the laptop!), some exercise equipment, a couple of boxes...and the list goes on. How they could possibly think that I had moved out is beyond me, but that doesn't change the fact that my stuff was GONE! The Relo company actually had maintenance guys go look through the dumpsters to see if they could find anything worth salvaging...or at least to help me inventory what I had, but they couldn't find anything. My guess is the cleaning woman didn't throw them out so much as put them in her car. They've agreed to pay me for everything, and I put together an inventory with prices, so hopefully I'll get a check soon.

Once I got over the shock of my "surprise" I headed back home to start the massive job of putting stuff away. Stacie headed back to her family, and I was alone in my home for the first time. Surreal! Several hours later, and a lot of trips up and down the many stairs in my house, I was ready to call it a day...and sleep in my own bed!!

It was about 11:30pm and I was exhausted. A quick shower and off to dreamland for me! Oh, wait...there's no hot water!! I headed down to the water heater to check it out and discovered that the pilot light was out. Good reason. The gas was turned OFF. No gas. Sin gas. Nada Gas. UGH!! I took a very cold shower and headed to bed.

The gas company apologized and told me that the previous owner's order to stop service and my order to start did not get matched up like they were supposed to, so instead of doing a change over they shut off the gas. No one bothered to call me about it, so I didn't figure it out for 2 days. They gladly set me up with a maintenance order and told me that someone would be at my house to turn on the gas "some time between 8am and midnight on Saturday". The tech would call me 20 minutes before he came, and if I didn't answer the phone my appointment would be cancelled. Amazing customer service!!

Anyway, the gas is now on, I have hot water, and I just took a really long shower! Ahhhh...

I love being a homeowner!

For anyone who just read that entire saga and is STILL reading (I'm so sorry!) and I should probably give you a bit of an update on Andrew! He's doing really well! He got out of ICU on Monday and has been up and about, walking without assistance. He should be able to go home in the next couple of days!

Still waiting to hear specifics on when the radiation and chemo will start, but we do know it will be aggressive. He'll have to undergo the treatments 5 days a week, 3 weeks on-3 weeks off, for 9 months. He'll be doing home school because he can't go to school while undergoing the treatments (his immune system will be shot).

Your prayers are still needed, welcome and greatly appreciated!

Regarding Henry

2008-10-04T20:20:00.002-04:00

I'm increasingly awed by the incredible strength and character that shines through our little Andrew as his journey continues. In an effort to share my a bit of what inspires me, I thought I'd introduce you to Henry.

As I've mentioned before, Andrew has been a bit clumsy for a few years now...often tripping, knocking things over and spilling things. Last year he began to blame his little mishaps on "Henry". When he'd knock over his milk he'd proclaim, "It wasn't me, it was Henry!" It became a silly joke among the family. According to Andrew, Henry was his brain, and sometimes Henry just messed up his ability to control things.

Over the last week, we've discovered how real Henry really was; except that Henry was not Andrew's brain...Henry was the giant tumor. On some level Andrew knew that there was a stranger in his brain.

The most amazing part of this little story for me is not just that Andrew knew about Henry, but that he embraced him. With a smile and a little giggle he accepted Henry as a part of himself without frustration, irritation or complaint.

Always a smile. That's our Andrew.

New Site for Andrew

2008-10-04T08:37:00.001-04:00

Just a quick update to let everyone know that we've set up a site specifically for Andrew. You can go there to get info anytime, and we'll update it with anything new.

Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers!!

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewvanderploeg

So Much Love

2008-10-03T00:23:00.002-04:00

I am so touched by the outpouring of love and concern shown by just about everyone I've come in contact with in the past week. There is something beautiful about the unifying energy of a tragedy like this one. So many people of different races, cultures, religions and lifestyles, all with the same desire...for Andrew to be healthy.

Thank you so much for the words of encouragement, the good thoughts, phone calls, emails, texts, prayers and love. We have all benefited in many ways from the wealth of positive energy being thrown into the universe by so many!

Andrew had a pretty low key day today. He did a lot of resting, which he obviously needed. He's still on a lot of medication, but it was easy to see that our little Andrew is definitely still very much himself. I was able to talk to him for a bit this morning, and he is still as pleasant as ever. Not a single complaint...except maybe that he didn't want to eat any more jello because he really wanted chicken enchiladas. Unfortunately his little tummy didn't even want him to eat the jello, so I think the chicken enchiladas may have to wait a day or two.

He was singing songs, making jokes and smiling his sweet little smile whenever he was awake. He has many fans among the hospital staff, and they all love his sweet little disposition. He just never says no to anything they ask him to do!

They did a CT Scan this morning and found a 1/4 inch blood clot just above the area where the tumor was removed. They are hoping that his body takes care of it on it's own, but are watching it closely. There is such a huge range of implications for a clot like that, in that location, that it's scary to even think about, so we're dwelling on the fact that they do believe his body will be able to dispose of the clot on it's own. Hopefully we won't have to deal with it any further.

They also discovered that his top cervical vertebrae were out of whack so they gave him some muscle relaxers to help relax the area so his body could let the bones move back the way they were supposed to be.

Tomorrow they will be sedating him again to take a full body MRI so they can see a detailed view of his brain, brain stem and spinal chord. They'll be studying it closely to see if they can find any residual parts of the tumor or evidence that the tumor spread to his spinal column. The surgeon feels fairly confident, based on the size of the tumor and what he saw when removing it, that it had not spread, which is good news. Apparently, if it spreads to the spinal chord the tumor presents more like grains of sugar sprinkled on the nerve tissue rather than a solid tumor so surgical removal is not possible. It requires a much more intense and aggressive chemotherapy and radiation regimen to treat and is much more likely to resist the treatment.

If the tumor has not spread, he will still begin both chemo and radiation treatments very soon, but the outlook is much brighter.

They expect to put a semi-permanent tube in his shoulder near his clavicle to assist with taking blood and administering the meds while he undergoes the treatments, but at this point, if that is the ONLY tube he has to deal with I think that Andrew will be elated. He doesn't much care for the catheter or any of the other MANY tubes and wires hooked up to him right now, but they seem to be decreasing as time goes by.

Carrie, Ashley (my other sisters) and their girls arrived early this morning, and Taylor was elated to have her cousins to play with for the day. We're all hoping to do what we can to make Brittany's life a little easier as she continues to find the strength to deal with all of this.

It was nice to have my sisters here and wonderful to be energized by the loving spirits of my little nieces. I am truly blessed!

Another Andrew Update

2008-10-02T01:46:00.003-04:00

I made it to Boise today, and was able to spend the entire day with Brittany, Taylor and my parents among many others who were here to support Andrew and lend their prayers as we waited for the surgery to conclude.

We knew it was going to be a long day, and my dad talked to Andrew about it this morning, asking him how he felt. They talked about how long the whole thing was going to be and Andrew pointed out that it was going to be a really long day for everyone else, but it wouldn't be too bad for him because "time goes really fast when you're asleep". He never once appeared to be afraid or sad and never once complained. Such an amazing kid!

He went in to Pre-Op at about 10:30am and was not out of surgery until about 9:20pm. It took another 30 minutes or so to move him to recovery and then another hour before the surgeon came out to give Brittany and Dave (Andrew's Father) the full update on the outcome of the surgery.

I'm happy to report that he was immediately able to speak, count to 4, grip with both hands and pass rudimentary motor tests. The surgeon said we'd get a better idea for his motor function and vision once he's had a chance for the anesthesia to wear off, but overall Andrew did great, and functionally the outlook is good.

Unfortunately, he also reported that the tumor appears to be malignant - medulloblastoma. They have a few more tests to get back, and want to do another MRI to get a good look at his brain stem and the rest of the area to be sure they got everything, but either way it appears that Andrew will have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

They'll also be doing a CT scan to look for any blood clots, and he may need a blood transfusion in the next day because of the blood lost during the surgery, but there was not enough bleeding to make it necessary immediately, which I guess is a good thing.

It's strange to have a desire to celebrate when being told that someone has cancer, but something inside of me just wont let me dwell on that part. Andrew is alive. He's talking. He's moving. He's Andrew. For those reasons alone we have reason to rejoice!

The trial ahead is not a small or easy one, but today we were blessed with a victory!

I got to spend a lot of time with Taylor today, which was wonderful. We spent some time learning Cat's Cradle and Jacob's Ladder string tricks so she can teach them to Andrew. I discovered that this particular game is not one of my strengths. Luckily she is much better than me!

My other sisters and their kids are driving up tonight and will be here to add to the masses tomorrow morning. Taylor is so excited to see them, and I can only imagine that Andrew will have the same reaction. The kids all love each other so much and really love being together. More positive energy to buoy Andrew and his recovery is sure to arrive with them.

Thank you so much to those of you who have sent your prayers and good wishes. I'm lucky to have such wonderful people in my life! Please keep the prayers coming!

I'm going to sleep tonight feeling incredibly blessed.

Andrew Update

2008-09-30T18:17:00.003-04:00

Andrew is scheduled for surgery to remove the tumor tomorrow, 10/1, at 11:00am MDT. The surgery will take anywhere from 7-12 hours, so it will be a long day for all involved. I was able to get a flight to Boise tomorrow morning, so I'll be there to do whatever I can. Not sure what that means, but I'll be there all the same.

The doctors have shared some new concerns about the tumor and it's location, including it's potential adherance to blood vessels and the brain stem. There are terrifying risks involved in the tumor removal that have left us a bit stunned, but we're trying to dwell on the positives. They say they'll know if the tumor is malignant before the surgery is finished. No matter how well the surgery goes, it's certain that there will be a long and difficult rehabilitation period for Andrew.

Luckily, at this point, he's not in any physical pain.

I keep trying to understand what Andrew must be thinking and feeling as this all plays out. My dad says he seems to understand what is going on, and is taking it like a trooper. No tears, no complaints. I think about what it will be like for him after the surgery. To wake up to his new reality...maybe without the ability to do things he could do before like talk, or walk, or see. How do you prepare an 8 year old boy for that possibility?

I worry about Brittany. She's so strong, but this requires something beyond strength. Something no mother should ever have to test. The physical, emotional and financial implications of this trial are overwhelming to ponder. Again, I'm at a loss for what to do, or how to help. My baby sister and her sweet little family are facing something far more difficult than I can begin to understand.

I'm doing my best to keep my focus on Andrew. As a good friend reminded me, this is about Andrew...not me. I'm sad, and I'm scared, but that's not what matters. This is about how Andrew feels and what Andrew needs. Keeping that in mind somehow makes things seem a little clearer. Not that I have any idea how this is going to go, or what anyone needs, but that my purpose is simple. To support Andrew by providing Brittany, Taylor and Andrew with positive energy, prayers, hope and love. To do whatever I can to make this easier for Andrew, if that is possible.

Tomorrow I'll be praying for angels to protect our little angel...and to let him stay with us a little longer.

Love, prayers and hope.

I'll continue to update my blog as we move through this process.

For anyone who would like to contribute, my dad has set up a fund for Andrew to help Brittany with what is sure to be astronomical medical expenses. Donations can be made at any Washington Mutual (WAMU) location to The Andrew Vanderploeg Fund - Acct. 3170086447, or send donations:

c/o Randy Nelson
5447 S. Zang Ct.
Littleton, CO 80127

Please make checks payable to the Andrew Vanderploeg Fund.

My Bob Amato

2008-09-28T18:29:00.007-04:00

It's strange how quickly life changes. In an instant your whole focus and direction can be derailed by the unknown or unexpected. I had one of those moments yesterday. I got a call from my dad yesterday morning that shook me to the core and left me feeling completely helpless and my heart aching. My 8 year old nephew, Andrew, had just had an MRI of his brain to see if they could determine the cause of some issues with his motor skills on the right side of his body. They discovered a large tumor covering 70% of his cerebellum.

My little Andrew has a brain tumor. It's real. It's scary. It's a gut check like I've never experienced before. I'm glad I was in Denver to receive the news. I was able to spend the entire day with my family as we prayed, hoped, grieved and tried to find some kind of comfort in the reality of this unbelievable news.

We'd all noticed that Andrew was a bit clumsy, and even joked about it with him, but thought nothing major of it. There are lots of kids that are not overly coordinated, but recently his uncoordinated movements began to look a bit different. Kids at school were even teasing him because of the way he walked. The catalyst to get him checked was a call from his teacher. She said that his handwriting had been deteriorating over the last bit, which had been a concern to her, but she was truly concerned when he had been unable to hold on to a pair of scissors in class.

After finding the tumor, it was discovered that there was extra fluid on his brain, increasing the pressure to a dangerous level, so the first priority was to relieve that pressure. Last night they drilled a small hole in his skull to allow the fluid to drain, and his motor skills have already improved.

Now it is a matter of "hurry up and wait" as we wait for the specialist to do a detailed analysis of his MRI and schedule surgery to remove the tumor. We won't know until they have done the surgery whether it is benign or malignant. There is a possibility that, because of the size or malignancy, he will have to undergo chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments after the surgery.

My sister Brittany, Andrew's mom, Taylor, Andrew's big sister, and Andrew live in Boise, ID so part of the angst all of us were feeling yesterday was the inability to be there to give them all a big hug and let them know how much we love them.

Brittany is one of the strongest and most capable people I know, and I admire her ability to face adversity head on. She always seems to push forward, taking on the challenges that come her way with very little complaint and a whole lot of resolve. Even still, I can't imagine what she must be going through right now. I wish there was something I could do to make it...well, I don't know. I'm not sure there is a way to make something like this "easier". The complete impotence of my abilities as the big sister is evident in the reality that I don't even know what anyone could possibly do to help shoulder the burden for her.

Dad says Taylor has been the perfect big sister. She didn't want to leave the hospital yesterday because she wanted to be with her brother. She says she's just happy that they were able to figure out what was wrong with Andrew and can't wait for them to help him get back to being "Andrew" again.

I'm teetering on the brink of tears at any given moment. The logical side of my brain keeps telling me that there is every reason to hope, and that dwelling on the worst case scenarios is not helpful or productive...but the emotional side of me keeps thinking about my Little Andrew. My Bob Amato.

I remember the day Andrew was born. I had a night class and was unable to get to the hospital to meet the little trooper until after 8pm, which meant it was just me, Brittany and beautiful little Andrew. I held him for a long time that night, listening to his sad little congested breathing and falling in love. Such a precious little boy.

I basically lived at Brittany's house for the next 6 months or so while I was working on my Master's Degree, and there were many nights that I spent on her couch doing my homework with Andrew asleep on my chest. Memories that I cherish.

He's always been such a sweet and kind little boy. Always so full of love. When he was just starting to talk in sentences that you could understand he had a fascination with the Veggietales. One of my favorite memories of all time was when he began telling people that his name was "Bob Amato" (Bob the Tomato). It melted my heart it was so adorable! From then on, he knew that was my favorite thing, and what I wanted to hear when I asked him what his name was. When he started to speak more clearly and began saying "Bob THE Mato" it almost broke my heart...he was growing up!! Then one day he actually said "Bob the Tomato" and I wanted to cry. There was also the brief period when he was way too cool to tell me his name was anything other than Andrew, and I really had to try hard to coax it out of him...but he would always do it, grudgingly, just because he knew it was what I wanted to hear.

It's hard to sit back and wait for this to play out. All I can do is pray, and love, and hope. That's what I'm doing. Praying and loving and hoping. Hoping that my Bob Amato is going to be home and healthy very soon.

One Week and Still Standing

2008-08-25T18:46:00.000-04:00

Well, I made it through my first week as a Rhode Islander without any major traumas or calamities. The weather has been great, which I'm sure is specifically in my honor. If it were really hot and humid, or nasty and rainy I'd probably be sitting inside and crying for my Colorado weather, which is no fun for anyone...especially me.

They are breaking me in slowly at work, which is making for a nice transition as I offload tasks and responsibilities from my old roles to take on the new. I'm really excited about the opportunities and the challenges ahead. Can't wait to get going with my new projects!

The contract I had on a condo in N. Providence fell through, so I had to start the house hunt again from scratch. It was a little disheartening at first, but I'm over it now. I found a couple of places I really liked...even more than the original place...and today I put in an offer on one of them! After the first debacle, I'm trying not to get too excited, but I really hope this one works out because it's wonderful! Fingers crossed!

My friend Chris came out to visit this weekend...part of our way of being in complete denial that I actually MOVED away from Colorado. We went sailing with a friend of mine on Saturday, and it could not have been a more perfect day! Great visibility, perfect wind, not too cold, not too hot...AWESOME day! Both Chris and I actually "drove" for a bit, which he was great at, and I was adequate at. I think he may have gotten the sailing bug. If he lived anywhere near an actual body of water, I it may be a bigger deal than for someone who lives in Boulder, but you never can tell!

We also spent a couple of evenings in Boston meeting up with friends, eating good food and enjoying the city. I really do love New England, and it was nice to share it with one of my close friends from Denver. I also got to expose him to one of my favorite treats of all time...Burdick's Iced Chocolate! Seriously...you feel like you're doing something naughty by drinking it! I hadn't had one in a couple of years, so we had to make a trip to Cambridge just to partake! I think it was better than I remembered. Ahhhh....

My temporary digs here in Cumberland, RI are really nice. The building is an old mill that was converted to apartments, and my unit has 20 foot ceilings, exposed beams and duct work, huge windows and exposed brick walls. Lots of character and kinda fun. It's right on the river, and the bike path crosses through the parking lot, so that's a bonus. The only real downside that I've discovered (besides the slowest elevator in history!) is the train. Yes...I said the train. There are train tracks that pass along the front of the building about 50 feet away, and every time a train comes through the entire building shakes like we're having an earthquake! I don't really mind the train whistle or the sound of the train on the tracks, but the shaking is out of control!! The worst part is the late night trains. They are freight trains, so there doesn't appear to be a set schedule, and there has been a train as late as 1:15am. Even if there was a way to sleep through the noise, the shaking is not to be ignored. I feel like I'm on one of those vibrating beds in a cheap motel! (not that I've ever actually BEEN on one...I'm just assuming...no, really!) Who needs sleep anyway, right?

All in all, a good week. I miss Colorado, and especially the people I left behind, but the ache gets a little less intense every day, and it get's easier and easier to focus on the fact that I really am excited and very blessed to be exactly where I am.

SO that's the news from Cumberland, RI where the women are smart, the straight, single men are hiding and all the children belong to someone else.

Love to all!

Parenthood

2008-06-30T23:32:00.000-04:00

All my life I've known I wanted to be a mom. In fact, while completing one of the requirements for my Masters Degree, I actually wrote a paper and marketing plan for myself AS a mother. The assignment was to figure out what we wanted most out of life (career wise) and come up with our plan to get to that point. I was in the process of changing careers, so this seemed like the perfect exercise to help me find my new direction.

I struggled for the first few weeks trying to figure out what my passion was going to point me toward...and came up with nothing. I finally set up a meeting with my Professor to get his assistance, and in discussion I realized that the reason I couldn't really find a profession that drove a passion in me was because what I really wanted was to be a mom. Not a working mom. A mom. My professor was great about it. He actually encouraged me to focus on that goal as the center of my project, coming up with a plan to prepare myself to be the best Mom I could be...and a marketing plan to sell myself as a fantastic mother. I got an A.

Interestingly, or maybe not so interestingly, I'm not a mom. Not even close. It's still something I desire...even dream of at times, but it's not something that I am.

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a parent over the last few days/weeks. This weekend my niece and nephew were here with me...and I was made very aware of the patience and total devotion that children require. Not that it was ever a bad thing, or even an unwanted thing. I was just keenly aware of how little priority my life had in the scheme of things. It was about them. What to do, what to eat, where to go, what to teach them, what example to set, how to discipline them, how to show them love...how to be a parent. I only did it for a day and a half and I was exhausted! Part of that is due to my lack of familiarity with the ins and outs of the daily life of a 10 and 8 year old, but it's more than that.

There is something that changes in a person who is blessed with the opportunity to be a parent...whether they want to or not. If they choose to embrace the blessing of parenthood, they are forever changed. There is a certain mantle of responsibility that seems to settle in, giving them the ability to put the child before any of their own needs or desires. It's quite a miracle, really. We are selfish beings, seemingly pre-programmed to look out for ourselves, and then a child comes into the picture and suddenly the selfish desires take a back seat.

I'm not saying that parenthood brings on sainthood. Not every parent wears that mantle of responsibility as well as others, but the fact is...they wear it. The elements of self sacrifice for the good of the children continually astound me.

I often wonder how that mantle would sit on my shoulders. What kind of parent would I be? What does that sense of selfless adoration feel like?

I'm such a slacker!

2008-06-24T20:50:00.000-04:00

I'm guessing that a single blog posting every 6 months does not actually COUNT as an official blog. Apparently I'm not any better at blogging than I am at keeping in touch with people. Sheesh.

Anyway, lots of news on my end. Biggest news...I'm moving back to Rhode Island. The time I spent working on this IT Project for Amica made me realize that I really enjoy IT and specifically Projects. As luck would have it, the IT department has agreed to bring me in as a Project Manager! Big changes for me, including a promotion and a relocation. I never thought I'd be able to leave Colorado, but I'm truly excited about the opportunity!

I love the people I work with in RI, and I truly love the job, so career wise it's a wonderful thing for me.

I also have some great friends in RI, so the pain of leaving my friends and family in CO is a little less sharp.

One of the biggest advantages to this move is the fact that it will be my last with Amica. I'm in RI for the long haul, which means I can finally put down some roots and feel like I'm settled.

I can't begin to express how sad I am to be leaving so many people that I love here in CO, and I think I'm in a bit of denial about how well we'll stay in contact. As noted previously, I'm horrible at maintaining communication, and I can't expect others to put in effort where I do not. I have fantasies of everyone coming out to visit, and I truly hope they do, but I'm aware of the reality that most will not. I don't know how to reconcile that reality in my head right now. I think I would be too sad to consciously accept it, so for now I'll live with the fantasy.

The cliches of change definitely apply...new chapter, adventure, blah, blah...and I feel all the positive elements of this move buoying me up on a daily basis. I'm a little worried for the day when the sad stuff takes over. I love Colorado. There are so many things I'm going to miss. So many people I'm going to ache for.

It seems silly, really. My challenge is that I have too many people and things that I love...everyone should be so challenged.

My Civic Duty

2008-01-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Juror Number 6!! Yes...I was called AND chosen. I just spent two days of my life engrossed in the interworkings and details of the Denver County Department of Corrections. The defendant? A way scary gang dude with horns tatooed on his bald head. The charges? Various criminal actions commited while in the highest security building of the Denver County Jail. The catch phrase? Shank it the shoe. The outcome? Mistrial. The scary dude's rights were violated when one of the witnesses accidentally mentioned that he was a felon. ('cause we were all way too dumb to figure that out on our own). Now the whole thing gets to start over again with a new jury.

Such an interesting process. I learned a lot about the criminal justice system, and more than I ever wanted to know about the inside of the Denver County Jail. And, hey, I've fullfilled my duty for 2008.

It was really pathetic to hear the attitudes of some of the other jurors in the selection pool. No one was overjoyed to be there, but so many were just obnoxiously disrespectful of the whole process and acting like they were way too important to waste their time serving. All I could think of was how I would feel if by some awful set of circumstances it was me on the other side of that defendant's table. I would want a competent jury to hear my side of the story. And then I started thinking about this country I love, and what makes it great. The fact that no one can have their liberty stripped without a fair trial. That a system designed over 200 years ago, with all it's imperfections, still works. It wasn't convenient, and it wasn't a party, but I'm glad that I had the privledge to be a part of the process.

Call me a patriotic sap, but there you have it.

Let It Snow!

2007-12-13T18:02:00.000-05:00

As is my lot in life these days, I'm not at home this week. Right now I'm cooling my heels at the Courtyard Marriott in Lincoln, RI watching the snow from my window. When I say snow, I mean SNOW. People here in New England give me a hard time when I complain about the winter. I can't seem to find a way to make them believe that winter (and snow, for that matter) are very different in Denver. All I can really say is that I much prefer a snowy day at home in Denver to a snowy day in New England.

Perhaps there is an element of bias in the word "home", but I'll hold fast to my conviction. Denver is the place for me. Traveling as much as I do, I'm much more keenly aware of just how much I love being home. Friends and family, blue skies and mountains, warm sun and wildflowers...and snow. Yup. I'm a Rocky Mountain Girl.

My Very First Blog...

2007-11-28T03:30:00.000-05:00

Although I am slightly less competitive, I have been inspired by the blogging efforts of my step sisters (Amie and Kori) and decided to give it a go myself. What better to do with the insomniatic wee hours of the morning?

My URL was actually inspired by a late night conversation with a good friend. He has an uncanny way of pushing past the trivial and shallow things that clutter my mind and dragging me straight to the deep end before I even know what is happening. I should really spend more time out there in the deep end. I think that's where my true self hides. Maybe blogging will be a way for me to swim out there more often.

Sadly, due to the late hour and the lack of brain power, I don't have much else to say at the moment. Don't worry. Give me time. I'll get it going!

For now, be satisfied with the fact that there is more to come, and I have actually successfully figured out how to create my own blog. Ain't technology great?!?