The Flu and a Blog Award

At least one is better than the other. I got a blog award from Wiggy's World. Check out his blog here: Wiggy's World. Here is the beautiful award I received:



There are rules that go along with these things. However I just don't have time to go find 15 blogs and link them all. I have Stats to get started on. haha I just wanted to thank Wiggy's World for giving me this award and also give him a link back to his blog. Go check it out!

As for the flu? Well Lexi definitely got hit the hardest. We have all been pretty sick. Angelina hasn't gotten it yet. I worry and even talked to the doc because she has asthma. Lexi got hit last night and it knocked her down for the count. I just snapped a pic of her with my webcam. This just shows how we've all felt this past week/weekend.

Can You Believe It??

Gabbi will be two on November 17th! It is so hard to believe. We have been through so much. Her life has not been one that lacked excitement. From the very beginning her life was full of it. It's odd how I could have had such an unexpected pregnancy then of course even more unexpectedly found out I had cancer.

For those who have been reading my blog you already know that I was feeling sick for a long time before I found out I had cancer. So finding out I was pregnant was overwhelming. There were many reasons. I had gone back to school. I had spent so much time getting back in shape after my previous 3 kids. Add to that the feeling of not being able to breathe, coughing up blood and not being able to lie flat, I didn't think I could give birth. I was very overwhelmed honestly. I didn't have the energy to walk up the stairs or talk on the phone without panting.

We did it though. We worked with my amazing oncologist and we did it. I had at least one major surgery during the pregnancy. I had two surgeries, both of which I was put out for. The one though that was the most major was my biopsy surgery. They cut me open on the right side of my chest, which is where the tumor was. They ended up having to shave some bone off. Yes...you heard that right. I have a slight dent in my scar. I hate it, but you know it's also my war wound so I don't dwell on it too much.

During that surgery Jason was all alone waiting in this room with other people who were also waiting for loved ones in surgery. My surgeon was a cardiac surgeon. The surgery was close to my heart so I am assuming that's why we had to use him. The tumor had grown tentacles if you will and wrapped itself violently around my major veins that went up into my neck and head. To this day they are still a little fatter than usual. (hate that too)

Anyway during Jason's time waiting in there he received some updates on me. Other people received updates as well and Jason would hear these people getting information on their loved one. So when the surgeon himself came into the waiting room a couple of hours into my surgery and asked Jason to go into this tiny little private room to talk, Jason was scared to death. He has told me that he just knew that I was dead. He didn't know why the surgeon came out himself and also why he was talking to him privately. He waited for the horrendous news. It didn't come. Basically they had cut some of my tumor out but it wasn't a large enough piece if you will. So I was in the operating room with my chest cut open while the surgeon discussed with Jason how they would have to cut me open more. I actually think that's when they had to shave off bone but I am not positive.

I awoke from that surgery in a recovery room. I could NOT swallow at all. After months of feeling like you have a basketball lodged in your neck and that your head is going to explode because it feels like someone is choking you, the last thing you need is to feel like you can't swallow. It was from the breathing tube down my throat during surgery. My throat was dry for months. I was only allowed ice chips. I couldn't really see after surgery. I have bad eyes and didn't have my glasses. This made it scary coming out of anesthesia I was in and out of consciousness too. I couldn't stay awake at all.

Finally they got me a room in the ICU and I saw Jason. He was coming around the corner and I felt such joy. I was weak and tired but I wanted him so bad. Then as they were putting me into my bed I got sick. Freshly cut open chest and here I am heaving. Dry heaving since I hadn't eaten. But you know it was enough. I was still so weak and tired though and not really getting better. They decided to give me a blood transfusion. I felt better within 15 minutes of getting that. It was night and day folks. Oh yeah, right here I will tell you to GIVE BLOOD! It definitely saved me. I never had a clue the difference in how it makes a person feel. It was amazing.

I was sick for awhile and I had a chest tube inserted to drain fluid. I had a lot of fluid in my chest. That chest tube hurt more than the staples in my chest from the biopsy surgery.

I had my first sonogram the following morning to check on Gabbi. I had been through so much. How could my baby possibly have tolerated it all? She did. She was great. Her heartbeat was strong. She survived that. It was on to chemo after the results were back in a couple of weeks.

Now that little baby is a wild and crazy 2 year old! I could go on forever. There is so much in between the lines. There is so much it took to get Gabriella here. It took a lot but she's here and she's my miracle girl.

We Are All Sick

Saturday and I am sick! Jason got sick about 1 1/2 weeks ago. It started off mild and got progressively worse. He is feeling a tiny bit better today. I myself started getting a sore throat a couple of days ago. Then last night was the WORST. I started feeling kind of achy and like I had chills. I had no fever though but full body aches. I had been suffering with the sore throat and a stuffy nose but it really hit me hard yesterday. It all got worse while I was at my nursing college doing a Meet and Greet thing. I got to meet a whole lot of my fellow classmates that will be starting with me in January. It really seems like a fun school. The people are so nice. One girl came all the way from Chicago to go to this school. I find that pretty cool. The Dean said that if we are feeling nervous or scared don't....because there were at least 2 or 3 other people that were up for our spot and they chose us. So they know we can do it. How awesome is that?

I got off track here a bit. My point is I wanted to really enjoy this thing but I started feeling honestly flu-ish during the middle of it all. I was putting on a smile and keeping a safe distance from people when I talked to them. I don't want to get anyone sick. Then we had to wait forever in HR at the hospital to get our ID pages made. Well, they took our photo anyway. I am feeling sicker than a dog and they took my pic. I am hoping it isn't horrendous.

I got everything done though. I just wait now. I have to get a few lab coats and some white scrubs and white shoes. I'll be at the hospital occasionally working with patients several weeks into the semester but wow. This is so crazy. They gave us a lecture about how sometimes our families might be pushed to the back burner. They said that our families need to be understanding because this will be hard. I knew it and Jason honestly is ready for it. He knows. I know. If I do this full time (which I am) I will graduate December of 2011. I'l have my BSN. I am excited, nervous, anxious, happy, terrified. haha

Anyway, Gabbi is sick too. She began running a fever last night of 101.8. She is now not running a temp but I have kept the Ibuprofen/Tylenol in her. Her eye looks red. So does Mikayla and Angel. They have awoken with crusty yucky eyes. I am hoping beyond hope it isn't pink eye but honestly it appears to be the beginning of it. So I think it could be several things at once. I had her sleep with me last night. I don't like my baby possibly spiking a fever in the night without my knowledge. No thanks! She did ok though. I awoke to her snuggling with me.

I hope this illness passes fast. I am just ready to have it done and over with so we can get on with our lives!

Oh and don't forget to vote for me. Tweet and retweet ok? Post, share, whatever, Facebook it. Let's see how many votes we can get today!!! Please :) The first place people have several thousand votes. I have just over 300. My chances are not looking good. I however do believe I have enough friends out there in the Internet world to get me the votes.

Explore Modeling - Face of e.l.f. Casting: Sandra Bender

Canceled Classes and Another Follow Up

After school yesterday morning I came home ready to spend the rest of the day finishing up my Statistics homework before class at 6. Well I got an e-mail from my teacher that afternoon canceling class for that night. I seriously danced a little jig. (No, I won't demonstrate this for anyone.)

I love it when that happens. The hubby hasn't been feeling well so I was able to stay home and keep him company. I myself have a sore throat now. I started to feel it yesterday anyway so I figured it was too late. Gabbi has a runny nose now and Angelina woke up coughing pretty good. Since she has asthma I worry about her getting that flu.

Other than that things are well around here. Gabbi got over her last episode of milk poisoning (Yes that's what I call it now) and is doing well. Honestly I contemplated HARD taking her to the hospital. I know the signs of dehydration though and she didn't have those. I thought it would be harder on her for me to drive the 30-40 minutes to the hospital lethargic and puking then it would be for me to stay home and hold her. I managed to get a little bit of fluid in her too so I just waited.

I know people are aware of nut allergies and bee stings and how serious those can be. I don't know that people have a clue how serious an allergy or digestive rejection of milk can be. I say digestive rejection because actually her allergy tests were ok. I have since learned that is actually pretty normal. So if your tests are normal do not assume you are ok with milk. Gabbi absolutely is not. It's scary.

I have been told though that Jason's uncle actually had the same issues as a baby. He's now a man in his upper 40's I believe. At the time soymilk was rare and they didn't know what was wrong with him. He lost weight and became very ill as a child. This was all until they started giving him soymilk. He then became a healthy, plump little baby. He did grow out of it too. I am thinking it is just something that happens. I don't know why and especially how someone could actually grow out of something so severe. I need to do some research.

I have a follow up on November 20th. It's hard to believe so much time has gone by. I have lost track of how many 3 month follow ups I have had now. I don't have too much to complain about at this checkup other than the horrendous throat pressure that never seems to go away for long. I hate the throat pressure. Some days it's ok. Other days I feel like I need to hack up a soft ball. I don't mean phlegm. I mean, it feels quite literally like there is a softball IN my neck. It's so irritating and makes me feel like I need to gag.

I get pressure in my ears too. My left ear especially always wants to clog up and has done so since the beginning of the whole cancer thing. I absolutely despise this sensation. I get angry too. I want it all to go away. I have to be thankful for my life though and I tell myself I am lucky. I shouldn't complain about the minor things. It could be so much worse. So I'll just be thankful.

I am not going to sit here and smile and say it's all easy because I think it's really ok that it's not. Who says you have to think everything is ok all the time anyway? We all know very well that it's not. I'll complain now and then. I never do much though. I'll go in and get my blood work. As long as that is good and the doc isn't concerned about anything it will be a pretty quick appointment. I love seeing the docs and nurses as usual. I love them all. They were with me through everything. Though they did their job I still felt like they cared very much about me and Gabbi.

Ok. This book is quite long enough! haha

School is Crazy

I have just too much to do these days. I take breaks now and again but really don't have time to do that. I am looking forward to the end of this semester. I am so burned out on prerequisites. I want to do something related to Nursing for once. I am ready for January. I have a meet and greet at the college of nursing on the 6th. I am pretty excited about that. I am anxious to start and to meet all the new students that I'll be going to school with. I can't wait.

Gabbi learned a new skill yesterday. I always give her a lunchable. Those little ones. She loves the ham in them and it's already diced up. There is cheese in those but my older girls always take it. Usually I'll peel open the side with the ham so she can get to it. It's worked forever because she does not have the dexterity to peel the package off....until yesterday that is. Yes. She got the cheese. She took a bite and said ew. I caught her and cleaned out her mouth but it was too late. She got very sick yesterday. I am so tired of this already. I hate her being allergic to milk. It's her life though. Honestly I can't see her outgrowing this with how bad her reactions are. I mean they are BAD. So, I mean, how does something like this just stop? I don't know but it seems not possible.

Well back to studying.

Oh and don't forget to vote :)

Wednesday and Halloween Party

I have a Halloween Party coming up at my house again this Friday. Remember the pictures I took from last years? I can post one here of me and the hubby. He was Captain Jack Sparrow and looking mighty fine at it I might add. I had a great time being a Lady Bug. This year however my costume is ummm a less than angelic nurse? See the spin I used on those words? haha Yeah well with me going through the nursing classes I thought it would be funny. I will take plenty of pictures and have them for all to see on my blog.

At the moment I am procrastinating. I am writing a blog and NOT reading the paper for criminology that is 29 pages long and I have to do a paper of my own on. I have class tonight and a quiz in the morning in criminology too. So what am I doing here? A girl has to take a break sometimes right? Oh I am busy there is no doubt. It is never going to stop though. I'll be busy for the next 2 years. Starting in January I have to buy a lab coat and a white uniform. I always wear my lab coat when I go work with patients at the hospital. Those words make me seriously giddy. Pathetic but totally true.

A Picture Post!

My friend recently took this pic of Gabbi and I. Here we are at a recent get together at the house.

Gabbi, Studying and a Vote Reminder!

It's kind of a lazy day too. I did some homework and read a little but I am not into it at all. I need to focus.

Gabbi is really talking a lot these days. I have taught her to hold up two fingers and say two. I love it when asked how old they are little kids do that. So I thought better teach her now before she is 2. She absorbs everything like a sponge. I taught her in a few seconds. She says 2 and holds up two fingers on each hand. So I went a step further and taught her it was also 1+1. So now if you ask Gabbi what is 1+1 she holds up two fingers and yells "TWO!"

What a genius baby.

Also please vote for me. This is totally based off popular vote so it's completely possible. The problem is the chick in the first place slot has like over 3000 votes. I have about 249. I have a ways to go. Still, that is a lot of votes and I have you all to thank. Thank you so much!!!

Explore Modeling - Face of e.l.f. Casting: Sandra Bender

It's Not the Flu

Maybe it's not the flu but the whole house is sick! It is odd though how it all began. Last Friday night my sister came over along with a ton of friends for her birthday. We had a great time listening to music and singing some karaoke. Towards the end of the night my oldest daughter who practices being a baby sitter while I am at the house with friends fell asleep.

Bad girl. I do tease her that she is supposed to be proving to me she can babysit. She is almost 13. I think I'll be putting her in some classes this year. She is not very responsible though. She helps out a ton but I try to make her understand that she can in fact NOT fall asleep while babysitting. Gabbi was safe and sound though in our living room with her watching TV. I got Gabbi and since the night was ending let her kind of talk to everyone as they were heading out the door.

Gabbi is quite popular with the adults. She is the most fun baby you'll ever meet. She's happy and friendly. She'll remember how to say your name the first time you tell her. She'll give you a kiss and a hug the first time she meets you! This can be odd but she's just this friendly.

Anyway, she was around a lot of people. It could have been daycare, it could have been from someone else, who knows. The point is she woke up the next morning puking. She only threw up a couple of times, no biggy. She was fine. This week there has been a few episodes of diarrhea. Lovely, I know.

After this my daughter Mikayla calls home with a tummy ache from school. She misses two days but never pukes. The second day Angelina misses and that night pukes literally everywhere. Her tummy is killing her the rest of the night. The next day she is better.

So Tuesday I get sicker than a dog. I have a terrible stomach ache, just twisting and hurting. I also felt tired beyond all belief. I felt drained and delirious. I felt awful for 2 days. Today my stomach is a little sore but better and I don't feel drained and tired anymore. But guess what? Daddy is laying on the couch with a slight fever and a stomach ache and Gabbi is puking everywhere again! I think she has had this fighting to get the best of her all week and today was it. She has succumbed to it. She is tired and can't hold anything down.

So the sick bug is here. I missed my Wednesday night Math test. I am just sick to death because of it now. I can't retake it until December 2nd when the teacher has a makeup test day. I don't know what genius thinks that's a good idea because now I'll learn all kinds of NEW math stuff and then have to try to go back and remember all that old stuff. Ha! At least I have a practice test to study from.

It Has Begun, The Escape Artist

I am not even sure what to do. Gabbi is not yet 2. She's close but not quite there. Well this morning around 4:30 a.m. I heard a sort of thud or bang followed by Gabbi talking. It woke me out of a dead sleep so I am not even positive what I heard, just that woke me up. I thought to myself as I jumped out of bed that perhaps my oldest daughter was up really early or perhaps heard her crying and got her.

This was not to be. No, I got to her room and glanced in her crib. No Gabbi! I ran to the living room and there she was walking towards me, all alone. She had jumped, climbed or somehow escaped from the confines of her crib. None of my other children have done this. I know many kids do but this is a first for me. I don't know that she's ready for a toddler bed because I doubt she'll lay there. I think she'll just get up. We have a basement though with stairs leading down from the kitchen not to mention other dangers that I cannot risk her getting into in the middle of the night!

I have no clue what I'll do tonight. I'll shut her door tightly tonight. Perhaps that will keep her in but still, I don't want her to hurt herself. I was most surprised she never cried. I still think it's a little too early for a toddler bed. What did you all do when your toddlers began jumping out of their cribs?

Oh and don't forget to vote for me today! :)
Vote For Me Here!!!

Explore Modeling - Please Remember to Vote For Me!

Please Vote for me. My votes have kind of stalled or slowed down, so I thought I'd just send out this reminder. I really need more votes to even have a remote chance. I do appreciate all the votes I have gotten so far. You all rock! You can vote once a day.


Explore Modeling - Face of e.l.f. Casting: Sandra Bender

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Blood Clot

After all that dad went through he developed a blood clot in his leg. If you are a nurse or doctor I don't think it would surprise you to know a patient who has a serious blood infection that moved into his brain and caused him to get so sick he went afib, that he would get a clot. He was in bed unconscious for about a week and once he woke up he still has no energy at all to even move. We are thankful for him getting better but the fear is coming back today. They gave him a shot that is a blood thinner. It's not Heparin. I forget the name of it. Anyway the clot has moved to his lung. Now he is on oxygen and a lot of it. He is having difficulty breathing right now. They are giving him things to break up that clot. We need prayer that the meds will do their job! Good thoughts sent out this way are always appreciated. I hate seeing my dad in any discomfort and right now breathing is a chore for him. So this is yet another setback.

On a different note I met with my academic advisor at my college of nursing yesterday. I am in full on panic mode folks. Starting in January it's going to be really really hard on us. I don't know how I am going to have someone watch Gabbi for so long. I love my baby girl and it kills me. It kills me knowing all the homework I'll have and everything. I do know however this will be a good thing for my family in the long run. I know it is something that will be good for us. Gabbi will always know me as a nurse. I am proud of what I am doing. I want prayers that I will have the strength, knowledge and patience to do this.

No School and a Birthday Party

It's so nice when something like this happens. Today...or yesterday I guess it is now, I was browsing on my college website to find my score for my Psychology test. It's a telecourse and so I had no clue how I would know my grade. I came across the school schedule. Somehow I had NO idea we have no classes tomorrow! There is a midterm break. One day for me off but hey I'll take it! I checked my syllabus and sure enough, no class. I am shocked I had no idea but what a gift that is. haha I am meeting tomorrow with my academic adviser at the college of nursing. Things are really going into full swing now. I am ready to start studying the actual nursing part. I have been doing so many years of prereqs. It's been hard on me this year. I have gotten very frustrated at times. It's just so much work. I never get a break and when I do homework I am constantly interrupted. Gabbi climbs on me, hits the laptop, steals my papers, runs off with my pens. She has drawn some interesting artwork on her body while I studied. Oh how fast they are!

We are having a birthday party for my sister tomorrow night at my house. She decided to do something. I think we are both over the whole "aunt" thing. If you read my previous post, you know what I mean. Dad is improving SO much. It's hard to believe a week ago they thought he might not make it and here we are. His speech is definitely affected. He can't move hardly at all he is so weak. I mean, he cannot even lift his shoulders off the bed. He has been through a lot but I am patient. I just want him to get better. I try not to focus on the fact we still do not know the root of the problem.

It Is Not Right

I am a bit upset right now. I was just informed that a family member has basically talked to my sister on the phone and told her off and told my sister she needed "to get her priorities straight" because she hasn't been up to the hospital to see dad for a couple of days. This just shocks me. My sisters and I have been so insanely worried about my dad. This has been emotionally draining for us. My sister has called me no less than 10 to 15 times today to ask what updates I had. She couldn't get in for multiple reasons. The first being that she works full time and has taken pretty much all the time off she can. Jobs still expect you to work. She has 3 children and they aren't allowed where my dad is. So unless we ask for someone to come watch our kids every single day we can't always be there by my dad's side no matter how much we want to.

I am not one to get on my blog and air out dirty laundry. I am keeping names private. However I do want some opinions here. It's my sister's birthday and she called my mother to get an update on dad. This other family member was with my mom and immediately began yelling at my sister much to her surprise. My sister is very close to my dad. They have a wonderful relationship. He is with her all the time and her kids. This has been especially hard on her. This particular family member honestly has not had much to do with any of us over the years. I didn't know the person well really. I had no reason to think they would ever act this way. I think they jumped the gun and made ridiculous assumptions that they can now never take back.

I want to state for the family members and friends who do read my blog. We grew up with my dad. We have always been by his side. We love that man more than any of his brothers, sisters, or even parents ever could have as we should. He raised us. You may help him in other ways but he's our dad. We stood by him when he wasn't sick. We were there for him when no one else cared. I know most of the family is understanding and most of you out there wouldn't ever act this way. This is pretty much an isolated event as everyone in our family has been compassionate and so helpful. One aunt offered to watch my kids anytime. I really love my family so much. I find it so terribly unacceptable though and so utterly wrong to take the daughter of a seriously ill man and accuse her of not caring. SHAME on that person for causing more emotional pain than was already there.

Lies will be told and stories exaggerated no doubt. It boils down to the fact that we girls want our dad back. That's all.

What would you do if you were dealing with a serious illness in a parent and you had a family member who wasn't even particularly close tell you to get your priorities straight? She doesn't even have all the facts. Insane I tell you. I am doing this for my sister who is spending her birthday in tears over this. I am sure she won't mind my saying. She needs some support right about now.

A Much Better Update

Well after a terrible prognosis given from the docs dad is improving. We aren't by any means out of the woods and I don't want to take too much for granted and assume only to be let down again but here is where we are at.

Three days ago I asked my dad's doctor how long my dad had before we would know for sure if he'd make it or not. This was when my dad was practically comatose. He said he was worried...but that maybe in a day or two we would know.

Dad started responding a bit the next day. Not much but an opening here, a hand squeeze there. I went into see my dad Saturday night and he fully opened his eyes and looked at me and around the room. Then the following morning they actually moved him into one of those hospital chair/beds. They turned on the football game and dad was listening on occasion. He was asleep much of the time but when I got in there and said "Hey Dad" he woke right up and looked at me. He tried to talk but couldn't with the breathing tube in.

He was breathing mostly on his own and they said the tube might come out that night and it did. I had left to go home already so missed that part. I am told dad asked for water. He is hard to hear. He is very quiet and raspy but I am also told when asked what his name was he replied correctly and he also knew where he was. So this is all really good stuff. The update went from being the worst possible news to the best! I believe in the power of prayer. I thank you all. He still needs more. They told us it takes weeks to fight this infection and remember the hardest part is we still do not know what is at the core of all this. There is an underlying condition the doctors cannot seem to find at all. What is this? We still don't know and I fear it will come back if we do not figure it out and soon.

We are still discussing sending him to Mayo.

It's So Hard!

Last night the docs did a lumbar puncture thinking the infection had either gone to dad's brain or that he had meningitis. We are waiting on the results still. I got there today and he seemed less responsive to me. They were preparing to do an EEG. I had to leave to get Gabbi from Daycare. I have been home about an hour and got a call. The doctor believes my dad has brain damage, and doesn't think he'll make it. It's miracle time folks. We need one. Now.

I Needed to See Him Well

I found this.

Dad and Gabbi......when she was maybe a month old.

Update on My Dad

I went back in to see him. He heard me and groaned and rolled as much as he could on his bed. He is totally strapped in because he rips out his IV and tries to get up but can't. He'd just roll off the bed if he did. Anyway I was in the room and watching him, while talking to my mother. He lays there, breathing fast, tubes everywhere and his mouth hanging open. He started to roll and groan so I got up and walked over to his bed. I pet his arm and touched him and told him he would be ok, that it was his infection making him so sick (he's had a blood infection unresponsive to the antibiotics but we don't know why). He started batting at the air with his hand. I moved my hand close to his and he grabbed my hand and squeezed hard. I held his hand for several minutes and he squeezed it until I felt he drifted back off to sleep. My dad is very much trapped in his own brain right now but knows we are there.

The doctor agreed and said he was not in a coma and aware. They did a lumbar puncture and it was cloudy so they are treating him as though he has meningitis until we get the results on the test. There IS an infection there. The doctor thinks it's the same blood infection and it's moved up to his brain. This would explain his confusion, inability to talk or do anything. This however still does not explain what started everything. He has been sick now since he started getting severe stomach aches a few months ago and it's turned into this.

Due to the seriousness of his infection he cannot be transferred to Mayo Clinic now. We'll have to wait until he is stable and make choices from there.

I just want my dad back.

Prayers For My Dad

He looks like he is dying. This is to put it bluntly. We know he has the blood infection and it moved into the heart. They are treating it but he cannot talk, and he is unresponsive. He groans and leans toward me but can't open his eyes all the way anymore. He squeezed my hand though. I know he knew I was there. What is wrong?? This happened from gallbladder surgery to this! I am so upset. I want my dad to get well but he keeps getting worse. We have insisted on a second opinion and said we want him sent to Mayo. They agreed. They are making the transportation arrangements now. Please....if you pray....pray for my dad today.

Heading to the Hospital

Well according to my sister Donna my dad was delirious when she arrived at his house today when they were getting ready to leave for the hospital. The doc wanted to admit him. He was saying things that didn't make sense and was stumbling around and almost fell. Now they say his heart isn't beating right. It's really fast. I believe he is severely dehydrated as he hasn't been eating or drinking due to the pain. Obviously folks this isn't good so some prayers would be good. I think I better get up there because my mom really frankly doesn't understand medical talk too well. I think someone needs to be there to talk for my dad. I hope I get my statistics homework done at least somewhat tonight!