Running, Kicking, Tackling, and Laughing

November 15, 2004

Ack! It's been almost a month since I last updated. Sorry to keep you waiting.

School is rocking along, quickly but surely. Both Davis and Erin had outstanding report cards this six weeks--this despite Erin missing nine days of class and Davis having to fend for himself for an entire week while Walter and I stayed with Erin in Houston. We are so proud of both of them!

Since I last wrote, Erin has recovered from surgery completely and resumed all of her regular activities. One of her first soccer games back, the Knights took a shellacking by a team that was clearly bigger, stronger, faster, and more skilled at every position than we were. On the way back to the car (thinking that Erin might be a bit discouraged by having so many players dribble by her or pass around her), I ask Erin if she wanted to switch to a girls team next year. She looked at me like I had gone completely nuts and said, "No way, mom. I'm sticking with this team. These are my friends, and until they all quit I'm playing on this team."

In the final game last Thursday, Erin played a position we call "raptor," but to most aficionados would be a "stopper" or "defensive center midfielder." At least four times, players on the other squad knocked her to the turf--twice straight back on to her back. Did it scare me? A little. Did it phase her? Not a bit. Did she stop the ball and keep the other team from scoring? Every time. Those Knight really impressed me--from Jackson's rumble down the middle of the field to score his first goal ever, to Nico's gazelle-like strides as he chased down another ball along the sideline where his grandmother looked on and cheered, to Josh's fierce concentration on every play, to Dustin's quick put back when he saw the other team's goalie set the ball down, to Tori's unflagging effort in every, single minute she was in the game, to the beauty of Devin's natural God-given talent as he dribbled the ball towards the goal, every time he touched it, to Noah's delighted face when he made a steal and sent the ball headed to our end of the field, but mostly when I saw Erin Buenger--running, kicking, tackling, and laughing with her friends.

Erin has also continued practicing the art of storytelling for UIL. The big competition comes this weekend, and I think she is ready. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

It looks like the Buengers will have a couple of weeks respite from soccer. Davis's adult season ended couple of days before Erin's, and his high school team won't begin after school practice until the week following Thanksgiving. Wee hee! What will we do with all the free time? Erin has her plan, of course. It involves a large four-legged animal and a newly borrowed saddled (thanks so much Mary Helen, you have made Erin's year!). She starts horse back riding lessons on Thursday! Davis will begin practicing and studying for the Federal Reserve Challenge, an economics competition that will take place in February (when you are supposed to be an expert about something as complex as the country's economy, it doesn't hurt to start early). I guess, I will just grade more papers. That seems to be my lot in life.

For those of you keeping track--scan week will start December 7.

Before I close. . .Congratulations to Nico and Adam, new big brothers to the darling Ian Tjoelker. We are happy to have a new addition to our extended, adopted family.

Recovering

October 19, 2004

The Buengers have all recovered and are feeling much better now.

Erin has enjoyed being back at school immensely. For the last month she and several other students have been practicing for the UIL storytelling team. Yesterday was the tryout, and today Erin learned that she was one of three students chosen to compete in November. This has taken her mind off having to sit out of her other activities. So far, she has been pretty patient about getting back to soccer and dance. The real test will be this evening when she attends (but does not play in) a Knights soccer game. She is already in her uniform. I hope she doesn't try to trick me into letting her play. We also stopped by the dance studio this afternoon, during her regular rehearsal time. All the girls and teachers were happy to see Erin though we didn't linger long.

We finally heard from Erin's oncologist, Heidi Russell, this afternoon. As we suspected, the pathologists did not have much to add to their original report on the surgical biopsy. The surgeon removed the mass with good margins (healthy tissue encircling the mass) on all sides except the bone side (we didn't want to take too much tissue there and have spinal instability). We are hopeful that the surgery will take care of everything. We will go to Houston for scans between December 7 and 10, and will know more then about whether we have nipped this problem in the bud.

Erin's surgeon will check her out and remove her stiches on Thursday. If all is well, I think he will clear her for action. If so we will see you on the pitch on Saturday, as the Knights take the field with Erin back as team "raptor."

Sidelined

October 14, 2004

Sorry for the break in updates. The whole family took ill after we returned from Houston. Erin started with a stomach virus on Sunday, followed by Moo on Monday morning, and Davis and I Monday night. Walter held out until Tuesday night. We all recovered fairly quickly, although Erin's symptoms lingered longer. I guess because she was already a little weakened from her hospital stay last week.

Erin returned to school on Wednesday, and according to her teacher, the class spontaneously burst into applause when she walked in. I can tell you this really made the transition back much easier. She made it through the school day just fine, but by the time I picked her up she was one tired puppy.

So far, she hasn't noticed sitting out of soccer much. Monday she felt too bad to care, and Tuesday I felt that way myself. Next week will be the true test. We will practice on Monday and have a game on Tuesday, and no doubt she will think being sidelined in UNFAIR. By the following Saturday's game (October 23) she will be cleared for action!

Walter and I celebrate out wedding anniversary last night (20 years!). We all felt well enough to eat dinner together (a big breakthrough this week), but we are saving a night out on the town for later. Some of you might remember that when Walter and I first married, we committed to 64 years together (the same as his grandparents) before we were going to consider other options. We are still sticking with that deal!

All of our FPC friends should remember that this Sunday is our big celebration event for the Capital Stewardship Campaign. Let me end by quoting an e-mail I received this morning. It really speaks to the love we are surrounded with on a daily basis:

"To tell you the truth, every person in that church is pulling and praying for Erin and your family with all our might. One part of me says we could forget everything else and ask Erin to stand on a chair up front on Sunday and say, "We are trying to build a facility that Erin can grow up in and proudly bring her friends. What can you do to help?" That would seal the deal in a very few minutes."

Post-Op

October 9, 2004

Home at last! We rolled into town around 4:30 this afternoon.

October 8, 2004

Well, we are still in Houston. Erin's drain is still leaking a little. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

I got up very early this morning and drove in to CS to teach. My students have been so gracious and patient with my unplanned absence this week. This is the first time in all the times Erin has spent in the hospital (more than 80 days total) that I have left her all day to do something else. I left her in the able hands of her dad and Aunt Kat. I think they had a great time without me. Nico and Adam slipped over from Bryan with their mom Elaine, which really pumped up the party. I think there was a lot of puzzle working and game playing. Nico and Adam's dad, Mark, kept me company on my drive back to Houston so that Elaine wouldn't have to drive back alone after a very long day. Thanks, Mark.

When Erin's doctor was unable to release us from the hospital this evening, we asked for a pass. He gave us four hours away from the IV pole (and the hospital), so we all had a great meal at the Marriot and really enjoyed the time away. We got an additional unexpected surprise when we returned and the nurse told us that we didn't have to hook back up.

No news yet on pathology.

October 7, 2004

Well, it's still raining in Houston, not that it affects us too much, but it does make being away from our friends and family a little more drearier.

Yesterday after I posted, Erin had visitors. Mrs. Jacques (Erin's kindergarten teacher) and her daughter Katie dropped by unexpectedly, bringing books and good cheer. Soon after they left, Erin's school buddy and Knight teammate, Jackson, and his mom Shirlene arrived bearing a variety of goodies. Thanks especially to Mrs. Stafford's second grade class who practiced the right way to write letters by writing letters to Erin wishing her a quick recovery and telling her what they were studying in class. Thanks also to the awesome Mrs. Honea for organizing Erin's classmates to send the most beautiful get well cards! Mrs. Honea has also let some of Erin's classmates write e-greetings to her which is so uplifting for Erin. She feels like she is not even really missing much of school because everyone is keeping her so well informed. Jackson's cousin, Bailey, also sent a cute letter with an even cuter picture of herself. We are really adding to the decorations in the hospital room! Shirlene also brought my students exams from Monday. I guess I am going to have to cut back on the bon bons and champagne and get to work on some grading.

Last night we watched Anne (with an "e") of Green Gables, which is a very good and veeery long movie. We have also made progress on James and the Giant Peach. They are currently floating in the ocean about to be eaten by sharks. I don't know if we can stand the excitement. The jigsaw puzzle is coming along, although we are looking forward for Aunt Kat to arrive this evening so we can make real progress. She is such a puzzler.

Erin's appetite has finally picked up the pace, although it is not yet to its regular level. The pain management doctors DC'd (discontinued) Erin's personal morphine pump this morning. She hadn't used it much--just precautionarily before moving around or when she had gotten very stiff after being in the same position too long. Yesterday, she just used it once--right before her dressing change (not that it helped much. Erin has very sensitive skin and the tape really grabs hold of her skin and refuses to let go. Afterward, it required a trip to the gift store to make amends.). Anyway, getting exclusively on oral pain medication is one step closer to discharge. The only other (major) hurdle is the wound drain. We are headed in the right direction, but not close enough to slip it out yet. We are still hoping for the weekend, and the doctor confirms that that is what he has in mind, too. For you scientists out there--no path report yet.

Some of you have asked about the playroom. The 11th floor playroom has been open during the day, and we have played there some. It not quite as happening a place as the 9th floor playroom, and we have plenty of stuff to do in the room (thanks to all of our many friends who keep us well supplied).

We all really miss Davis and Moo (and Luke, Uma, and Kitty Muffin), and they miss us too. We are all out of practice on this hospitalization scene and look forward to all being back together.

October 6, 2004

Erin has begun to paper her hospital walls with the greeting you are sending. Thank you so much. It really brightens her day! We watched the debate together last night, though I have to say that neither VP candidate had exciting enough things to say to keep her awake. Last night went more smoothly than Monday night so we are all more rested today.

Erin's clinic nurses stopped by this morning for a visit and loved the fairy house she was building with materials the wonderful Mrs. Honea (Erin's teacher) sent to Houston with us. This was solace through work--she did not win the prize in the Radio Lollipop craft contest last night.

Erin's drain continues to, well, drain. This means she has to continue IV antibiotics, which in turn means she has to stay connected to an IV pole. The drainage does appear to be decreasing gradually. Erin had both physical therapy and occupational therapy this morning, which went well despite the fact that they interrupted the important work (fairy house constuction) Erin was doing. No word yet on what the doctor is thinking about the "go home" date nor any prelinimary pathology reports.

Just Fine

October 5, 2004

I think it speaks very clearly about how Erin is doing for me to tell you that she let Walter and I leave for a short lunch together while she stayed and played a game with her cousin, Matthew. Aunt Jan and Matthew both took off time from work to drive in and see us this morning, and it was something that Erin thoroughly enjoyed. Matt's friend Krysie who works as a neo-natal ICU nurse at Hermann Hospital served as their guide, and we really appreciate her visit as well.

Erin's pain is being controlled for the most part, and she has had what I consider to be a great first 24 hours post-surgery. We were all pretty exhausted last night and could have used a bit more rest during the night. The top-notch nurses here at TCH wanted us to feel extremely well cared for, so they kept coming in, messing with her pump, medicines, drain tube and so on.

We got up for the day around a quarter to six, finished reading The Witches and finished listening to The Magician's Nephew before breakfast. By the time Aunt Jan arrived at 11:30 we had also crossed watching The Black Stallion off of our To Do list, and seen the surgical resident, Erin's oncologist, and the doctor who did her surgery. Erin's napping now, and I wish I were, too.

Everyone's opinion about what the pathologist will turn up is still quite murky. The only thing I am sure about is that the pathology report will continue to pend for several more days. The current thinking is that the neoplasm is possibly therapy related, perhaps in some combination with a genetic tendency for Erin to have trouble suppressing tumor development. We may never really know. I think we have narrowed what will happen next down to three scenarios:

1. We will do nothing. The mass is gone and stays gone forever.
2. We will do nothing. The mass will eventually grow back and we will have to resect it again and consider other therapy.
3. We will not trust that the mass is gone for good, and we will follow up with some sort of therapy.

Obviously, we are all pulling for the prize behind Door Number 1.

Davis was scheduled to make his solo coaching debut this evening as the Knights take the field without Erin, but wet fields will sideline everybody. I think Davis is okay with that because he is hot to watch the VP debates tonight.

FOR MY STUDENTS: Although Erin is doing better than I expected, she will not feel well enough to be away from her mother for eight hours in a row tomorrow. Please check the announcement page and course schedule for further instructions. MGMT 466 STUDENTS YOUR EXAM WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AS SCHEDULED.

S-Day

October 4, 2004

Erin came through her surgery this afternoon just fine. It started about an hour later than scheduled (about a quarter until 2:00) and lasted just over four hours. She came out of anesthesia very quickly and was alert and fairly happy by the time we got into recovery. The surgeon told us that the best tumor pathologist in the city came and picked up the tumor himself to get started figuring out what Erin's mass was. I still don't think we'll know anything for a week or two, or more.

We made it to the room by a little after 8:00. Erin felt well enough to sit up and watch a bit of television and listen to some reading (Roald Dahl's The Witches). Her stomach got upset a little while ago (after effects of anesthesia, I hope).

Walter brought all of our stuff to the room, and now it looks pretty familiar. It's getting late, so I will sign off now. Thanks for all of your thanks and prayers today. So far it is working.

Run Up to Surgery

October 1, 2004

I spoke with the surgeons yesterday afternoon. Here is the plan: Erin will have surgery to remove the mass on Monday at 12:45. The surgery will last at least 3 hours, but longer if they need to proceed more cautiously. The doctors expect to take out the mass along with the surrounding muscle and bony parts, and they think she will be home by the weekend, barring complications. Before they will let her leave the hospital, she will have to have her pain controlled orally and all her systems working on their own. I don't expect her to return to school immediately, but we will play that by ear based on how she is feeling.

I will take the laptop with me and post updates each day to let you know how things are going. As in the past, you can send e-greetings by clicking on the link in the header of this page. Volunteers deliver these each day, and Erin loves to plaster them all over her hospital room.

In the meantime, Erin plans on having as much fun as she possibly can before she goes to the hospital. Yesterday she went to school early for the Branch Jump Rope for Heart , stayed after school for UIL, went home with her buddy Tori for some play and relaxation, and ended the afternoon at the Texas A&M soccer clinic. Tonight her close friend, Ayeesha is coming into town. They are both spending the night with another friend, Abby. The Knights have a game tomorrow morning, and Abby has her birthday party tomorrow afternoon. We will top it off with church on Sunday and youth choir Sunday afternoon, before heading down to Houston.

Thanks for checking in on us!