The mail arrived early today, about 11:30 am. I'm off this week (using up vacation days) and the mail man actually had something I needed to sign for, so I got the mail right away. Amidst the pile of material to go directly to the recycling box was a large white envelope from SUNY New Paltz for Sawyer. I knew it was the letter saying if he'd been accepted for early decision, deferred for regular admission or rejected. It stared at me all day long until Sawyer came home about 6:30 pm after wrestling practice. No surprise I suppose, it said he was accepted (so happy for him).
Next step is to send in the deposit and get signed up for an accepted open house in late March and orientation in July. They have concurrent orientations for parents and students. Sawyer already knows he wants to sign up for a first year hall that focuses on leadership and community service, with an extra focus on getting the students in the hall to bond and work together on academics and social activities.
So proud! And excited to be thinking about the next stage in his life toward learning more about life, independence, and his chosen field of environmental science.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Anticipation
Oh my, I didn't realize it's been so long since the last post! Time definitely seems to be moving quickly these last few months. Sawyer submitted his application to SUNY New Paltz (on the Hudson River, about 4.5 hours from home) for early decision in mid-November. He's now anxiously waiting for a letter to show up in the mailbox. The latest he should know is January 1st but we're certainly hoping for sooner!
Wrestling season has begun. It means an increase in activity and required energy level, something that is often hard to balance with staying healthy. The doctors increased one of his meds to knock his blood counts down a bit (they don't like them to be super good apparently), so that combined with long days of wrestling tournaments, exhausting practices, school, and life in general have meant that he's been struggling to ward off fatigue and colds. He's been home from school the last two days; doctor says he doesn't have strep throat, but he will be talking with his coach about backing off a bit. It's not an easy thing to ask, especially when you're committed to being a contributing team member. His coach is very understanding and willing to work with what Sawyer needs, but it does lead to some internal disappointment for his senior year.
We had a nice Thanksgiving with both sides of our family. Certainly the food was delicious and it's always so good to catch up with everyone. It won't be long and we'll all be together again for Christmas!
Wrestling season has begun. It means an increase in activity and required energy level, something that is often hard to balance with staying healthy. The doctors increased one of his meds to knock his blood counts down a bit (they don't like them to be super good apparently), so that combined with long days of wrestling tournaments, exhausting practices, school, and life in general have meant that he's been struggling to ward off fatigue and colds. He's been home from school the last two days; doctor says he doesn't have strep throat, but he will be talking with his coach about backing off a bit. It's not an easy thing to ask, especially when you're committed to being a contributing team member. His coach is very understanding and willing to work with what Sawyer needs, but it does lead to some internal disappointment for his senior year.
We had a nice Thanksgiving with both sides of our family. Certainly the food was delicious and it's always so good to catch up with everyone. It won't be long and we'll all be together again for Christmas!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween!
I don't have a photo (yet) but Sawyer went off to school today
dressed as the Ken doll - khaki pants, loafer shoes, pink polo shirt,
gray sweater draped over his shoulders, hair parted and slicked off to
the side. One of his female friends was going to bring in a Barbie doll
for him to carry around. Should make for a fun day!
The seniors have also been voting on superlatives for the yearbook, and Sawyer earned the "Best Nickname" - he has several that are a play on his first name: Saw, SawSaw, Sawsause, etc. Some of his friends even yell "saw, saw, saw" at sporting events while making a sawing motion when they're cheering him on.
Our visit to SUNY New Paltz last weekend was nice. Beautiful weather and the Hudson Valley still has lots of leaves on the trees, unlike the Alfred area and its bare trees. Sawyer was able to get a little more information about his major and take a tour of the chemistry labs. His application for early decision there is almost complete, just waiting for that darn college essay to be written. Deadline for submission is Nov. 15th with an answer by Jan. 1st.
Wrestling practice starts on Monday so soon we'll be heading into the schedule of evening wrestling meets. Not my favorite sport to watch but I certainly enjoy cheering everyone on.
Enjoy your day of haunts, skeletons, and trick-or-treats! I've already had my hand in the candy bucket at work this morning!
The seniors have also been voting on superlatives for the yearbook, and Sawyer earned the "Best Nickname" - he has several that are a play on his first name: Saw, SawSaw, Sawsause, etc. Some of his friends even yell "saw, saw, saw" at sporting events while making a sawing motion when they're cheering him on.
Our visit to SUNY New Paltz last weekend was nice. Beautiful weather and the Hudson Valley still has lots of leaves on the trees, unlike the Alfred area and its bare trees. Sawyer was able to get a little more information about his major and take a tour of the chemistry labs. His application for early decision there is almost complete, just waiting for that darn college essay to be written. Deadline for submission is Nov. 15th with an answer by Jan. 1st.
Wrestling practice starts on Monday so soon we'll be heading into the schedule of evening wrestling meets. Not my favorite sport to watch but I certainly enjoy cheering everyone on.
Enjoy your day of haunts, skeletons, and trick-or-treats! I've already had my hand in the candy bucket at work this morning!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Hitting the Trails
Mark and Sawyer spent the long Columbus Day weekend in the Adirondacks. Sawyer was able to check off two more of the high peaks off his list (there's 46 in all). The weather was perfect: sunny, comfortable temperatures. They both very much enjoyed the time together and recognized how far Sawyer has come -- it was two years ago that he was diagnosed. Year One was a tough day-by-day struggle and Year Two was a rebuilding of the body and mind. We're blessed that he's healthy in all respects and ready for physical and mental challenges.
This Sunday they will again be on the trail, in Wellsville, for the annual Ridgewalk. They've signed up for the 15 mile hike and expect to be slogging through some mud with the predicted rain this week. But they'll enjoy it anyway!
Mark and I celebrate our 21st anniversary today; certainly a day we remember for our wedding so many years ago, but also for the fear two years ago as it was the day we learned something was seriously wrong with Sawyer's health. Not enough parents are as lucky as us to have a positive outcome after such a diagnosis. But with everyone's prayers, love and support, we've made it to today and are filled with joy. We hope you are as well for your own reasons for celebrating life.
This Sunday they will again be on the trail, in Wellsville, for the annual Ridgewalk. They've signed up for the 15 mile hike and expect to be slogging through some mud with the predicted rain this week. But they'll enjoy it anyway!
Mark and I celebrate our 21st anniversary today; certainly a day we remember for our wedding so many years ago, but also for the fear two years ago as it was the day we learned something was seriously wrong with Sawyer's health. Not enough parents are as lucky as us to have a positive outcome after such a diagnosis. But with everyone's prayers, love and support, we've made it to today and are filled with joy. We hope you are as well for your own reasons for celebrating life.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Beautiful Fall
What a gorgeous weekend! Warm weather, sunshine and fall colors, just perfect. On Saturday, Sawyer and I participated in the University's Horse to Holler Hike (a 7-mile hike through the woods from the University's Equestrian Center, ending at Pollywogg Holler and their yummy wood-fired pizza). Mark was the principal organizer of the event and was busy making sure everything went smoothly (which it did). About 150 people participated and all seemed to enjoy it. Sawyer was glad to be back in the woods, feeling strong and healthy. He's looking forward to a longer hike in a few weeks with Mark in the Adirondacks.
Part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the CURE Childhood Cancer organization in Rochester.
Part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the CURE Childhood Cancer organization in Rochester.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Things are smooth
Love to report that life is pretty normal at the McFadden house! Sawyer's plugging away at the usual school work and enjoying his experience at AU taking his first college class (calculus). I know I can't say the same thing about my own experience with college calc!
He continues to stay physically active, is staying involved with the boy scout troop as an adult leader, is working on his college application and essay, and felt pretty proud to get officially registered to vote.
His next appointment in Rochester is Monday. As long as all goes as expected, it should be a short appointment with a quick physical and short infusion of vincristine.
Mark is busy arranging a hiking trip to the Adirondacks in mid-October. That will be a huge mental boost for Sawyer to be able to accomplish a hike and knock off a high-peak or two.
We submitted photos to his school for his senior yearbook. They wanted the official portrait, plus three others (a current candid and two baby/young shots). I couldn't resist showing you the ones we submitted from his younger years. He said one of the female yearbook staff (a friend of his) has already commented on just how cute he was!
He continues to stay physically active, is staying involved with the boy scout troop as an adult leader, is working on his college application and essay, and felt pretty proud to get officially registered to vote.
His next appointment in Rochester is Monday. As long as all goes as expected, it should be a short appointment with a quick physical and short infusion of vincristine.
Mark is busy arranging a hiking trip to the Adirondacks in mid-October. That will be a huge mental boost for Sawyer to be able to accomplish a hike and knock off a high-peak or two.
We submitted photos to his school for his senior yearbook. They wanted the official portrait, plus three others (a current candid and two baby/young shots). I couldn't resist showing you the ones we submitted from his younger years. He said one of the female yearbook staff (a friend of his) has already commented on just how cute he was!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Gearing up for the new school year
A week from today and it's back to school time! I think it kind of boggles Sawyer's mind that he's going to be a senior; you spend so many years looking up to that group as you go through the grades, thinking it seems like forever before you're one of the top dogs. Now, boom, it's here! At this point his class is planning on going to Philadelphia in April for their senior trip and I know ideas are rolling around for a senior class prank.
This week a number of his classmates joined Sawyer at Alfred University for calculus class. Four mornings a week they will arrive on campus for class at 8:20 am, then drive to school afterward. We're delighted that he was able to get into the class since math is a high priority for the program he's interested in at SUNY New Paltz. And the AU professor he's taking it with has designed an entirely new curriculum and approach to teaching calculus that will make the class more enjoyable and understandable. It's being done under an NSF grant with a "homemade" textbook that thankfully only cost $20. I know we'll get sticker shock next year when we start purchasing college books.
Sawyer has also resumed his job at the University's dining hall this week. He'll work a couple nights each week. It's wonderful to see him starting to really be independent and taking charge of his life!
And.... we saw the shots from his senior picture session last night. Wow! Loved them! We are fortunate to have a number of professional photographers in our area, but the choice was easy for us to pick since we've known Janet for a number of years and have seen quite a few examples of her work. She put together a video slide show of some of the best shots that you can watch by clicking here. We had a some family shots taken as well that aren't included, but take my word for it they turned out great! We've ordered some professional prints and will be getting the digital files as well.
And yes, Sawyer is still receiving treatment. Daily meds with a trip to the hospital once a month to check in with the doctor and receive an infusion. Same pattern, repeated between now and January, 2015. He continues to do well and one wouldn't have a clue that he was "sick" if you didn't know it! Thanks as always for your continued caring, thoughts and prayers.
This week a number of his classmates joined Sawyer at Alfred University for calculus class. Four mornings a week they will arrive on campus for class at 8:20 am, then drive to school afterward. We're delighted that he was able to get into the class since math is a high priority for the program he's interested in at SUNY New Paltz. And the AU professor he's taking it with has designed an entirely new curriculum and approach to teaching calculus that will make the class more enjoyable and understandable. It's being done under an NSF grant with a "homemade" textbook that thankfully only cost $20. I know we'll get sticker shock next year when we start purchasing college books.
Sawyer has also resumed his job at the University's dining hall this week. He'll work a couple nights each week. It's wonderful to see him starting to really be independent and taking charge of his life!
And.... we saw the shots from his senior picture session last night. Wow! Loved them! We are fortunate to have a number of professional photographers in our area, but the choice was easy for us to pick since we've known Janet for a number of years and have seen quite a few examples of her work. She put together a video slide show of some of the best shots that you can watch by clicking here. We had a some family shots taken as well that aren't included, but take my word for it they turned out great! We've ordered some professional prints and will be getting the digital files as well.
And yes, Sawyer is still receiving treatment. Daily meds with a trip to the hospital once a month to check in with the doctor and receive an infusion. Same pattern, repeated between now and January, 2015. He continues to do well and one wouldn't have a clue that he was "sick" if you didn't know it! Thanks as always for your continued caring, thoughts and prayers.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Last few weeks of summer
While my summer is officially over (back to work today; good thing I really enjoy my job), Sawyer has a few weeks left before starting his last year of high school. He'll be gearing up for college applications (SUNY New Paltz is still his top choice, SUNY ESF #2, Green Mountain College #3) and looking at potential scholarships. He's having his senior pictures taken on Friday; looking forward to seeing those!
He was the picture of health and strength last night when he walked in the door about 10 pm after spending the day on the farm helping my dad with hay. Wish I had taken a picture. Baseball hat, tousled hair, tank top, ripped jeans, muscled arms and chest, slight tan, relaxed smile. With the loading and unloading, he handled over 1200 bales!
He got a call from the Make-A-Wish office asking if he'd be on a Rochester radio show in a few weeks. The radio station does an annual on-air fundraising event for Make-A-Wish and they want to record an interview with Sawyer talking about his wish being granted.
September 7th is a 5K walk/run in Rochester to support the CURE organization. We'll be participating and would love company if anyone else is so inclined. We have greatly benefited from CURE's services and hope to continue to help out with their fundraisers. Mark has sold tickets for a raffle a few times and we both volunteered last year at a large brunch/auction. Information for the walk/run can be found at http://curekidscancer.com/cure-5th-annual-walk-and-5k/
He was the picture of health and strength last night when he walked in the door about 10 pm after spending the day on the farm helping my dad with hay. Wish I had taken a picture. Baseball hat, tousled hair, tank top, ripped jeans, muscled arms and chest, slight tan, relaxed smile. With the loading and unloading, he handled over 1200 bales!
He got a call from the Make-A-Wish office asking if he'd be on a Rochester radio show in a few weeks. The radio station does an annual on-air fundraising event for Make-A-Wish and they want to record an interview with Sawyer talking about his wish being granted.
September 7th is a 5K walk/run in Rochester to support the CURE organization. We'll be participating and would love company if anyone else is so inclined. We have greatly benefited from CURE's services and hope to continue to help out with their fundraisers. Mark has sold tickets for a raffle a few times and we both volunteered last year at a large brunch/auction. Information for the walk/run can be found at http://curekidscancer.com/cure-5th-annual-walk-and-5k/
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Alaska adventure
It's true, Alaska is just as beautiful as you think. Gorgeous waterways and mountains all around, all the time. We certainly treasure the gift of the Make-A-Wish cruise and the memories we have from it. We "sailed" on Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas ship which held about 2100 passengers and 850 crew (very few were from the United States so it was fun to experience a wide range of accents). It's considered a medium size ship; makes me think the big ones must be gi-normous because this was was no small object!
After a nice stretch limo ride to the Rochester airport and uneventful flights through Chicago to Vancouver. We boarded through a very smooth process in Vancouver and went up what's considered the "inside passage." After cruising at sea for the first day we docked the following days at Ketchikan, Icy Straits, Juneau, and Skagway. Each of those days we were able to get off the ship and explore. Sawyer and his friend Dan were able to go on tours in each town that got them a few miles out into the wilderness to look for bears (no sightings unfortunately, but they saw lots of eagles and interesting plant material), walk along the Mendenhall glacier, ride a tram up a hillside in Juneau, climb a 70 foot cliff, rappel down an 80 foot one, and go along a zipline. They both really enjoyed the nature trails and walks but especially liked the cliff adventures.
The amazing sight of the trip was the Hubbard Glacier. Our last full day was spent cruising at sea, and along the way we stopped in a bay to see the glacier. The crew was very excited since the last few trips they had been unable to see it since it was socked in fog, but we had a clear, sunny morning and the ship was able to get within a mile of it (which, in ship terms, is very close). We heard pieces break off and create what is called "white thunder" - a large crack that reverberates across the bay. The glacier was huge, and striated with beautiful white and blue ice.
The crew also said we lucked out with the weather. The week before had been cloudy, foggy and rainy. We had clear blue skies each day with temps in the upper 70s. I packed a variety of layers and only wore about a quarter of what I brought!
On board there were lots of options to keep us busy. Two pools, hot tubs, lectures, theater and musical performances, a casino (we just walked through, didn't try our luck), movie theater, small library, pubs, mini golf course, rock climbing wall, fitness center, etc. Sawyer and Dan were able to roam about on their own schedule and do what they wanted.
There was a basket of goodies and coupons for us in the room when we arrived, plus a dozen roses and a bottle of chilled champagne! It was part of the gifts on behalf of the crew and Royal Caribbean for Make-A-Wish families (there was one other family on-board, we met them on our last day). We were also given Wishes-At-Sea t-shirts to wear for the fundraising event the company holds for Make-A-Wish. They sold the t-shirts for $10 and held a mile walk around their jogging track. They raised $2000! Our room worked just fine for the four of us - there were two pullman bunk beds that folded down from the ceiling for Sawyer and Dan. They (and Mark) were good about keeping things mostly picked up and not spread out everywhere :)
Other perks were a tour of the kitchen galley and the bridge. The ship has its own butcher shop, fish shop, bakery, pastry chef, soup chef, etc. They work 6 months straight (7 days a week, no days off), then have 2 months off. The various crew throughout the ship had 4, 6, or 8 month contracts, then 2 months off. Depending on their job, they might get a day off, or at least some hours in the middle of the day to be able to get off the ship and explore. The crew was terrific: genuinely friendly and seemed glad to be working there.
We found the food to be well-prepared, fresh, and with an eye toward healthy. Rarely was there anything deep fried and/or greasy. We ate primarily in a large cafe instead of the more formal dining room. It was an all-you-can eat buffet, much like eating in a college cafeteria, but with a much broader range of options and ethnic choices. It was different everyday and even though there was always a selection of desserts they were often low-fat and/or no sugar. Our favorite was the self serve soft yogurt machine!
We ended by dis-embarking in Seward and taking a 2.5 hours bus ride to Anchorage. It was a lovely ride through valleys with beautiful mountains, lakes and streams on both sides.
That's a basic overview, I don't want to bore anyone with more details! I'd recommend the trip certainly. Mark even enjoyed it, and I never thought I'd get to go on a cruise with him!
After a nice stretch limo ride to the Rochester airport and uneventful flights through Chicago to Vancouver. We boarded through a very smooth process in Vancouver and went up what's considered the "inside passage." After cruising at sea for the first day we docked the following days at Ketchikan, Icy Straits, Juneau, and Skagway. Each of those days we were able to get off the ship and explore. Sawyer and his friend Dan were able to go on tours in each town that got them a few miles out into the wilderness to look for bears (no sightings unfortunately, but they saw lots of eagles and interesting plant material), walk along the Mendenhall glacier, ride a tram up a hillside in Juneau, climb a 70 foot cliff, rappel down an 80 foot one, and go along a zipline. They both really enjoyed the nature trails and walks but especially liked the cliff adventures.
The amazing sight of the trip was the Hubbard Glacier. Our last full day was spent cruising at sea, and along the way we stopped in a bay to see the glacier. The crew was very excited since the last few trips they had been unable to see it since it was socked in fog, but we had a clear, sunny morning and the ship was able to get within a mile of it (which, in ship terms, is very close). We heard pieces break off and create what is called "white thunder" - a large crack that reverberates across the bay. The glacier was huge, and striated with beautiful white and blue ice.
The crew also said we lucked out with the weather. The week before had been cloudy, foggy and rainy. We had clear blue skies each day with temps in the upper 70s. I packed a variety of layers and only wore about a quarter of what I brought!
On board there were lots of options to keep us busy. Two pools, hot tubs, lectures, theater and musical performances, a casino (we just walked through, didn't try our luck), movie theater, small library, pubs, mini golf course, rock climbing wall, fitness center, etc. Sawyer and Dan were able to roam about on their own schedule and do what they wanted.
There was a basket of goodies and coupons for us in the room when we arrived, plus a dozen roses and a bottle of chilled champagne! It was part of the gifts on behalf of the crew and Royal Caribbean for Make-A-Wish families (there was one other family on-board, we met them on our last day). We were also given Wishes-At-Sea t-shirts to wear for the fundraising event the company holds for Make-A-Wish. They sold the t-shirts for $10 and held a mile walk around their jogging track. They raised $2000! Our room worked just fine for the four of us - there were two pullman bunk beds that folded down from the ceiling for Sawyer and Dan. They (and Mark) were good about keeping things mostly picked up and not spread out everywhere :)
Other perks were a tour of the kitchen galley and the bridge. The ship has its own butcher shop, fish shop, bakery, pastry chef, soup chef, etc. They work 6 months straight (7 days a week, no days off), then have 2 months off. The various crew throughout the ship had 4, 6, or 8 month contracts, then 2 months off. Depending on their job, they might get a day off, or at least some hours in the middle of the day to be able to get off the ship and explore. The crew was terrific: genuinely friendly and seemed glad to be working there.
We found the food to be well-prepared, fresh, and with an eye toward healthy. Rarely was there anything deep fried and/or greasy. We ate primarily in a large cafe instead of the more formal dining room. It was an all-you-can eat buffet, much like eating in a college cafeteria, but with a much broader range of options and ethnic choices. It was different everyday and even though there was always a selection of desserts they were often low-fat and/or no sugar. Our favorite was the self serve soft yogurt machine!
We ended by dis-embarking in Seward and taking a 2.5 hours bus ride to Anchorage. It was a lovely ride through valleys with beautiful mountains, lakes and streams on both sides.
That's a basic overview, I don't want to bore anyone with more details! I'd recommend the trip certainly. Mark even enjoyed it, and I never thought I'd get to go on a cruise with him!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Surprise gift basket!
A surprise box showed up with our mail today! The return address was the Make-A-Wish office in Buffalo and once opened Sawyer discovered a basket filled with sports-related gifts, home baked chocolate chip cookies and lemon poppy seed bread, and a couple of gift cards! We later found out that one of the Allstate Insurance offices in Buffalo wanted to put together a few wish baskets and they received Sawyer's name along with a list of his interests. They did a super job picking things out! And such a thoughtful thing to do! I'll have to keep this idea in mind for something my office can do in the future. It would be easy to do and can make a big difference in a child's day.
We're almost packed and ready to leave early Thursday morning for the cruise. Tomorrow will be a day for cleaning the house and last minute details. Hopefully we'll be able to sleep well even though we're super excited!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Lake George and Cruise Preparation
We had a great week at Lake George! Couldn't have picked a better week: high 90s, high humidity, no breeze. Water temps were perfect, food was great and it was wonderful to have a week with long-time friends.
We visited Green Mountain College in Vermont before getting to the lake. Sawyer liked it there but thought it was too much like Alfred and he wants something a bit different. Mark and I, on the other hand, are ready to move there, get jobs and take a bunch of their classes!
We just met with the Make-A-Wish volunteers who delivered some more details about our Alaskan cruise. We leave on Thursday morning! Still wondering how a limousine is actually going to make it up our road and/or to our house!
We will fly to Vancouver on Thursday, board the ship on Friday morning, cruise north hopefully seeing glaciers, and all sorts of wildlife. And trying not to overeat along the way! We end in Seward on August 2nd and fly home from there. I'll post a few photos and an update when we get back.
Our hugs and prayers go out to friends of ours whose son will shortly be beginning his own cancer "journey" - luckily prognosis is good but we know the six months he'll receive treatment will be challenging. Sawyer had a chance to talk with them a bit and move into the role of advisor and supporter. I expect he'll have more opportunity to do that in the future.
We visited Green Mountain College in Vermont before getting to the lake. Sawyer liked it there but thought it was too much like Alfred and he wants something a bit different. Mark and I, on the other hand, are ready to move there, get jobs and take a bunch of their classes!
We just met with the Make-A-Wish volunteers who delivered some more details about our Alaskan cruise. We leave on Thursday morning! Still wondering how a limousine is actually going to make it up our road and/or to our house!
We will fly to Vancouver on Thursday, board the ship on Friday morning, cruise north hopefully seeing glaciers, and all sorts of wildlife. And trying not to overeat along the way! We end in Seward on August 2nd and fly home from there. I'll post a few photos and an update when we get back.
Our hugs and prayers go out to friends of ours whose son will shortly be beginning his own cancer "journey" - luckily prognosis is good but we know the six months he'll receive treatment will be challenging. Sawyer had a chance to talk with them a bit and move into the role of advisor and supporter. I expect he'll have more opportunity to do that in the future.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Boys State
It was a busy week for Sawyer at Boys State, held on the Morrisville campus. Over 1000 boys from all across the state were bussed in and housed in the campus residence halls. Each floor was a town, each hall a county. All together they make up Boys State, a fictitious place designed to reflect the governmental and political process in New York State.
Overall he liked the experience. He knows that only a small handful of are chosen to attend and he liked the insight into how things work. Everyone is assigned or elected into a position of some sort. He was the Parks Commissioner for his town. He didn't have to do anything specific but that was his title. Others who are more outspoken or politically ambitious were able to run for public office, and one gets elected governor.
The only aspect Sawyer didn't like was the boot camp atmosphere. Marines are part of Boys State (which is run and sponsored by the American Legion: Sawyer and another boy from Alfred were sponsored by the Almond American Legion). Sawyer understood before going that the Marines were there to help facilitate the movement of 1000 boys and knew there would be some type of military aspect. But he was unprepared for the extent of it. He thought the Marine assigned to his floor was a bit too harsh and demanding. He had backed off a bit by the end of the week but it left a sour taste in Sawyer's mouth.
I imagine, like many things, it will take some time for him to reflect on the experience before he truly understands the impact and what he learned.
Now we're in middle of packing for our annual camping trip to Lake George. About 30 of us (almost all with Alfred U. degrees) converge on the lake for primitive camping, communal meals, relaxing, time in and on the water, and ignoring the realities of life. It's our 10th year of what we call PirateFest. Let the shenanigans begin!
Luckily, each of Sawyer's treatments is falling at a convenient time in our summer schedule, although his one later this month did need to be moved a week to accommodate our upcoming Make-A-Wish Alaskan cruise!
Overall he liked the experience. He knows that only a small handful of are chosen to attend and he liked the insight into how things work. Everyone is assigned or elected into a position of some sort. He was the Parks Commissioner for his town. He didn't have to do anything specific but that was his title. Others who are more outspoken or politically ambitious were able to run for public office, and one gets elected governor.
The only aspect Sawyer didn't like was the boot camp atmosphere. Marines are part of Boys State (which is run and sponsored by the American Legion: Sawyer and another boy from Alfred were sponsored by the Almond American Legion). Sawyer understood before going that the Marines were there to help facilitate the movement of 1000 boys and knew there would be some type of military aspect. But he was unprepared for the extent of it. He thought the Marine assigned to his floor was a bit too harsh and demanding. He had backed off a bit by the end of the week but it left a sour taste in Sawyer's mouth.
I imagine, like many things, it will take some time for him to reflect on the experience before he truly understands the impact and what he learned.
Now we're in middle of packing for our annual camping trip to Lake George. About 30 of us (almost all with Alfred U. degrees) converge on the lake for primitive camping, communal meals, relaxing, time in and on the water, and ignoring the realities of life. It's our 10th year of what we call PirateFest. Let the shenanigans begin!
Luckily, each of Sawyer's treatments is falling at a convenient time in our summer schedule, although his one later this month did need to be moved a week to accommodate our upcoming Make-A-Wish Alaskan cruise!
Monday, June 24, 2013
Eagle Scout
The Eagle Scout ceremony was nice: simple yet symbolic. Sawyer was very pleased with how it went and is now part of a fairly elite group!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
End of School
Hard to believe the end of the school year is here! Sawyer's last full day was on Monday. He had his English regents test yesterday and is taking the US history test today. Then he has a few days off until his chemistry one next Tuesday. He's pretty confident about the tests, luckily, and doesn't stress over them.
The tree pollens are out in full force, causing Sawyer to have sinus issues and overall fatigue. Hopefully it won't last long! I know allergies have been giving too many people extra trouble this year.
Next week will be the ceremony for Sawyer to receive his Eagle Scout award. Later in the week we're going to trek back to SUNY New Paltz for a second look at the school. We'll meet with the faculty member who chairs the Environmental Science department, then spend a couple of days with some good friends who live not too far away from there. We can help their boys celebrate the end of school!
Then Sawyer will be off for his week at Boys State, being held at SUNY Morrisville. He's looking forward to the experience. If nothing else he recognizes that it will give him a good idea of what it will feel like to go off to college.
Now, we just all have to wrap our minds around the fact that he's a high school SENIOR!!!
The tree pollens are out in full force, causing Sawyer to have sinus issues and overall fatigue. Hopefully it won't last long! I know allergies have been giving too many people extra trouble this year.
Next week will be the ceremony for Sawyer to receive his Eagle Scout award. Later in the week we're going to trek back to SUNY New Paltz for a second look at the school. We'll meet with the faculty member who chairs the Environmental Science department, then spend a couple of days with some good friends who live not too far away from there. We can help their boys celebrate the end of school!
Then Sawyer will be off for his week at Boys State, being held at SUNY Morrisville. He's looking forward to the experience. If nothing else he recognizes that it will give him a good idea of what it will feel like to go off to college.
Now, we just all have to wrap our minds around the fact that he's a high school SENIOR!!!
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Another Milestone: Eagle Scout
Sawyer had his official Board of Review in Hornell on Monday night with the District representatives who gave their blessing on his many years of scout work and his eagle scout project. May 20, 2013 is the official date he became an Eagle Scout. Mark and I were able to go but had to wait outside the room until after the four-person committee had "interviewed" Sawyer. We went in when they were ready to share their decision. I knew it was a big deal but surprised even myself when my eyes filled with tears when it was announced by the committee chair. This is a goal Sawyer has had since first grade when he joined scouting as a Tiger Cub. We're so proud of him! And thankful to his scoutmaster and other adult leaders for guiding him through the process over the years.
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McFadden family with Sawyer's scoutmaster
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Birthday!!
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Guess who turns 18 on Wednesday, May 1st?!
He and Mark enjoyed Sunday's good weather and attended a Rochester Red Wings baseball game. They hope to catch a few more over the summer.
The prom is coming up on Saturday. Can't wait to see Sawyer dressed in a tux! (Don't worry - I'll post a photo!) His school holds a junior/senior prom (dinner & dance) at the Lake Lodge in Alfred.
Sawyer also takes his SAT test on Saturday. It's the beginning of the end - tests and more tests, all leading to the last day of school in about 5 weeks. Then we get to try to grasp the concept of him being a senior in high school!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Shoulder issues
A couple of years ago Sawyer had a shoulder injury from wrestling practice. Nothing really bad, just popped the rotator cuff on his right side enough for it to be sore for a little while. It hurts on and off, depending on what he does. Floor hockey in gym class irritated it enough this winter that we decided to have it checked out.
He went to an orthopedic specialist in Rochester who took x-rays, determined he needed to see better and ordered a couple of MRI scans: one of the shoulder, and one of the upper arm bone to have a look at a "normal" bone. The extra scan was ordered because of his leukemia treatment. So guess which scan came back with the potential problem? Yup, the "normal" bone. The scan showed some spots that the doctor assumed are bone infarcts caused by his chemotherapy. A bone infarct is where a spot of the bone dies because it doesn't get enough blood. If you look up information online you'll see that people get these all the time and most don't even know it.
But, since they showed up in his scan, it meant we next had to visit an orthopedic oncologist: who knew there was such a thing?! She looked at his x-rays and scans and agreed that the spots were indeed most likely caused by his treatment, and that if a full body scan was done there would be more spots on other bones. But, the upshot is that there's nothing to be concerned about. It's a normal occurrence and since the spots are on the inside of the bone they are protected by the hard outer covering. It's not like his bones are brittle or going to fall apart. The bone regenerates and the spots will at some point down the road go away (might be years or decades though).
One spot on the top of his shoulder will mean, however, that he needs to throw the shot put (for track) with his left hand and make sure not to lift really, really heavy amounts during weight lifting. She said generally problems occur in the shoulders and hips, around the joints. But she wasn't particularly concerned with anything. He goes back in 6 months for a follow-up with her. She said most likely if he has aches and pains, they're just normal teenager aches and pains.
Not to say that this doesn't still cause stress for Sawyer. It's one more thing to worry about inside his body. Plus we still have to go back to the first doctor to find out how he wants to treat the shoulder injury. It might be a case of just not doing things that irritate it, it might be physical therapy, or possibly surgery.
On the bright side, spring is here, Sawyer can get outside and be active, and in only a few weeks will celebrate his 18th birthday! We did some birthday shopping after the appointment with the orthopedic oncologist on Friday (I told him that women call it "shopping therapy" since we often go shopping if we're bummed about something). He found some good stuff at his favorite store, Eastern Mountain Sports. And, while at his chemotherapy treatment on Friday the nurse practitioner praised him for being so athletic and keeping his muscles strong and limber. She said that many teenagers in his situation are having issues with neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the hands and feet) and foot drop from their treatments. He's not experiencing any of that, so one more thing to be grateful for!
Happy spring everyone!
He went to an orthopedic specialist in Rochester who took x-rays, determined he needed to see better and ordered a couple of MRI scans: one of the shoulder, and one of the upper arm bone to have a look at a "normal" bone. The extra scan was ordered because of his leukemia treatment. So guess which scan came back with the potential problem? Yup, the "normal" bone. The scan showed some spots that the doctor assumed are bone infarcts caused by his chemotherapy. A bone infarct is where a spot of the bone dies because it doesn't get enough blood. If you look up information online you'll see that people get these all the time and most don't even know it.
But, since they showed up in his scan, it meant we next had to visit an orthopedic oncologist: who knew there was such a thing?! She looked at his x-rays and scans and agreed that the spots were indeed most likely caused by his treatment, and that if a full body scan was done there would be more spots on other bones. But, the upshot is that there's nothing to be concerned about. It's a normal occurrence and since the spots are on the inside of the bone they are protected by the hard outer covering. It's not like his bones are brittle or going to fall apart. The bone regenerates and the spots will at some point down the road go away (might be years or decades though).
One spot on the top of his shoulder will mean, however, that he needs to throw the shot put (for track) with his left hand and make sure not to lift really, really heavy amounts during weight lifting. She said generally problems occur in the shoulders and hips, around the joints. But she wasn't particularly concerned with anything. He goes back in 6 months for a follow-up with her. She said most likely if he has aches and pains, they're just normal teenager aches and pains.
Not to say that this doesn't still cause stress for Sawyer. It's one more thing to worry about inside his body. Plus we still have to go back to the first doctor to find out how he wants to treat the shoulder injury. It might be a case of just not doing things that irritate it, it might be physical therapy, or possibly surgery.
On the bright side, spring is here, Sawyer can get outside and be active, and in only a few weeks will celebrate his 18th birthday! We did some birthday shopping after the appointment with the orthopedic oncologist on Friday (I told him that women call it "shopping therapy" since we often go shopping if we're bummed about something). He found some good stuff at his favorite store, Eastern Mountain Sports. And, while at his chemotherapy treatment on Friday the nurse practitioner praised him for being so athletic and keeping his muscles strong and limber. She said that many teenagers in his situation are having issues with neuropathy (tingling and numbness in the hands and feet) and foot drop from their treatments. He's not experiencing any of that, so one more thing to be grateful for!
Happy spring everyone!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Happy friends
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What a great group of friends! We've enjoyed watching them grow over the years and develop into smart, fun-loving, respectful, and caring young men. Congratulations to them all for being recognized for their character, leadership and skills as part of the National Honor Society.
Life lessons
Last night was the National Honor Society induction! It was held at the Lake Lodge in Alfred (same place Mark and I had our wedding reception!). We enjoyed a nice dinner first followed by the ceremony led by the student members of the society. Parents had been asked ahead of time to write something about their son/daughter to be read aloud to recognize their accomplishment. One of Sawyer's good friends read what Mark and I had written; he did a great job! It made the ceremony much more personal and I think the students enjoyed hearing what their parents had to say. I think too often parents don't take the time to let their kids know what they're doing right and what specific qualities they have that make them stand out; this was a nice way to make us stop, think, and articulate.
Since it was a "dress up" event, Sawyer needed to step up his attire from the norm, meaning it was also time to learn how to tie a tie and shine his shoes. So his life lesson the night before was just that; skills we know he's going to need more and more as the years go by!
Track practice continues after school and Sawyer is learning to listen to his body to know just how much he can push himself with running and weights. Too much and he drains his energy reserve for the next day. Overall he's happy with his progress in re-developing muscle tone and getting back into shape. It's certainly a great mental outlet for him: school work and pressure will be heavy during the next couple of months as he prepares to take the SAT test in early May and two AP exams shortly after that.
School break starts on Friday (yay! says Sawyer) - we're going to visit SUNY New Paltz and Bard College on Monday and Tuesday for his next round of college visits. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the driving; the Hudson Valley is so beautiful that a couple sunny, blue sky days would be perfect for the trip.
Since it was a "dress up" event, Sawyer needed to step up his attire from the norm, meaning it was also time to learn how to tie a tie and shine his shoes. So his life lesson the night before was just that; skills we know he's going to need more and more as the years go by!
Track practice continues after school and Sawyer is learning to listen to his body to know just how much he can push himself with running and weights. Too much and he drains his energy reserve for the next day. Overall he's happy with his progress in re-developing muscle tone and getting back into shape. It's certainly a great mental outlet for him: school work and pressure will be heavy during the next couple of months as he prepares to take the SAT test in early May and two AP exams shortly after that.
School break starts on Friday (yay! says Sawyer) - we're going to visit SUNY New Paltz and Bard College on Monday and Tuesday for his next round of college visits. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the driving; the Hudson Valley is so beautiful that a couple sunny, blue sky days would be perfect for the trip.
Friday, March 8, 2013
National Honor Society
Sawyer was in a very good mood when he came home from track practice last night - it was so heartwarming to see him bouncing with energy and sparkles in his eyes. He was thrilled that he's finally feeling better. He was tired from his track workout but not the dead-tired and fatigued that he has been experiencing.
He was also very happy to have found out that he will be inducted into the National Honor Society! There's a dinner and ceremony later this month, labelled as a formal event "so dress accordingly." I offered to take him shopping to pick out some new clothes (he needs a few more dress shirts, pants and tie anyway), and was delighted with his positive response -- it's not often he wants to go clothes shopping! We'll probably end up looking at Peebles in Hornell since I don't think we'll have a chance to go to Rochester or Elmira before then (but again, we'll have to be dropping off his Eagle Scout binder at the Scout Store in Elmira... so, maybe....)
He was also very happy to have found out that he will be inducted into the National Honor Society! There's a dinner and ceremony later this month, labelled as a formal event "so dress accordingly." I offered to take him shopping to pick out some new clothes (he needs a few more dress shirts, pants and tie anyway), and was delighted with his positive response -- it's not often he wants to go clothes shopping! We'll probably end up looking at Peebles in Hornell since I don't think we'll have a chance to go to Rochester or Elmira before then (but again, we'll have to be dropping off his Eagle Scout binder at the Scout Store in Elmira... so, maybe....)
Monday, February 25, 2013
Boys State nomination
We met with a couple local representatives from the American Legion tonight who wanted to give Sawyer information on the Boys State program. Sawyer and 3 other boys from his school have been selected. Sawyer is interested in attending so hopefully it works out. It would be the last week in June on the SUNY Morrisville campus.
He's finally feeling better after about 3 weeks of being tired and stuffed up. The doctors say he was just fighting off a virus (who isn't these days?!) and it just took awhile to shake it off. On one hand it was good that he just had a 5 day break from school (he missed 5 days in addition), but on the other hand it's not fun to feel sick on your school vacation. He's also mostly finished his paperwork for the Eagle Scout project. Just needs to write a short paragraph about future goals, print it out and get a few signatures. We're really proud of him for his accomplishments, his demeanor, his personal high standards, and his overall being. But, aren't all parents?! (At least the ones we know certainly are...)
It felt like a spring day today, always dangerous to get our hopes up since we know winter will still have a few kicks left to give us. Sawyer always says spring is one of his favorite times of year, especially since it means his birthday isn't far away. Oh my, he'll be 18 years old in about 2 months. Guess that makes me what age? Not complaining though, life is good.
He's finally feeling better after about 3 weeks of being tired and stuffed up. The doctors say he was just fighting off a virus (who isn't these days?!) and it just took awhile to shake it off. On one hand it was good that he just had a 5 day break from school (he missed 5 days in addition), but on the other hand it's not fun to feel sick on your school vacation. He's also mostly finished his paperwork for the Eagle Scout project. Just needs to write a short paragraph about future goals, print it out and get a few signatures. We're really proud of him for his accomplishments, his demeanor, his personal high standards, and his overall being. But, aren't all parents?! (At least the ones we know certainly are...)
It felt like a spring day today, always dangerous to get our hopes up since we know winter will still have a few kicks left to give us. Sawyer always says spring is one of his favorite times of year, especially since it means his birthday isn't far away. Oh my, he'll be 18 years old in about 2 months. Guess that makes me what age? Not complaining though, life is good.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Alaska!
It's official!! Sawyer's Make-A-Wish "wish" for an Alaskan cruise has been approved. We will be heading to Vancouver on July 25th to board Royal's Caribbean's 7-day cruise on the ship "Radiance." We have a stateroom (maybe two rooms? not sure yet) with an ocean view. We'll have some days to go ashore and have some sort of touring adventure (not all the details have been worked out yet).
Everything is covered: air fare, hotel in Vancouver, cruise, meals, day trips, etc.; they even give us some spending money. It's going to be amazing! According to the website we can expect temperatures to be in the 50s -- makes it a little ironic to be going during our warmest time to go someplace cool instead of leaving NY mid-winter to someplace like the Caribbean!
And watch out Lusk Road neighbors, a limosine picks us up at home, takes us to the airport, and brings us home again after it's all over. Sawyer and I had the same reaction: how in the world will a limosine make it into our driveway and out again!
One of the best things is that Sawyer, being an only child, can take a friend! He's taking the one that's been by his side since he was 4 years old and was one of the steady friends that helped him get through the hard days.
I do have a bit of guilt about being so excited over this trip -- we wouldn't be going if it weren't for Sawyer's diagnosis which isn't anything to celebrate. But don't fret, I will enjoy every minute!
Everything is covered: air fare, hotel in Vancouver, cruise, meals, day trips, etc.; they even give us some spending money. It's going to be amazing! According to the website we can expect temperatures to be in the 50s -- makes it a little ironic to be going during our warmest time to go someplace cool instead of leaving NY mid-winter to someplace like the Caribbean!
And watch out Lusk Road neighbors, a limosine picks us up at home, takes us to the airport, and brings us home again after it's all over. Sawyer and I had the same reaction: how in the world will a limosine make it into our driveway and out again!
One of the best things is that Sawyer, being an only child, can take a friend! He's taking the one that's been by his side since he was 4 years old and was one of the steady friends that helped him get through the hard days.
I do have a bit of guilt about being so excited over this trip -- we wouldn't be going if it weren't for Sawyer's diagnosis which isn't anything to celebrate. But don't fret, I will enjoy every minute!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
January
How refreshing to be able to go over a month without having any real news to report! But, guilt has set in and I feel I need to at least put something up! Our holidays were nice: relaxed and spent with family and friends. Sawyer's big gift was to get his own car (Mark bought a new one and Sawyer now has his old Honda). We traveled to the Hudson Valley for a few days over New Year's to ring in the new year with some good friends and actually stayed awake to see the ball drop!
Overall Sawyer's doing fine. Still on his schedule of clinic treatments in Rochester once a month and a regime of pills at home every day. He's trying to be very careful about not picking up a cold or flu as he navigates around school and the wrestling mats. His wrestling coach has been wonderfully supportive, letting Sawyer determine the level of exertion each day that fits his energy, or stepping back altogether for a day or two as needed. The winter sport season is almost over so it will be one less item to take up his time, although he will continue to work out on his own. He enjoys exercising and the benefits to his body and mind.
Junior year of school work is weighing heavily on him as he works through AP Biology, AP History and chemistry (among other classes). He's feeling the pressure of lots of homework amid other regular life events and is learning to deal with the stress. Downtime generally comes in the form of watching tv, playing video games, going out for hikes in the woods, and hanging out with his friends. As always we're grateful that he's able to mostly have normalcy which isn't the case for too many other families who are struggling with much heavier matters.
I want to give a supportive shout out to a close, very longtime friend of mine who will shortly begin her own treatments for melanoma. I'll be there every step of the way.
Overall Sawyer's doing fine. Still on his schedule of clinic treatments in Rochester once a month and a regime of pills at home every day. He's trying to be very careful about not picking up a cold or flu as he navigates around school and the wrestling mats. His wrestling coach has been wonderfully supportive, letting Sawyer determine the level of exertion each day that fits his energy, or stepping back altogether for a day or two as needed. The winter sport season is almost over so it will be one less item to take up his time, although he will continue to work out on his own. He enjoys exercising and the benefits to his body and mind.
Junior year of school work is weighing heavily on him as he works through AP Biology, AP History and chemistry (among other classes). He's feeling the pressure of lots of homework amid other regular life events and is learning to deal with the stress. Downtime generally comes in the form of watching tv, playing video games, going out for hikes in the woods, and hanging out with his friends. As always we're grateful that he's able to mostly have normalcy which isn't the case for too many other families who are struggling with much heavier matters.
I want to give a supportive shout out to a close, very longtime friend of mine who will shortly begin her own treatments for melanoma. I'll be there every step of the way.
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