Osteochondroma

That is the new word in our vocabulary. Last summer I noticed that the littlest Hobbit's upper right arm muscle was alot bigger than the left. By February it was even bigger so we went to the Doctor. I was thinking maybe a benign fatty tumor, harmless but a nuisance to have removed. Nope. Within three days we were talking to an osteopathic surgeon at Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital (wonderful place!)More x-rays and an MRI later and we are breathing a sigh of relief that it is not malignant!
However, it is shortening the bone. All in all, not the worst of handicaps and a few trips to Children's definitely puts handicaps in perspective. We go back in six months for a check up but as of now no surgery is planned. We hope and pray that the tumor grows with the bone and meanwhile baseball season is ramping up!

Moonflowers

We're shifting gears a little here at the Hobbit homeschool. Baseball is finished for the year and soccer has begun.(Soccer is much more low key!! No travelling to games!!)School paperwork is in the future. So is canning tomatoes. I guess I could be weeding but I'm going to pour myself a glass of iced tea, sit on the deck, and read Planet Narnia by Michael Ward It has been a lovely summer so far. And the moonflowers are blooming!

Cricket!

A commenter (you know who you are!) has suggested I don't know a bowler from a wicket keeper! I'll have you know I watch a lot of British TV!!! Doctor Who is a wicked good Cricket player! Actually, you're right. Baseball is confusing but Cricket is in a league of its own.

Sigh...

There is no joy in Mudville, the mighty FireFox have struck out. We lost 15 to 8 or something. I lost track.(There was a diverting interlude when the opposing coach had a big blowout with the ump. I've heard about these things happening but had never witnessed one. It's a kids game guys. Let's keep it fun.) On the plus side, we have our Friday evenings back. Movie and popcorn anyone?

No Pressure...

It is sink or swim night for the FireFox! After a not so great season ending 2-8 and losing the first play-off game 12-9 they have to win tonight or it is all over! I will breathe a sigh of relief either way! (That's Joe on the mound.)

All Baseball, All the Time!

It's that time of the year again where I try to get the hobbits to wrap up the school year but all they can think of is baseball. We have games on Tuesdays, Fridays , and Saturdays with practice thrown in on Wednesdays for good measure.I'll add pictures when I get my new laptop operational (can you believe a dial up modem is no longer standard on these things??) as this computer refuses to converse with my camera!

Feast of Saint Anthony

I'd like to write about all the wonderful activities, crafts, special meals, not to mention masses we have planned to celebrate this feast day but I can't. We read the entry for Saint Anthony from 50 Saints for Boys by Joan Windham and I am making a dessert.(Abbot's Trifle from the Redwall Cookbook) But today is the second game in double elimination play-offs and is a must win for the Fire-Foxes! Baseball fever is running high and the field must be groomed and the equipment sorted and....what if we get those thunderstorms that are predicted???? So for today, sports rule. Go Fire-Fox!!!