Family Update

Loren (53): Boy, give a guy a new heart and he becomes a maniac.

Those of you who were here for the July reunion/renovation may remember Loren as being exhausted just from sitting up for too long. Now, no one can stop his frenzied activity, especially as it pertains to computer work.

It is hard to think that this same man who was in the hospital last October, waiting for a new heart, has now metamorphosed into the mad scientist/laboratory builder that I see today. Remember that second floor addition? One of several choice spots inundated by neighborhood birds before the roof and soffits were repaired. He is fixing up "temporary" quarters to house all of his extra computer components, all nicely organized and just waiting to be tested and find a new technological home. He has put up lights, telephone, and hung a wall clock. (on a nail in a stud) I'm not sure what's next, but I'm thinking, maybe a little Cyclosporine bar, to go along with the stool purchased from Wal-Mart.

I guess he feels he has several years to make up for :-)

Loren's next fun-filled day-long checkup in Rochester should be around April 13. I'll give a more detailed update on his health, then.

Ma Hoyt (46): Shamed by Loren's examples of industry, I have discarded my afternoon snoozing sessions. I am also attempting to lose a few pounds so that they don't have to roll me into the auditorium when Ardith graduates from college this May.

Sanity Watch: I survived my first day without chocolate, and only noticed my vision wavering a few times. Course, accidentally bending my glasses might have something to do with it....

What I most enjoy, though, since getting back from Mayo, is the everyday wonder of sitting down with my little ones, reading stories, or listening to their blossoming efforts at reading themselves. I LOVE homeschooling.

Ardith (almost 22): Finishing up her last semester at Letourneau University in Texas. I believe the end of year project includes building one's own computer, or something like that. Including developing the operating system. (feel free to correct me, ma chère :-) She has landed a very good job with Rockwell Collins, up here in Cedar Rapids, and should start work there in June. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, "She inherited her father's brains."

Sharon (20): It has been so good to have Sharon home this semester. Though she missed the collegiate atmosphere, she very ably filled in during part of our long months away at Mayo, immediately after transplant. Summer jobs are hard to come by in these little towns, but she is helping Loren out in the unglamorous task of cleaning up after all those crazy birds. She is not too busy, though, to keep after Jason and Derek in their Greek studies, oversee Derek's composition, and continue with her own foreign language endeavors. (I believe she just started Arabic) Despite being off of school for a semester, she will still graduate with her class. Part of the Foreign Language degree requires study abroad for parts of two years. France and Argentina. She returns to Grace College in Winona Lake, IN this fall, as a junior.

Jason (17): Still firmly entrenched in the computer world, and hoping to follow his oldest sister to Letourneau. Short range plans include: LOTR mania, drilling his younger siblings in mock battles on the lawn, and working up a healthy dread of the ACT, which he takes April 9. Long range plans: develop a company that will eventually put Microsoft out of business.

Kendra (almost 16): Kendra is working extremely hard to finish her schoolwork ahead of schedule. We will have a little break in the routine when we travel to Texas for Ardith's graduation, and Kendra does not wish a return to academic studies when we arrive home. Spare moments are spent being grossed out by all the lady bird beetles hanging about. (and crawling, and flying and landing on your face...)

Derek (almost 14): Still the most unfortunate of (young) men. Loves to argue, hates to do the dishes and is operating under the impression that he will get his driver's permit shortly after his birthday in May. In your dreams, Derek! He may be frustrated with the amount of time his daily schoolwork takes, but he does very well. He does especially well when I don't catch him reading "Calvin and Hobbs." If he grows up to be a lawyer, you had better hope you never meet him in opposition.

Melinda (12): Has become Loren's right hand up in his "mad laboratory." She races through her schooling so she can be at his side, all the earlier. Every father needs a child who looks upon everything he does with eyes of respect and wonder. Naturally, I try to counterbalance this type of behavior with my own special words of truth. We wouldn't want this to go to his head. I can see Melinda following right in Ardith's footsteps. If she and Derek ever go into business together, the world had better watch out....

Carolyn (10): Still in that lovely little girl stage, "You're the best mommy in the world!" (and it didn't take all that much coaching, either) Trigger Lightning, her faithful stick-horse companion is nearly always at her side. They even sleep together, which says something for Melinda's easy-going personality, since she is in the other half of the double bed. Now that the weather has warmed, Carolyn loves to ride bikes with.....

Ethan (8): Still a bundle of energy who insists on charging from room to room. (I'm trying to break him of that) You would think he was a teenager, considering how much he eats. Unless it is something other than hot dogs or pizza. He is Mr. Enthusiasm. Just yesterday, he pumped up his back tire with such gusto that it gave off a very credible "pop!" But, of course, that wasn't his fault....

Nolan (almost 6): Pretty typical boy. Loves dirt. Forgets to bring his bike in. He is progressing right along in his reading skills, though. And, when he picks out a book for ME to read, it's almost always, "Horton Hears a Who." That one phrase in there, "A person's a person, no matter how small," has special significance, in this day and age.

Trevor (3): Well, I could tell you his faults, if he had any. Oh alright, I suppose he has some. He is still my "Sweetie Baby Bunny Boy," though I'm sure that nick name will not fly when he is much older. *sigh* At least he still wants me to hold him upon awakening each morning. Little kids are so wonderful to hold when they are all warm and snuggly. (he has "morning breath," too, but we mothers can overlook that :-)

Well, I must go. The natives have started muttering darkly of lunch.....

[ 9:25 p.m. I have been earnestly attempting to post ever since lunchtime. Blogger was having "issues," again]

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