Soccer season officially begins with a victory over Boone County

It's a Saturday afternoon and Robert has to be at the school by 315 to catch the bus to Boone County. The weather is looking pretty shaky as thunderstorms are predicted. Betsy and Jessica drive up to Florence to see the game.  It started to rain on the way up and we wondered if they get the game in. There was a delay but the game started shortly after 6:00.  

It rained the whole game. Robert had a beautiful corner in the first half that was acted on foot caught by the goalie.   Wilton Stone scored the first goal of the half and then 1 to 0.

 The second-half started and both teams were on fire. Everyone wanted to score the energy level was high. Nathan Clark was the first one the score : score 2-0.  

Robert earns another assist on the third goal of the game by Dean Farmer.

Robert also played in the varsity game that followed the JV game. He went in at the 25 minute mark and played the remaining 15 minutes of the first half. He also played in the second half of the varsity team had a victory 3-0.  

Congratulations to both teams and to Robert for playing great in both game.

Grandma Vera Rennhack passes away

Friday night I called and talked to Grandma - she can't talk any more - it takes too much energy, but she can hear.

It was great to have a last chance to tell her how much I love her and how much of an influence she has been on our lives. 

I shared with her all the things my kids are doing, and how much we appreciate all that she has done for us.  I didn't realize at the time it would be the last time I would talk to her, but it was.

The next morning I get a call from Sandy.  She had just called to talk to Grandma and Deb (the caregiver) told her that Grandma had passed away around 9:20 am.  She went very peacefully first thing in the morning. 

Uncle Dick will let us know when the funeral is - he is making all the arrangements.

First meet of the season is the Tiger Run

Oh my gosh!!!  I can't believe this day has come - that Marissa is running her last Tiger Run.   She is a senior this year running her last high school season. She is so excited for this season especially after last year where she got injured for the majority of the season.

We arrived at the Tiger Run early around 9 AM so she and her team could get a good warm-up before the race. The weather is really nice -  it's going to be a hot day but she'll be running at a pretty good time - her race starts at 10:15 AM.

There are 10 girls running the varsity race:  Erin Edmundson, Marissa Lowe, Christine Ausley, grace Dieterle, Kendall Lemons, Emma Brazeau, Katie Walker, Kelsey Hall, and Kenzie Mullin.  

Mark gave Marissa his traditional "before race talk."  He told her to really sprint to the middle so she didn't get stuck in a bad position.  

The gun went off and the girls sprinted for a good start. Erin and Marissa were way up in the front.  At the 1 mile mark Marissa looked great;

 at the 2 mile mark she had really made up sometime and passed quite a few runners.

Marissa passing Erin Wilson

It was right around the 2 mile mark that Marissa had caught up to Erin Wilson, a girl that runs for South Oldham high school and that used to be in Marissa's Brownie troop. They have known each other for a very long time and have had to run against each other at several XC and track events.  Marissa passed her at that point and increase the distance between them by quite a bit.  

By the finish Marissa had moved into 13th place and finished with her best time ever at the Tiger of 20:48.  

Way to go Marissa!!!!!

As a team the girls finished in 5th place against all other AAA teams.  WAY TO GO Lady Mustangs!

One of the best things about the Tiger run is the fire truck spraying water after the races. The girls had a ball playing in the water. It took forever to get them to come out but I'm sure it felt refreshing after such a long and hot run.

Katie Walker, Makenzie Mullin and Marissa

We feel great - Katie, Makenzie and Marissa

Jessica has third EEG done

Jessica got some strange instructions for the next set of tests that had to be done. She has to stay up all night ALL NIGHT for the EEG test.  The doctor said she needed to be sleep deprived to take the test.

Betsy felt bad for her do she went to bed early and then got up at 2:00 to keep her company.  We stayed up all night watching movies.  We watched Tuck Everlasting and Safe Haven.  

Betsy had to go to work do mark took Jessica to Norton suburban  hospital for the EEG and ultra sound tests.  They went very well.  

She was able to go home and sleep, Betsy worked all day.  

The technician said we should have results within 24 hours - that will be Monday since it is Friday.   

Jessica Gets A Job

Tuesday morning Jessica interviewed with Steve Button and Rick Huckvale at the place I work a Proheat.  She was interviewing for my Old job.

She was hired on the spot and started working that day. Congratulations Jessica! We are so proud of you. And I am so happy that I get to work with you.

Devon - Week 10

This is all that Devon wrote me - he emailed 2 hours earlier than normal = totally not fair!!

Haha, you didn't email me this week.  You broke your promise that you would email me every week.  Therefore I don't need to email you any more.  Bye. 

Jessica goes for her MRI

Jessica's doctor's appointment went very well yesterday.  She met with the doctor for over an hour and then we had her blood work done at Kosair's children's hospital (just because she tends to pass out).

Today Jessica had her MRI appointment at Highfield Imaging place at 5:45.  Mark took her.  She had to have contrast, so they shot something in her veins. 

Ironically, it was one year ago exactly that Robert had his MRI at the same place around the same time.

Jessica's Neurologist Appointment

Today is a BIG day - we have an 8:00 am appointment with Dr. Rebecca Woods DO.  She is a neurologist with Norton Healthcare.

We are so very hopeful that she can shed some light on the test results from the Baypointe and St. Luke's hospitals - especially the EEG results.  We really need her to order the MRI and CT for further evaluation.

We arrived early 7:45 to fill out paperwork... then wait... (typical)

At 8:25 Doctor Woods came to see us.  We visited with her for a very long time sharing both instances where Jessica passed out in the Philippines.  She was very attentive and interested in our story.

We went over the whole history:
one year ago - Jessica passed out first thing in the morning with a rash on her body - erythema multiforme; heart rate drops to 20 bpm for 5 days, released to a regular room on the 6th day, released from hospital on the 10th day.  

After hearing this story she was convinced Jessica had contracted a virus that caused her heart rate to drop so low.

Continuing with the most recent event:
on 7/27 Jessica woke up feeling fine, but after standing to wash the dishes felt nauseous, clammy and then passed out.  She was taken to ER where her heart rate was only 40, blood pressure was 80/60 and she had an irregular heart rate.  They were considering a pace maker.  They did gobs of tests ... results showing a bacteria infection (treated with Cipro changed to Augmentin), Doppler turned up a slightly enlarged thyroid gland, but the most significant was that the EEG came back stating an abnormal rhythm of her brain, with electrical spikes every 3-4 seconds.  Very strange!  Jessica was sent to Manila to be retested one week later at St. Luke's Hospital (12th best in the world) - this test came back showing the same results but with electrical activity in all four lobes of the brain.  They are suspecting EPILEPSY!

However, after Dr. Woods read the EEG from Baypointe (first hospital) she doesn't believe Jessica has any abnormal brain waves, but rather the EEG was picking the impulse from her electric pump IV.  She said it was way too predicable and regular plus it had such a sharp up and down movement.

She is convinced Jessica doesn't have any issues, but rather it was syncope that has caused everything.  She ordered the MRI.  She also ordered another EEG (Jessica's 3rd) to get a good read from something she ordered (there was data missing from the two previous EEG readings), she also ordered blood work and an ultra sound for the slightly enlarged thyroid. 

We left her office and got Jessica's blood work done immediately.  The other tests have to be ordered and scheduled by the doctor.

Shopping with Jessica

After the game Mark took Robert home and Betsy took Jessica to go shopping. We went to the new outlet mall just outside of Simpsonville.   Jessica found some great deals on some new pants and shirts. Now all we need is some Sunday clothes and she will be set.

It's always a lot of fun to go shopping with your daughter.

One thing I thought of is that Marissa will be really upset that she didn't get to go with us. And sure enough when we got home Marissa was disappointed that she didn't get to go with us. I felt really bad!!! :(

Devon - Week 9 - HUGE CAT

We had a great week this week.  We taught 17 less active / recent convert.  We had a total of 24 lessons that week.  A lot of the less actives came to church that Sunday.  We had an amazing lesson with Br. Sotto about the gospel and doctrine of Christ.  Elder Bodine said it was my best lesson.  We really committed him to church and made him think about it.  Usually he says I'll try and never comes.  He also says that he isn't motivated and that God would motivate him.  We told him that God would not motivate him and we gave an analogy about a child doing home work and how the child needs to motivate himself otherwise when he leaves he will not do homework since he is not motivated.  I read him a scripture that I found … It is D&C 548:26 "For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward." Then I explained it. We went contacting and found new people, which is great. I got to do service by knocking down a wasp nest for a member.  We transferred some new people in our district.  We have a new zone leader, Elder Williams. We have elder Craig and Sister Smith plus sister Zarliza?   Sister Smith is from Kentucky. She was in the Lexington Stake and I am in the Crestwood Stake.  It is possible that I saw her at 6 stake activities.  It just goes to show you how small the world is.  Now that I have been here for a transfer it is easier to remember the member’s names and area. We have started this transfer so strong and now we need to keep it up.  Have a great day.

Remember this Cat.  Well the first time I went to that house I got really allergic because of all that Cat hair got stuck to my shirt.  I was dying.  So when we went over there again I didn't want to pet that cat. So I see a brush right next to the cat and pick it up and start brushing the Cat.  Then their daughter walks by and says     "Elder Lowe are you using my brush!"      I was brushing the Cat with her Brush. Lol !!  She said it was ok but it was really funny. 

Busy Sunday: Homecoming Report, Robert's Talk, Jessica's Lesson

Sunday was a very busy day for the Lowe family.

Everyone is still so very excited that Jessica is home, and this morning was no exception.  She reported to the Stake High Council about her mission.  She was only given 10 minutes so she was asked to share one or two experiences and then share her testimony.  She talked about the conversion of Saracris and then reactivating a gentleman.  She grew to love the people and places in the Philippines so much.  It was evident in her testimony which she bore in Tagalog. She did such a great job.  I was moved to tears several times.

As soon as she finished her presentation, we had to rush over to the Crestwood building because Robert had to prepare the sacrament and ... he is speaking today too.

Robert gave a talk in Sacrament meeting on our Pioneer History.  He did a fabulous job.  He spoke with passion and inflection.  I am so proud of him!!!

After Sacrament we all enjoyed Sunday School (a breather).

Jessica gave the lesson in Young Women's on her mission as it relates to family and covenants.  She did a super great job with the girls - essentially teaching them some of the things she teaches investigators on her mission.

T - Take upon you the Name of Christ
A - Always remember him
K - Keep the commandments
E - Endure to the end.

It was a very spiritually uplifting day!  We were all blessed by the opportunity to share.

Second Game of the Season

Robert had his second game of the season against Shelbyville out at Shelbyville fields. It's actually a scrimmage so it won't count in the record for the season but it will be good for the boys to see how they play against each other. Barbara and started on the right wing and did a fantastic job.

In the first half he had a shot and a shot on goal.  Nathan scored so we are up 1-0.  In the second half Robert assisted Dillon on one of Dillion's two goals.  The team won 3-1.  Robert had a great game.  He played physical  and with power.  

Robert with an open goal

Goalie blocked the shot

Getting a Doctor Appointment

This is so crazy.

Ever since we found out Jessica needed to come home, I've been trying to "beat the rush" and get her a doctor's appointment for as soon as she gets here, as opposed to waiting for her to arrive and then trying to get an appointment.  This way I save a few days time... right. .. you would think that but NO!!!

So I called her primary care doctor and they said they couldn't get her an appointment with a Neurologist until 11/4... are you crazy!  Jessica could finish her mission if that's the case.  They said they needed to see the test results before they could "work her in."  I went through hoops talking to Elder Ferrin and the medical Elder to get the doctor reports.

When the reports came, we couldn't open the files - ugh!!!  I was able to get some reports from her first hospital and emailed those to the doctor.  WOW!  What a difference a report makes.

After the Neurologist saw the test reports, they said they could see her immediately.  Jessica arrived home on 8/13.  She had a Neurologist appointment on Friday 8/15.

Amazing!  and to think I told them the same thing the test report said - it just came from a parent instead of the doctors.

JESSICA COMES HOME

Okay, so the festivities really got started up when we found out on Monday that Jessica was coming home Wednesday - not at midnight but at 6:51 pm!!!

Robert  and Marissa started making signs at home, while Betsy didn't know, and went to Kroger to get more poster.

I love this poster

Sister's reunited

Together again

Special treat - the cousins are here - this is Kayloni

We are so happy to see Jessica

Jessica with Uncle Alan

From the airport we went to Dairy Queen and everyone either had dinner or blizzards, then we went to the Stake President's office so Jessica could be released.

It's official - She's not a missionary any more

Mom had big surprises in store for Jessica - first a bouquet of balloons on the mail box.

Then, one by one, best friends from High school - Frannie Larsen was the first to show up.

Love this

Also a huge welcome home banner on the front door!

Signs in the house

Roses for my darling

Welcome home Cake!

And of course, Jasper!

But then Maddie R. showed up!

And ... Andrew Fraser!!!!

The night is complete - Best Homecoming Ever!!!!

Pictures are worth a 1000 words - even more.