Tag Archives: Tom

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1) we stayed at the KOA in Oscoda, MI.

This morning I got an email from them, asking me to rate the stay.  I said that the sites were great, bathrooms were clean and bright...but I wish they had told me about the train that runs right next to the campground.  In the middle of the night.

2) For me, camping is the death knell of eating primal.  it should be easy...cave-folks LIVED camping.  But no.  S'mores, hobo pies, hot dog buns.  I am SOOOO off the wagon.

3) Tom played miniature golf.  Well, we all did, but Tom brought up the idea.  He did really well and I'm not sure if it's because a) his vision is getting better or b) he's getting used to seeing the way he sees and is accommodating or c) the rest of us just suck that bad.

4) Gary and Anita (my cousin and his wife) and her son and DIL stopped by the campsites and the Lumberman's Monument to enjoy and eat.  We need to start inviting cousins to the camp out.

5) Next year, it's Dave's turn to pick.

 

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My son (Tom) has the "official" diagnosis.  Mom carries the gene (check) Tom as the symptoms (check).

Now, the idea is to stop it where it is.  Tom's vision is 20/40 in his right eye and 20/400 in his left eye.  There is a blind spot in each eye that (at this point) do not overlap.

He was at college in Marquette when this started, and the closest neuro-ophthalmologist is at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee - Wednesday I drove to Marquette, Thursday we drove (I drove, Tom rode) to Milwaukee and then drove on to Buffalo Grove to spend a little time with Aunt Deb.  Friday, we went back to Marquette and yesterday I drove home.  I'm pretty road-weary at this point.

It was the providence of God that we were sent there (first choice was Mayo Clinic, but there were no appointments) because the doctor in Milwaukee suggested an experimental treatment (the "magic light bulb".)  Near-infrared light has been used in a colony in Brazil that has a very high incidence of Leber's with promising results.  Tom is NOT in a controlled blind study - that means that he can continue to use all of the supplements that are also suggested.

The list of supplements is rather impressive and I learned a few things about vitamins that I didn't know.  More research required.  I'm making a page on this site so I can keep track of what he's taking and how much (since I'm buying)

If his vision stays where it is now, he'll be okay.

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We're preparing to send Tom off to college again.  I've adjusted very well to having the house to myself.  The drawback is that I don't need or want this much house.

Snow removal, furnace repair, water heater replacement (even with huge and gratefully received financial gifts) and roof repair and driveway repair coming up and...and...and...

I'm tired of being a single (alone, not single-family-dwelling) homeowner.

I've breezed through the websites of a couple of apartment  of complexes that look altogether tempting.  My house payment/rent would go down, my heating bill would drop by $100, my electric would be non-existent.  No more paying for garbage pickup, snow removal, lawn mowing.

I would have to pay for a storage unit/place for my camper, or make arrangements to leave it at my dad's house during the non-camping season, so I'd only have to pay storage for part of the year.

Just thinking...if I'm going to be in Grand Rapids, I might as well take some of the pressure off.

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He misses home.  I told him that I miss him a lot.

He's short on cash and I told him that I'll help as much as I can, which is not very much.

His financial aid still is not done because they lost my tax information (I can fax it tomorrow).  He has a $500 bill that needs to be paid.

But classes are going well.

It was really, really good to tell him I love him.  That his whole family is proud of him.  That he's doing good.

And that - he told me that he doesn't like to ask for money - that he should let others be blessed by blessing him.

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I'm home...need to unpack, but a lot of it can wait for a little while.  Cooler stuff needs to come in, laundry needs to be done.  I think I'm going to buy a big tub to put my sleeping bag (and bedtime gear) in so it stays together.

Tom's first day of classes are today.

I think he'll do fine...and he said that the "cute, blonde exchange student from Finland" was "looking at him".  He's been playing games, watching movies, going out for a "cigar and ice cream".  Making friends and getting to know people.

I have the window cling for my car...I'm a  university mom.

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hard core Atkins day...with a yogurt and fruit at lunch.

going to spend the day looking for waterfalls

  • Alder Falls
  • Yellow Dog Falls
  • Pinnacle Falls
  • head to the county visitor center for maps to more

camping tonight by myself (not the first time but I won't have internet).  Pick up Tom tomorrow night to head up to Copper Harbor, and then Porcupine Mountains.

Drop him off Sunday and then home.

Tom can tend to be quiet and withdrawn.  It's hard for him to make friends.

His roomie...Jason...is the opposite.  He's on the social committee, the welcome committee...the "let's get together and make the outsides of buildings into disc golf targets" sort of ad hoc committee.

I spent about 15 minutes at the dorm before Tom was whisked off to some social event.  he's not going to be allowed to sit in the dorm room and stagnate.  I think with this roommate, the action will come to him.