Update

I didn't realize we still had a fan club and that people actually, still read this blog! Thank you. It's therapeutic for me too!

Okay....I had my hair cut pixy short before surgery... the scar is 99% covered by my lovely salt and pepper colors, my blond highlights are gone, and my head is still healing! I am trying to get back to normal despite the 2 hour naps and occasional funky pains and numbness in my head. My nurse told me to "listen to my body, if something is too heavy, put it down; if you are tired, sleep. My body is saying a lot of things, however, exercise seems to be my concern. Unfortunately, that's my only restriction until Dec. 3rd which is my MRI/Dr. Appt. All in all, I am feeling good and glad this ordeal is behind me. Thanks again to alllllll the wonderful family and friends that have prayed and helped us AGAIN. Gosh, I am so lucky and so very spoiled--who's going to clean my house, cook, and iron for me next year!!??

Madeline and David are doing fine. Grades are awesome. They've been helpful--occasionally I had to point to my head to remind them that I had brain surgery--that's okay, better that, than me laid up in bed in trauma. How long can I use the "I had brain surgery" card (which is the running joke around here. Last night I parked at the high school before the musical in a no parking spot, Ilooked at Mari and said, "I'm sorry, I'm Charlie Brown's mom AND I had brain surgery!"We laughed and got out of the car. It works well for phone soliciters too!)

Back to the kids...David currently is Charlie Brown in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." It's a charming production, and the cast is terrific. They work so well together. Congrats, David. Your talent blows my mind. I am so proud that you can juggle this craziness from college apps to working at Baker's Shoes. David had his early decision interviews and auditions at NYU. He was very happy with the day. Thank you to my brother for escorting David to NY. He will find out in December if he has been accepted. On the other good hand, he received word that he was accepted at Indiana U. and U. of Michigan. He will audition in February for those schools for the theatre department.

Madeline, I am proud of you too. Your hard work just shows your dedication to your future. I can't imagine learning two languages at one time. It was great watching you play tennis this fall. You kicked butt, and I am so happy that you had such a great time with Maeve and the team.

Holidays. My gosh, I can't believe it's the end of November. It's going to be weird without Kurt physically here. I believe he's here spiritually. We all need to believe that. Who else, besides Dr. Byrne got me through that surgery! Someone suggested we come up with different traditions--feel free to pass some onto me--please don't suggest baking cookies. We did that years ago and after about 20 minutes, the kids were off and running, and I was eating stiff sugar cookies. I have my gifts and baking isn't one of them!

Love to all, wishing you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. xoxo jani

Jani's Brain Surgery

So what did you do last weekend? Well I had brain surgery! It's all so ridiculous. However, it's done! Over! Feeling good. Came home on Wednesday. The tumor is benign which is what we expected. I get the 21 staples removed on Wednesday. Rush Hospital is fantastic. The doctors and nursing staff are wonderful. I am proud to say that the company I work for (SPM) create their commercials/advertising.

Tammy Dobrez is off the charts. Anyone that scrubs my floor and irons my dish towels is a gift from God! It was fun having her stay with me and the kids too! My brother is the best brother on the face of this earth. He is a giver! Mom stayed with me too. Lots of laughs watching Christopher Guest movies with her. And the entourage of family, love, food, laughs, flowers, visits from all sorts of friends (Uncle, Don Hodgman, thank you for driving 3 1/2 hrs to hang with us.You are a sweetheart. ) The friends keep giving. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

So after all this subsides, my goal is to plan a fantastic vacation--one for me and one for the kids and me. Not sure where, not sure when. We deserve it. It's fun to think about it. Life is too short friends, enjoy it! xoxo love to all, jani

Looking forward to the end of 2009

Well, the kids are back to school, grades, so far are super. Maddy had a fantastic tennis season this sophomore year. Currently she is taking French and Chinese, hoping someday to work international. David sent his applications off to various schools and has a musical theatre audition at NYU on November 11th. My brother, Joe is accompanying him since I will be recovering from surgery.

Yes, surgery, because the year wasn't stressful enough, I have to have brain surgery. Yep I found out at the end of July and just told family/friends two weeks ago. After losing Kurt I didn't think announcing the brain tumor would be good timing! I have a menginoma (i am sure I've misspelled that--not in spell check!), a benign tumor on the lining of my brain. Long story, but I had an MRI a while ago for something else, someone caught a glimpse of this spot a year ago, diagnosed it as a cluster of veins, but wanted me to come back just in case--have a year follow up MRI, to make sure it wasn't getting bigger/possibly a tumor. Well it is a tumor and is growing very slowly.

The good news is that I don't have any symptoms (loss of vision/seizures, etc.). It isn't pressing on anything. Remember it is not on the brain. It is on the lining. I had to the choice to take it out now, a year or two from now, which would be risky for the above mentioned symptoms, and I didn't want to think about it much longer. Cutting a 2 1/2 diameter hole in my head is freaky. Shaving half of my head freaked me out too so I cut my hair reallllly short--pixie cut (about as short as Kurt's was after one of his haircuts!) This is really putting a damper on my social life!

My friends and family once again are coming to the rescue. I am planning on Kurt and my grandparents to be watching over me too! I go in Sunday, October 18th to Rush University; surgery on the 19th (Dr. Richard Byrne); hospital stay for 4-5 days; recovering at home for at least two weeks. The kids are handling it well. I think they finally understand that this isn't a life or death situation, just an annoyance and inconvenience AND a big headache.

I will be fine. Just another challenge in the lives of the Bodell Family. Thank you for your love, support, and friendship. We couldn't have survived these ordeals with you.

xoxo jani

September 14th in the Bodell House

The kids are back in school, busy as ever...David is rehearsing for "Under the Milkwood" at LTHS for the weekend of Sept. 25th. He just got the lead in "Your a Good Man, Charlie Brown"--he's Charlie--on stage November 21st weekend. Madeline made the sophomore tennis team and has been playing tournaments every weekend. Needless to say, but I am going to say it anyways, I don't see the whites of their eyes 'til about 6pm every day. On the college front, David is applying for early decision at NYU, but also will apply at Yale, Northwestern, Michigan and U of I. Hopefully he will audition there in October if he his application is accepted. Please keep your fingers crossed. He loves New York!

I have been keeping very busy hanging out with friends--going to see bands, (playing the tambourine, occasionally, LOL) and straightening out financial "stuff." I'm using more of my brain than I'd like to, but to find the positive, I am learning alot! I've learned that it takes 15 people to do the job of one in the benefits center. I think I may take up a management career. Common sense doesn't seem to be out there, and I think I could save some companies a hell of a lot of money if they consolidated jobs and became a bit more efficient. But what do I know other than I have about 50 more grey hairs. I also know that the Social Security Dept. likes to make people crazy. Unfortunately I asked them about David saving his SS money for college and they reported me. Now I have to prove that I spent every time they gave us so far on the children's needs or "they want me to send it back!" Can I add another LOL!

The Audi is still in one piece, knock on wood. I'm still having difficulty backing out of parking spaces that slope the front end downwards. It's painful trying not to cream the front end, but I'm sure it's very entertaining to watch. The Corvette is leaving tomorrow to sit at Corvette Mikes in Burr Ridge on consignment. The Audi needs the garage. I can only dust it off so many times a week! Tammy Dobrez taught Madeline how to drive the Audi. Uncle Greg gave her driving tips and she and I have been out a few times for practice. She is doing just fine--like father like daughter.

Tomorrow David turns 18! Wow! I can't believe it! Enjoy the weather. It's fabulous. Keep in touch.
jani

I swear he's with me!

Okay, now I am lovin' the Audi. When I go fast, in and out of traffic, It's almost as if I can hear him say "Yeah baby," until I put it in the wrong gear. And the killer, I found myself twice this week reading his Hot Rod and Corvette magazines to see what compares with "my" cars! The madness has to stop. Where's my Art News Magazine!

Kurt's Cars

Well, it's August 8th. I have been working at my job at SPM Marketing & Communications in La Grange for the past couple weeks (I job share), and I am happy to be back with all those smiling faces, laughter and the advertising craziness. My job-sharing partner, Emily has been a saint for the past 9 months covering for me while Kurt was ill. Emily, you are one of my pillars, thank you.

You are all probably wondering what I am doing with Kurt's cars. Well...for months I was swearing up and down about the Audi S5 since it is manual. I have nearly taken out light posts in La Grange and Hinsdale, thinking I was in reverse when in fact I was in first gear. I have stalled it in the middle of intersections, people thinking I am trying to be all cool when in fact, I am never really sure of what I am doing. I have electronic equipment in there that I don't have a clue how it works, for example, opening the sun roof and controlling the wind shield wipers. I fumble around in the dark at night because I don't know how to turn the dome light on permanently. I find it difficult driving and blindly pressing buttons to get the air conditioning down while it blasts in my face. My favorite, new blue jeans have a back pocket button that catches every time I sit down--not good.

So guess what? I'm keeping it for now. The car is beautiful. And, yes it is fast and very fun. I am getting the hang of it, and I can beat the best of any Mercedes and Corvette in the neighborhood! Kurt would be proud! I have been dealer to dealer thinking about a trade in--Honda CRV, Toyota Rave (I'm sure Kurt was looking down from heaven, saying "tell me she's NOT in a Honda dealer.") then the Ford Escape. The last guy said, "I'm not sure if this car will move on this lot, but I'll see what we can do." YEAH RIGHT.

Now you are probably asking, "What about the Stingray?" "She" is still taking up space in the garage with a lovely car cover on it. It is a beautiful car. Too bad I can't put in on my mantle. I have to talk to my gear head friends for advice about increased value--unless that baby increases in value more than $90/month (which is storage and which I doubt), she is probably going on the market. I have to say, if it was the red GS, I would have kept it forever. I loved that car. Kurt loved his cars too. If he rubbed me as much as he rubbed his cars, I would've been one VERY happy camper.

On a final note, I didn't realize my new roles in life were going to be a car dealer, hunting/fishing gear store and camping equipment rental. Life is always interesting. I am learning a lot!

Still bloggin'

It's July 28th and I just picked David up from the airport. He was touring France for three weeks with a French emersion (classes for French) "camp" of 18 students. Needless to say he had a wonderful trip and wants to live in Nice! Madeline has been in Michigan for two weeks at the YMCA camp. Davey and I will pick her up this weekend. AND Jani went to Camp Colorado for five days to visit Kristin (and Rob), Kurt's sissy. We attended the Mile High Music Festival for two days, totalling about 20 hours of music. I had a blast the moment I set foot in Denver to the second I left, then continued to celebrate in Chicago with high school gal friends, neighbors and slept til noon on Sunday. Started back to work yesterday which is quite difficult since I have been up 'til 2-3am every night. Good thing birthdays only come once a year. Thank you friends!

We of course are missing Kurt, and the whole thing is very surreal. I try to think of something funny when I am sad. Last week we were talking about how "quick" he was. He'd practically run when he mowed the lawn and when the kids were in the stroller and we would go to the zoo, he would race past the animals. I would say, "Hurry kids, look at the polar bears, no back there."

I can see him right now repeating the lines from Legally Blond, with his hands on his hips saying " Don't tap your little last season Prada shoes at me, honey." I know he had a crush on Reese Witherspoon!

I had the fortunate experience of picking up three warm, dead bunnies in my yard that my dog decided to chew on and shake to death. Kurt would have been proud. He loved it when she'd try to catch one in the yard, both having that hunter instinct!

TTFN, enjoy the rest of the summer, jani