A Few more Pics of the Big Apple

Here are a few more pics from NYC. I just like this pic of me and Britt. Here we are eating our last supper in NYC at the Joshua Tree (Hmmm...familiar name!) The food was good. And, according to Cathy, the French Onion soup was delicious, but stays with your taste buds throughout the night. P.S. I'm about to give a history lesson. Hope you like history as much as I do! : )

For you Spidey fans, here is the flat iron building. When you drive by it on the right there is this amazing special affect with the building. Hard to explain, but cool to see!

Okay...I wonder what this is? Hello, sleepless in Seattle anyone...anyone seen it. Of course, it's the Empire State building. For you people who don't watch romances, you may recognize it from other movies.

"Me no dumb, dumb. You dumb, dumb"....Night at the Museum. We looked all over the place for this guy, then finally found him. He was in the Pacific peoples exhibit, being that he is an Easter Island statue. Ah, good memories...and aching feet.

Okay, More movie trivia. Let's see if you can guess. This rooftop once was the portal for a god, 2 large dogs, three scientist, a black man, and covered in marshmallow? Any guesses? Anyone?

If you guessed Ghostbusters...you are correct. This is where Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis turned into dogs and Gozer the Barbarian came through a portal to our world. That is according to Hollywood. (Sad that I remember all that...isn't it)

This is from a more recent movie with Nicholas Cage. Under this church, the Trinity Church, his family finally solved the riddle of where the world's largest treasure was buried by our fore fathers in the movie "National Treasure." Good movie.

And our last stop today for Hollywood would be this apartment building. It is the place where a former spouse of Woody Allen's gave birth to a "not-quite-so-pleasant" baby. You guessed it...they filmed Rosemary's baby in this building. And for your music people, this was also the home of a Beetle named John Lennon, and the place where he walked outside and lost his life. Maybe that place is cursed?

Today I wanted to end with some reality. This is a picture of where to twin towers would be today if 9-11 never happened. Now it is just a whole in the sky, and a reminder that we are not promised tomorrow. My heart still goes out to the families there in NYC. Goodnight to everyone and God bless.

New York...what a wonderful town...to visit

Yes, two moms can survive a trip to NY with their two girls. (Though the plane ride home was trying for a mom who's daughter can't stop talking)

Before I begin to tell you all about my trip, I want to say a special thank you to my friends and family that financially made this trip possible. )And to my Emmett for watching Ivee and taking care of her medical needs when I know it isn't that comfortable for him. Love you). After the last 9 months that we have been through, it meant more than anyone can know to just get away. Not only that though, but to fulfil a dream of going to NYC and seeing Broadway. Words cannot express my gratitude for the blessings poured upon us, in every form and fashion.

We had a great time, and we took in as much as you can take in 4 days sightseeing time. We traveled downtown, uptown, Chinatown, little Italy, Harlem, Soho, Broadway...everywhere we could on Manhattan.

Here's a pic of Cathy, Anna, and Brittney in Time Square. That place is amazing at night. It just comes to life.

Here are Britt and I at Rockefeller Center. Mom doesn't get to be in most pics, cause of course I am taking most of them. We visited so many places that I will have to post some of that later. Below are pics of our wonderful Broadway experiences. So, let's begin.
Thursday night was my all time love...Phantom of the Opera. Looking back, I must say it was the highlight of my trip. I have loved it for so long, and there were absolutely no disappointments. I cried like a baby, and for those who know me, that means something. I don't cry so easily. But to be quite honest, the Movie as good as it is, just can't do it justice. I will see it again. (The phantom had the most mesmerizing voice).

Friday night was Wicked. We all have to admit that no musical was like the other. I have fallen in love with this Oz...pre Dorothy story over the past year. It is a touching "new musical". It was the highlight of the girls trip. We all loved every moment, and though we missed the lead on Broadway for Elphaba, the wicked witch of the west, her stand in was amazing.

And lastly, Saturday morning we went on the behind scenes tour of wicked. One of the original cast dresses is above. Many cool things. And then we hit a matinee of Hairspray. By FAR the funniest thing I have seen in a while. Many familiar faces in that musical such as Jerry Mathers (leave it to beaver), Lance Bass, Tevin Campbell, and others. Well, I would love to tell more, but I have a crying Ivee. Love to all and I'll have more pics soon.

Visit with old friends

Here is a picture of the attic renovation. We now have most of the sheetrock up on the exterior walls. Have not hit the stairwell yet. It is hard work, and still quite a bit left to do. So, if anyone's dying to hang some sheetrock this week, just let Emmett know.
This is Emmett and my dad taking a break to pose for me.
This weekend two of my best high school friends came to town and we had a great time visiting. This is Diane on the far left with her family, Andy, Katie, Sara, and Ian. And on the far right is Deborah and Mini-Blayne (also known as Erin).

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Bilbo for letting us use their home for this time.
Well, it is now less than one day before Brittney, Mommy and friends leave for NYC. Pray we have safe flights, and that daddy will cope well with taking care of Ivee and Ethan for 5 days. Thanks.

To answer a Question

I am now pulling myself up in the crib. I started this last night. Brittney and Grandma were sitting there watching t.v. and all of a sudden they looked over and I was sitting up. They screamed for mommy, and she came in and was soooo happy. I am so cute. I'll let you all know what trick I learn next. : ) Ivee

Someone wanted to know what we are going to see in NYC. Thursday we'll see "Phantom of the Opera", Friday "Wicked", and Saturday possibly a backstage tour of "Wicked". Then, of course, we'll take in the sites the remainder of our time there.

Sorry I'm Late

Sorry that I'm just now posting, but we are home. I want to thank Kim M., Kim F., Marilyn, Jan and Sharon for coming over and cleaning my house. God bless you. And thanks to Charlotte, Donnie, Jesse, my dad, Joel, Cris, Ken, Lance, Steve, and all the men I am forgetting to name, for coming to the house and helping with the attic remodel. We are so much farther along than we would have been. We had sheet rock delivered this morning, so we are coming along. We hope to be done in 3 weeks. Pray hard :) We are all so happy to be home. It has been a long week, but nice to have it here at home instead of Memphis.
Brittney and I leave next Wednesday, the 22nd, for our trip to New York. We had this planned at the beginning of the year, so it is nice that we everything worked out and we still get to go. We have been so looking forward to our trip to Broadway that we can hardly believe it is time. I have dreamed of Broadway all my life, and though I'm not on it, I love watching it just the same. I am thrilled to be sharing my dreams with my daughter, and seeing her love for Broadway coming out. We have something that we can share for the rest of our lives. I keep trying to remind her that she is lucky to be going at 11. Mom had to wait until she was 32. Yes, I just had a birthday...32. I'm getting old. (I know some of you laugh at that) The waiter the other night said I looked 22 or 23. 25 at the oldest. I wonder how much money Emmett paid him...looking for a good tip I guess : )
Well, gotta go work upstairs. I am looking forward to some normalcy soon. Love you all.
*Remember Skylar from St. Jude as this is her last week and she goes home next Wednesday. She is a precious 3 year old with brain stem glioma (tumor). Under going chemo and radiation. She is so precious.
All of our other St. Jude friends are home now, and hopefully doing well. Pray for continued healing in all there lives. Their names are on the pray list to the left.

2 More Days

Here is Ivee...kicked back at Cracker Barrel one evening.


Yes, only two more days to go. Things are better around here with out "attitudes". We are all anxious to be home. Today and the next two days are radiation treatments specifically targeted on the little mass that Dr. Merchant saw on Ivee's MRI. He is doing the full dose of radiation on that one localized spot. And to my brother David, that dose is 5940 or 59.4 (since you asked), and the dose she has been receiving has been...and this is probably in your language... (cGy) 4830/5400. You can tell me what you think about those numbers. I know Dr. Merchant said that 5940 is 10,000 x greater than any normal radiation that people would be exposed to. Wow! Well, anyway. She is doing great, sitting up by herself now (even though she can't get in that position on her own yet). And she is gabbing away, when she wants to. She waves at anybody and everybody all the time. It's like having a big 7-9 month old. Her hair is really starting to come in.
Today all the nurses and other people realized this is her last week. They all said they are so sad, and won't know what to do without their Ivee. Even Dr. Merchant must hear it from the staff, cause he only sees her once on Monday's for a few minutes, and he said yesterday that his staff is really attached to her, and they have really enjoyed having our family up here.
It will be fun when we return, cause there are so many pregnant people around here (must be in the water like it is at FFF) and when we come back we will see bellies growing, and find out what people are having, and see pick of those babies already born. I guess we have become attached to the staff here ourselves.
Well, that is what is up with us. Hope everyone is fine, and I can't wait to be home!
Love The Foley's
Here are Anna, Ethan, and Brittney at the Elvis Presley car museum.










Here is Ivee in a nice ride!

2 post

Can it be? Two post in one weekend?
Yes, and boy has it been a weekend. The kids and I are at each others throats. I guess we've just had enough of being soooo close, and sharing the same room here. I can't send each one to their own room and let them do what they want. If Britt and I want to read, Ethan doesn't. If I want to watch something on tv the kids don't. Etc.... So, please pray we can make it 4 or 5 more days living so closely together. It is really becoming harder to be "God" like when you are homesick and just want to sleep in your own bed :) I pray to see all my family and friends next weekend. Love you all and miss you.

Only 4 more treatments : )

Yeah, this week is over for us. Ivee only has 4 more radiation treatments left. Today she had another swallowing test. She failed again. I saw it really well this time. You could see it go down her esophagus and her wind-pipe. So, we are once again truly on hold from giving her anything by mouth. Dr. Merchant will probably go over things with us Monday, but I am guessing that radiation has had some affect on her body. Before she passed her other test, but while we have been here she has failed both. Well, that is what's up. Here are some pics of the kids from last night. A church group from NC has been here this week, and they had a silly string war outside the Ronald mcd house. The kids had a blast. Also, there was a magic show, and Ethan and Brittney got to participate.
Here's Britt covered in string.

This is Ethan getting in on the fun. He stayed clean some how.

Here is Ethan with his new "girl" friend, Nicholah

And here is one of the "wars".

I'll post more pics later. They had a great time. We are sooooo ready to come home. Unfortunately my house will be a total mess. Emmett is having to put all his efforts into the upstairs, so the cleanliness is suffering. Pray for me : ) I'm going to do my best to not let it get to me. It's just a house. Any hew, Ivee is still improving physically. She is just going at her own pace. I have had to come to accept that I can only give her the tools she needs. It is not my "job" to make her do anything. Plus, you can't make a 1 year old do anything she doesn't want to do. Accepting that I am not in "control" is still a gradually learning process. We learn how to let go a little at a time.

This may sound weird, but I am trying to finish the "Chronicles of Narnia" books. I tell you, sometimes it can speak to me as loudly as the Word can. That may sound a little strange, but when you have an vivid imagination, as I can sometimes, you get totally sucked into the story. Anyway, today I was reading and there is a story in there of a child named Eustace. You really can't help but to despise him. He's a snooty know it all, who doesn't if you know what I mean. Well, in the story he is transformed into a dragon, and becomes quite miserable, which changes his heart. He is unable to communicate with the others, but earns their love and favor, which he never cared about before. And one night, when he is so miserable, physically, emotionally, spiritually, felling alone, he feels like he just can't take it any more. Then Aslan, the "lion" (and through out all the stories a "savior") appears out of no where, as he usually does. Eustace is fearful, but unafraid at the same time. He tells Eustace to follow him. He takes Eustace, the dragon, to a water well. There he tells him to undress, Eustace discovers that he is meaning he needs to shed his skin like a snake does. Eustace begins to scratch the scales and skin off, then after a moment steps out of it (like a banana peal), but as he goes to step into the water, he looks again and sees scales and skin. Many times he tries to remove it himself thinking it will be the last layer, and every time there is more. After many tries, Aslan tell Eustace he will have to undress him. Submissively, Eustace allows the "lion" to begin to remove the scales and skin. The first cut felt like it pierced all the way to his heart, but Aslan is careful and removes all the scales and tough skin that does not belong, revealing Eustace the boy. Aslan then throws him the bubbling fresh well water. It hurt for a moment, and then all the pain went away. He realized he was a whole boy again. Then Aslan took Eustace from the water, and dressed him.


When I read this, I almost cried in the waiting room. How often are we taken to a place, and changed by something so much that it can be painful, but in the mist, there is peace, and towards the end we reach a realization. That we cannot change what has happened to us. We can only allow what has happened to us to change who we are, and to affect those who are around us. We can't take away our pain, or shame, but the "Lion of Judah" can. It was only then that we can rest in the peaceful water and the cleansing of that water can wash away all the pain. We are made new.

Well, I know that was lengthy, and some of you have lost interest by now. Paula, this was as long as your comments : ) You know I'm kidding, oh, and I got your package. Thanks for the gifts. Anyone who likes books of adventure, even if you don't like to read, I suggest these books. Well, if your still with me (and hopefully all I typed made sense) God Bless you, and see you all soon.
Love Hope