Life goes on...

Sad news, Papa is still in the hospital. Now he's just shy of four months. It's hard to imagine that he's been out of the house for that long. Grandma still goes up to visit him everyday, most days are good, but in truth the family is really just playing this long waiting game with no end in sight. The recent bout with pneumonia seems under control, but now there's word of another infection. We need him to get stronger, eat more and eventually move around so he can regain some of that strength.

In other news the kids are well, they still fight like cats and dogs, but from the sound of things that's pretty normal. Most days Roger and Tracey have to referee and keep them separated in order to have some peace and quiet in the house.

Now that it's May the school year is winding down. Malcolm is doing well in most subjects, especially his writing and reading. Roger and Tracey have been trying to work on improving his math, but most days are a struggle to get the extra work in. I think through their efforts there has been some improvement, albeit incremental.

 We're coming up on Mother's Day this Sunday. I'm not sure what's planned, but again with Papa in the hospital things have been difficult. Here are some pictures from Malcolm's baseball games and some film shots Roger has taken during March and April. He loves that Mamiya RZ67 camera.

Status quo...

There's nothing really new to report. Papa is still in the hospital, today actually marks 8 weeks. Today we didn't get very good news either, he's got three blood clots in his lung. So, the doctors and nurses are working very hard to treat the situation. We're still keeping our fingers crossed that he can come home soon. The medical staff is confident that everything will be fine in time, so that's good news. Uncle Glen's treatment is going well. It's going to be a long haul, but as the doctor mentioned, this will be a cure to his condition.

For the past few days Roger has also been feeling sick with some sort of stomach bug. Man, we just can't catch a break. The family is gearing up for their trip to Palm Springs in a week. Tracey is still on the fence about leaving the folks.

Here are some film images Roger took over the past few weeks.

Obiwan and Mickey Mouse.

Certainly, my status within the family has been significantly downgraded with the arrival of the kids. I totally understand this situation, it's not unlike what happens within most family homes with pets. For the most part dogs just aren't allowed to go everywhere and anywhere they please, even if the family wants me to tag along. I feel happy that I was able to go to Sechelt with the family, but now with the trip to Disneyland on the horizon I know I'll miss the family a lot during their absence. At least I don't have to stay in a kennel or with some other strange family. I'll get to stay home with Grandma and Papa, keeping them company during the five days everyone is away. I guess in some respects we're lucky the weather has cooled down, I can't imagine more hot weather now. I have trouble enough as it is, wearing this fur coat 24/7. Well, I do with them well, I'm sure they'll all have a great time at "the happiest place on earth". I can't wait to hear about it.

The portrait above was taken with a 50 year old camera, a Koni-Omega Rapid 6x7 Rapid. It was shot on Kodak VC160 and lit with a SB900 mounted with a small umbrella camera right.