News From The Brent Senger Family

We have had an amazing start to 2011! Oli (14 years old this month) received Brent's kidney on January 6th and both are now fully recovered. Oli is so happy, healthy everyday and completely committed to his daily fliud intake and taking all of his meds on time. He has had two biopsys so far and there has been no evidence of rejection. Now that we are home Oli is back at school (he missed 3 months), joined badminton and has started back at saxophone lessons at the Academy of Music as well as senior jazz and senior concert band at school.

 

Alex (16 years old) has his learners licence now and has been recently bought himself a motorbike with money he made from swathing last summer. He played a huge role in Brent's care while I was in the hospital with Oli and took care of lots of jobs at home when he and Lucy moved back home with my parents (who flew over for a visit after surgery). Alex is still taking drum and guitar lessons and is in senior jazz and concert band.

 

Lucy (11 years old) is finishing up her year of dance. She is taking ballet, jazz and tap in Allan. She loves dance and has done well in both the Watrous and Biggar dance competitions. Lucy also takes voice lessons and is in the advanced band with school as a trumpet player.

 

Our kids did not get their musical talents from Brent or I. They must share those genes with Auntie Mary!

Brent is feeling well. He was able to run 13km with me last week with no concerns. He is starting to get excited about the upcoming farming season. We certainly seem to have enough moisture.

 

I am keeping well and LOVING having all of my family under the same roof. The simple things in life are so much more precious when we get the share them together. Brent and I are leading a kids running group in Allan again this year. We have 34 kids registered who will run 40 km with us over 10 weeks and then race in saskatoon at the saskatchewan Marathon.

 

So, that's about it for us. It was great to hear how other family members are! Thanks again Jean.

Nathan - we think of you often! We must get you and Oli together some day.......over a litre or two of water.

Sarah and Shawn - the gift of a child is so precious!, I can speak both as a mother and as an adopted child. So happy for you!!!

 

Happy spring family,

 

With love,

Brent, Arnie, Alex, Oli and Lucy

Originally Sent April 8th

General happenings: 
- Shannon (Ivy's daughter) is getting married this summer to Graham Erickson. 
- Things are looking better for Sarah (Debbie's daughter) & Shawn to be able to have permanent custody of Carley if not more. (I hope I haven't jinxed that!)

On the health front: 
- Lloyd Martens (Kelly's son) is being treated for Hodgkins Lymphoma and really struggling.  He has had six rounds of chemo, these usually land him in the hospital for weeks at a time.  He has three more rounds of chemo then a stem cell transplant.  He is selling his house (former home of Kelly & Henry) so Mary Ann & Richard have been helping him pack stuff up and taking much of it to their place to be part of the next garage sale. 
- Don continues to juggle the fine line between what drugs do the best for him but not make him feel really crappy.  He is usually very low on energy but can still send a meaningful, helpful email or a quick story. 
- I heard from Janice today that her grandson Nathan continues to do well. 
- Ivy continues to recover from her stroke, she has even started baking!  If meeting the twins wasn't reason enough to keep improving, having a daughter getting married is pushing her on even more. 
- I think one of the biggest success stories for our family comes from Brent's family and the kidney transplant.  The family is all back together on the farm.  Brent recovered very quickly and Oli recovered so quickly that they were able to all go skiing in February.  Oli is now back to school and continues to improve.  I can't believe that he can drink 4.5 litres of water a day! 
     I guess the rest of us are all holding our own and that is a good thing.  Take care of each other, for those of us with good health lets celebrate every moment.  God is good.
Jean

What's Going On

     Well this is all new to me, writing and managing a blog. I have noticed that with Mom gone it is really hard to know what we are all up to and with so many of us, plenty is happening.  In Mom's absence I have decided to create this blog so that we can keep track of one another.  Some how I think Mom would find it rather humorous that she has been replace with a blog.

     My one dilemma is sometimes you may not know who is being talked about as the grandchildren may have different names now they are married.  I hope I can keep this clearer by indicating which of my siblings the family member belongs to.

     Please email me about your family and I will post it here.  Include a picture if you wish.  Shortly I will post a previous email I sent out.  Arnie (Iris' daughter-in-law) has already sent me an email about the happenings of their family so that will also show up shortly.  I ask that you pass this website on to other family members so we can all reconnect again with our extended family.

Jean