Weekends

So yeah, the neighbors church burned last week. It wasn't a total loss, as the old part of the church was the part that burnt. However, when I drove past there was water running out the foyer doors...NOT really a good sign, but running past this week the congregation was out in force armed with hard hats, shovels, gloves, and unity.

It's been awhile since my last post... sorry... This week has been extremely busy with about 10 different studies that we're attempting to follow up on.

That aside, here are a few other "happenings" from the last week.

The lilies are blooming

My families keep feeding me cookies

And I got to go shopping saturday with my "sisters" for the summer:)

Cheesy self portraits with cute babies

Penned up babies

Manly discussions about machinery, etc...

Laughter with women...

Fat, happy babies

Cousinly love

Sand and little boys

Robin Hood sword fights with aunts

determination

and another one because she is just that cute

uncles full of great wisdom

aunts that will pick you up

Mommies that love and are involved

Daddies that protect

It was a lovely weekend, followed by a week that has been busier than any other before. The first interviews for Brittle Hair Syndrome are finished, and the blood test reports are slowly trickling into the office. This means MORE paperwork!! We are also starting on expanding the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy study, and let me tell you, we're up to 35+ families already. It's HUGE (actually turning into quite a monster) but all good as it's been very interesting so far. According to the doctors, they think they are on to finding another form of the gene that causes HCM when mutated. It's exciting for them and for the families, as long awaited answers are slowly trickling in. That's the "love-hate" part of this job. A lot of our families have lost sons, daughters, siblings, grandchildren to a genetic condition, and when the answer as to "why" finally comes, there is closure. And as a semi-scientist, it's extremely fascinating to be right here and watch it all play out. However, the more I get to know and work/live with these families, the more "why this one Lord??" comes up. It's a real dilemma at times, but we're all still learning how to live, laugh, cry and love together. This is not a road that has ever been traveled, no "system" for recognizing and treating these diseases is set in place; and as one of the "dawdy's" told me... "There's no path to follow here so get out your machete and start hacking!"

Happy Rest of the Week to you all!!