Faster connection means more pictures

Last week was kind of busy. At the House in Seattle, it seems like we're all busy all day, but at the end of the day, it's hard to figure out what was accomplished. It's a good day if routine and structure were maintained for the family. It's a good day if we all ate healthy, and were well-rested. It's a good day if we got to exercise.
Parents just worry a lot, making it hard to concentrate on other things. Someone thought that everyone where we're staying in Seattle can just relax and read all the time. I have read a LOT, but haven't retained much and I definitely have not been able to relax when I worry all the time about everything. Health, family being separated, etc.

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly visited last weekend. It was rainy so we didn't go out much. Daniel built a marble tower while waiting for me to get ready. We finally got to go to the Northgate Mall. I think Kelly liked it, but not too sure about Daniel. But, I tend to just look at girly things and the boys tend to be forgotten at the store. I have to force myself to try to be fair when buying things for the children.
After the mall, Maggie really wanted her hair curled with my new hot rollers. She was devouring the Sbarro pizza while waiting for the rollers to cool.

Here she is with her curly hair. She looks just like Holly, our neighbor in Seattle.

Holly was at our room and we were all watching a movie. Maggie was standing in front of where Andy and I were sitting. Andy kept saying, "Holly, down in front." But, it was Maggie, and it took him a while to figure it out. Holly's hair is curly with the humidity in Seattle. :)

Kelly got new sunglasses.

The children wanted to make elephant's toothpaste later in the week, so we did. The other kids at the house wanted to watch, and they thought it was fun too.

Maggie now has a pretty rock collection of polished rocks. Her teacher, Eileen, gave her some and helped her organize this homemade box for them.

Andy came later in the week, again. We went to the Seattle Public Library. As I put on a postcard to my local librarian, it was a jaw-dropping experience, but nothing compares to our local library!

The picture below has some children's books to the right, and the storytime room to the left, behind the funky wall.

Ok, in our medium-size city (or in any other cities I've lived in), I've never seen more than 20 kids at a story time, maybe 40 if it was a summer program for older kids too. Check out the maximum occupancy for the SPL's storytime room!

The picture below is JUST some of the children's section.

The blue bull, but I forgot its name.

Below this next picture is the awesome conveyor belt that takes items left in the book return box outside to where they are processed. You can watch the books you're returning. Or, if you're returning them inside, the books go in the central conveyor entry in this picture.

The book return that is inside.

We went to the SPL to see Josh read a poem that he wrote. Andy and the girls got to watch. As soon as the program started, the baby started fussing (chemo earlier in the day). Josh did a great job, according to Andy! I asked Josh if he felt famous, and he said when everyone was clapping for him, yes. He said he felt even more famous when he and the girls performed at Seattle Center the first weekend in May.

My children are getting such a neat experience in Seattle! We are meeting neat people, learning to have more compassion for those who are struggling to survive even more than we are, and just taking the opportunity to find some good in the leukemia battle.

HOME!!!!!

We arrived at our glorious home this afternoon!! We get to stay here until Wednesday...then, to soften the blow of having to go back, we're going to do putt-putt golf in Leavenworth and then go to Nana's for a short visit.

I love my home, my wood table, my matching dishes and real silverware, my husband, children, and the garden. And, my roses are blooming!!

And, some friends worked on our garden area ALL morning, so it is beautiful! Thank you!

They're ok

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly came to visit yesterday. On their way home, they saw 8 deer, including the one they hit. It died, but they are ok. This is a miracle since they were in our tiny car. I'm looking for a little bigger car now, so I have more peace of mind.

What can I do?

People often say, "Let me know if there's anything I can do for you or your family."

My friend and I were discussing what we've learned by being in this situation (away from home, surrounded by people yet feeling so isolated, extreme worry). We were talking about what we plan to do when we finally get out of here!

One thing is serving others where there is a pure need. Another is being a true friend.

We talked about isolation and how it has affected us AND OUR CHILDREN. Our children who aren't patients are isolated, even with the school here. When we return home next year, it'll likely be a difficult transition to see their old friends and the different dynamics of relationships.

One way to help ease this would be a recording from class (church or school) so they can see their friends (without worry of germs for now), and understand that they are still learning similar things at church and school. Even just a half hour of recording would be played over and over, I can assure you.

From our experience, we understand that any adult who is homebound would appreciate an update of events (who came, what it was for, who has which new callings, etc.) or the same type of recording from church.

Mail is awesome to receive. I was spoiled on my birthday. It was so nice to open the mailbox and have something there. The children jump up and down when they get mail.

Another friend here at the House receives a drawing EVERY DAY from someone in their community...actually, it's her son who receives it. He loves to get the mail each day.

If you have other ideas, please share. We are surrounded by people who serve selflessly every day.

p.s. baby's doing well, eating great, and gaining weight!

Just a few hours together

Andy, Daniel, and Kelly came to visit for a few hours today.

After church, we went to Magnuson Beach

(It's really too tight of a fit to have everyone in our room).

Maggie and Lilly are the only ones who will usually look when I want a picture.

The children thought a police boat was cool, and when it caused big waves on shore, Maggie and Lilly thought it was fun to stand in the cold water.

Andy and Maggie

We saw these baby goslings.

Lilly and Maggie posing on our rainy, small hike.

Don't know why Lilly was pouting...

split second after this, a huge, ugly black and white bumble bee stung Maggie on her chest and on her back after it went in her shirt.

We loved seeing the rest of our family, even if everyone was tired.

Can't wait for next time.

Oh, and at church, I saw a friend from high school days!

It was so embarrassing when my skirt slid all the way to the floor while we were talking!

Everything I do is so graceful, not!

Look what I did today!

I wanted (really needed) a snack, but there wasn't anything in our cupboard or the pantry. So, I made cookies. This was the first decent batch I've made since being home in November!

Yep, wore makeup and contacts with some of my new summer clothes!

glug, glug, glug

Water.

I can't stand the stuff. Except to drink. I drink lots of it every day (and chew the ice).

I can't stand to have water splash on me.
I can't stand showering (although I suffer through that once a day). :)
I can't stand jumping into a pool and getting the water up my nose and being attacked on all parts of my skin by the water.
I can't stand the nightmares it has caused me my whole life.

Funny thing is, is that I "make" my children swim a lot.
Last summer and the summer before, I took them to the pool EVERY DAY except Sunday.
The lifeguards even joked about us.
Here, I take the children swimming at the hospital's therapy pool several times a week.

I don't want my children to have my fear of water.
I want them to be able to drive across a bridge without fear.
I want them to have control if they ever fell in a pool or other body of water and be able to swim out.

Something I never really realized is how therapeutic water can be.
Taking the baby swimming last summer helped with crawling skills.
This summer it should help with walking skills.

The pool at the hospital is always set to 95 degrees.
It's like a nice, warm bath.
The baby loves it.
The children love it.
The children can be real kids in it.
They also learn about real life besides the bubble we lived in at home.
They see children with physical deformities, health struggles, and other issues.
They see children like themselves, who are siblings of patients.
They see adults (parents and volunteers alike) care for any child who needs assistance in the water.
They play with children who are different.

One thing I noticed today at the pool is how therapeutic the water is.
Children who can't bend their legs on land kick and splash all over the pool.
Children who walk with a favoring to one leg or another can swim.
A very heavy child can feel weightless.
A child with learning disabilities can be a water star!

I really don't like how water feels, but I like how it makes others feel.

the day my life turned upside down

Fascinating things, those diagnosis stories.

My friend and I were discussing her child's diagnosis story (everyone at this house has one). Her child has a similar, almost identical, leukemia as our child. Their diagnosis was in October, while ours was on December 2. Just like a birthday, everyone dealing with childhood cancer/leukemia remembers the day their life changed forever.

Anyways, she was telling me how when the doctors got the bloodwork back, they were explaining that they hoped the problem was leukemia because if it wasn't, the other two possibilities have no treatment. Then, the doctors told her that she had 15 minutes to gather what she could because she needed to meet the airplane after that.

Looking back, she was aghast that "They didn't even ask if I turned the roast off that I started that morning. They didn't ask about the other children. I just had to hope someone would be there when my other child got off the school bus."

This is the way it happens.

On December 1, I started making a baby quilt for a friend. I was supposed to be helping throw her a baby shower 3 days later. Leaving the fabric on the dining room table, Andy and I and the baby went shopping at the mall for Christmas. It was from the mall that we went to the ER and didn't return home until we were "allowed" to visit in late February.

Half my family is with me. Half my family is going on without me. It's almost like a death, but it isn't. Everyone in this situation misses their home, their families, their routines, normalcy, and the feeling of peace knowing that your child is healthy (which most people don't recognize because they haven't been forced to).

We are all so grateful for our family and friends who support us and pray for us during this time. Thank you!

chemotherapy

I just bought a vinyl saying for the back of my van. Pictures to come of that...it says, "leukemia sucks."
Sucks is not a word we use in our family, but it is the least offensive word to describe leukemia and chemotherapy.

So far, I have learned that chemotherapy is administered in at least four ways: oral (pills or liquid), through the central line or IV, needle injection into the spinal fluid, and needle injection into muscle.

All of them are awful, but necessary.

Mother's Day Weekend and playing in the bathroom

Josh was proud of his tall marble run.

He made it in the bathroom so he wouldn't make too much noise while the baby was sleeping.

We went to the zoo on Saturday.

It was sunny and a holiday weekend.

We won't do that again.

First thing to do at the zoo in Maggie's eyes is to climb the huge tree.

Maggie liked the bird houses in the water, above.

The kids were just as excited about the crows as they were about the official zoo animals.

Lilly had fun doing her hair last night with her friend.

Mother's Day was so nice. We got to go to church, had a divine brunch at the house, and spent time together.

Seattle Adventures!

Andy was able to come visit for yesterday.

So, we made it fun and exciting!

First was the aquarium.

Andy wanted to buy a hat to match the baby's.

After the fishy stuff, we went out to dinner.

First time for us at the Old Spaghetti Factory.

That food was divine!

I had chicken penne, the children (Andy too) had spaghetti. and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Then, it was time to get to Safeco Field for a Mariners game!

On the way, we took a wrong turn and ended up near Uwajimaya.

The children thought the dragon on a pole was cool.

Someone donated a suite for people in the House for yesterday's game.

It was Andy and the children's first game, my second.

The game stunk. We lost 0-8.

But, it was nice to be in the suite and to be out having adventure.

We loved having Andy come visit, but it ended much too quickly and he's back home for work.

We're hopeful to have a lot more time together in June...

Wow, it's been a week

The children were given the incredible privilege to be participants in Dance for a Cure 2010. They were taught a couple routines, one to "Beat It," and the other to "Bad." Both songs by Michael Jackson.

I was very touched by how well the other dancers (and there were many) treated my children, how well the teachers taught them the moves, and just how well we were taken care of by everyone involved. I only got to see my children's parts, plus the first 3 dances (out of many, many more) because the baby was too fussy. :( I've ordered the DVD and can't wait to watch the program!

I just can't believe that my children performed at the Seattle Center!!

Oh, and the children were wondering why a weird-looking guy was walking around in just his underwear afterwards on the way to the parking garage. I looked up at a sign for one of the other theaters at the Center, and they were having some erotica art-fest. Nice...made me want to gag.

Before the show, the girls painted their nails. Maggie loved her light blue nails.

The beautiful chandelier in the practice room.

I know my camera doesn't do it justice, but I don't have the time, energy, or money to get a better camera and figure it out better.

Maggie with blue eyeshadow on

Lilly with eye makeup and a fake smile

While the girls did girly things (hair, nails, etc.), Josh and one of the other boys (only 3 boys in a huge show) played chess on my computer.

The pre-professional dancers during the first song. AWESOME!!

Our group of children

After any kind of performance by any of our kids, we go out to ice cream.

We went to McDonald's and had McFlurries.

Josh can't leave his cell phone alone.

Monday, there was no school. The teachers had a planning day.

So, we went to the Pacific Science Center.

Lilly played tic-tac-toe with the computer robot.

She won. My children are all geniuses. :)

squirting water in the windy, rainy outside

The baby's new phase of chemo has been tough. Keeping food down has been almost impossible on some days.

So, Tuesday evening's dinner was a godsend.

There had been a mix-up with the people at John L. Scott and the house we're living in.

So, we were planning to make dinner when a message came on all the phones.

There'd be dinner at 5.

We got back from swimming and there was pizza!

One of the corporate people at John L. Scott heard of the mix-up and arranged for us to all have pizza.

The baby ate nearly an entire piece and didn't throw it up AT ALL!!!!!!

The baby ate more today and still just loved it. Yay!

The picture above is Josh eating his soda pizza.

He likes to mix his foods (anyone like peanut butter & jelly & lunch meat sandwiches?!) and poured Fresca on his pizza.

He said it was good and made the pizza taste a little fruity.

This wasn't even all the empty boxes.

Tonight, there was a pinata for Cinco de Mayo.

Dinner and the pinata were brought by Report Footwear.

Dinner was great, dessert was divine (strawberry shortcake), and the children loved hitting the pinata. Except Josh, it broke before his turn. I think we need to have a pinata every week for mental therapy.

All the chaos to get candy. You would NOT believe how fast they were all on the candy. Just about before the candy landed.

Josh got part of the shark's shell.

Whew! It's been quite a busy week. And, it isn't slowing down.

Tomorrow is a Mariners game and possibly the Aquarium beforehand.