Spring Break

Last week was Spring Break. We were going to go visit family or friends, but decided not to risk being around other possible viruses. Glad we chose to stay home. :) Josh helped with a Habitat for Humanity project for 10 hours. One of his friends had a birthday, so we took him to the pool with us. Anthony watched Toy Story 3 while the kids swam. We went swimming twice, and the other time I took Anthony in. He still likes the water, but not to the same extent. I plan to take him swimming 2-3 times each month though, because it is REALLY good for strength building for him. Josh flips off the diving board.

Kelly and Lilly begging to leave 1/2 hour early. They never want to swim the whole time.

Afterwards, we went out for ice cream.

One day, we noticed that Lilly, Josh, and Maggie matched from the back.

Anthony LOVED this box of oranges. We picked oranges up every day last week.

Everyone spent time outside when I had enough of them all being inside for ALL week.

Hospital

$5 in $1 bills for vending machines
$5 calling card
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Comb
Shampoo
Conditioner
Gum
Small chocolates
Socks
Crossword/puzzle book
Pad of paper
Pen/pencil
Personal size sanitizer
Note about why the kit is there

It was more than 1 ½ years ago, but feels like yesterday. The day Anthony was diagnosed with leukemia.

Because that is such a major diagnosis which needed immediate and intensive treatment, we were given 15 minutes to prepare to be sent to Seattle. Initially, we thought we’d be in Seattle for a few weeks…Anthony and I returned home 14 months later.

I called Andy on that day, and had him bring me clothes. He didn’t know what was going on. He packed me one outfit and an exercise outfit. I ended up wearing some of my mother-in-law’s clothes when she visited us in the Seattle hospital the following day.

My friend was given 15 minutes when her daughter was in critical condition and needed to be flown to Seattle. She lived a street or two away from the hospital, so they said she could pack, if she’d be back before those 15 minutes were up. She recalls standing in her home, hands shaking, and just grabbing anything she could think of in her shock-affected mind. She arrived in Seattle with 12 pairs of socks, two pants, 3 shirts, and one pair of panties.

She had to blow-dry her underwear because she hadn’t brought more.

Every month, many parents in the community are given 15 minutes (sometimes 30!) to pack and be ready for immediate transport. My goal is to make that 15 minute prep time a little better for other parents. I am making kits that will be given to families who need to be transported to a regional hospital in a hurry.

If you’d like to contribute anything on the list above, let me know. Please no cheap quality items. It is much easier and more comforting to have real things to use. Hospital toothbrushes are awful!

I am NOT affiliated with a non-profit organization so this would NOT be tax-deductible, but anything donated will definitely go into a kit.

My first goal is to create 20 gifts for our hospital to use.

Pure Vitamin Cuteness

Yesterday, I got up to see what Anthony was doing so quietly. He was putting oranges from a box into a knapsack. Kelly says he was getting ready to run away with his bag of oranges. :) How did we get such a cute baby?!

Today, he's been trying to boost his immune system by taking tiny little bites out of the oranges, peel and all. He's just so cute!

In the dark

Today was the last day of steroids for Anthony for the month.

He was so cranky from the moment he woke up this morning.

At one point, Josh picked him up and had Anthony "help" him play wii.

Josh spent several hours this morning helping his Boy Scout troop with a fence for a Habitat for Humanity home.

Daniel started 2 of his college classes today.

One is about being a social worker.

The major project for this class is 10 hours of volunteering for a local United Way recipient.

It's so good to see my children helping others, even if it is for credit or a merit badge.

Tomorrow, we make our hospital kits for the local hospital.

A post will be up about that tomorrow, probably.

Tonight, we had Family Home Evening.

Lilly gave the lesson on how Heavenly Father Provided us a Savior.

I love it when my children prepare a lesson for the family each week.

They do such an amazing job of organizing the lesson and presenting it.

In the picture, she is about to teach her lesson...

AND, she's wearing Daniel's shoe over her own.

She was all excited that her feet and her shoes would both fit inside Daniel's shoes at the same time. :)

It was my turn for choosing the FHE activity.

The kids thought I was nuts when I told them to get in the car.

We went to the local playground, and played in the dark. Maggie got whacked in the head with Josh's foxtail sonic.

Andy and Maggie climbed the rock walls. All of us swing, swang, swung at one point or another. Kelly starts track on Monday next week, so she ran around the perimeter for the time. Daniel didn't want his face to be shown. Neither did Josh.

On our way back to the car.

Maggie, Lilly, Josh (squatting a little), Kelly, Daniel, Anthony

Tonight, our cat brought yet another live mouse in the house. :(

We've considered cutting food dyes out of our diet, and yesterday we did it.

We got rid of a big box of food.

Being Day 2, I noticed that although we had one meltdown this evening, our family and home were much more peaceful.

I am so hoping this trend continues.

Aren't steroids fun...

Maggie got a new dress last week.

Lilly has a matching blue one, but it didn't fit right.

It stinks when I buy clothes and the child isn't there to try it on!

We watched General Conference yesterday and today.

General Conference is a twice-yearly meeting for members of our church to be uplifted and edified, given by our prophet, apostles, and other leaders of the church.

The talks (sermons) are great, and the music is heavenly. If you know of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, you know what I'm talking of.

Because of the Internet, we can watch at home. I do best when I'm not sitting still, so I was baking while listening.

Lilly was helping Anthony color.

He gets it and was coloring on the page!

This afternoon, Josh got everyone to play Uno Flash...while Anthony ate Daniel's string on his sweatshirt.

Here's our steroid face...look at Anthony.

Each month for part of his chemo regimen, he is on steroids for 5 days.

Steroids make him HUNGRY, CRANKY, and very full from all that food.

Today, he ate about 3-4 times his normal.

3 string cheeses

4 bags (personal size) of potato chips

15-20 baby food containers

additional cheese chunks

Anthony, Josh, Kelly, and Maggie

All just chillin'

Anthony was helping Josh play with the wii guitar.

Poor full baby!

Anthony was moaning and laying around from all the food he ate.

Anthony loves the kitty cat.

This week is Spring Break for 4 of our 6 children.

So, we're going to be working on having fun and redoing some things in the house.

Happy April!

Cookie recipe

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c butter or margarine, soft
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c chunky peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c flour
1/2 c oatmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c semisweet chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars. Beat in peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden.

**We usually double or triple the recipe so there's plenty to share.**

Outside weather

Anthony has been having fun exploring the front room, climbing on the hearth and all the furniture, and getting into whatever mischief he can find.

He loves Daniel's big shoes.

Yesterday was the first real outside day.

It wasn't raining and was somewhat warm enough.

With all the mischief Anthony gets into, we had to find another, taller baby gate.

This one is perfect and has a swinging door!

Playing outside with daddy.

Checking out his name on the walk.

Lilly and her Mr. Eye.

Chalk bottom

Knocking on the door. (Yeah, we're repainting this year)