Stupid Cupid

Last summer at this time, I was worrying about:

*driving 5 children to so many different camps
*comparing membership to the Country Club, YMCA, and other places to figure out where it would be best to swim for the summer
*what the older kids would be doing while I took the youngest to various appointments
*summer menus and how to get the children to eat healthy without spending more than a fortune


This summer, I worry about:

*figuring out the best time to give a certain medication
*making sure all the medications are given at the right time each day
*no fevers
*when I can see the other half of my family again

What a difference a year makes. sigh
**Stupid Cupid is the song that was playing on my Shuffle today that made me remember the girls' cheer camp last year, and how much I was trying to carpool with friends for various camps.

sniffin' pits

Sunday, we went to discover yet another park in the neighborhood.
Josh and Lilly were having fun in the upside-down plungers that spin around.

He got her with the foam rocket.

Maggie was laying like a mummy on the hammock.

They all liked the hammock and said we should get one.

Later that night, the girls made friends with a newer girl at the House. All the girls did zhu zhu pets on the counters, then put about 6 tables together for another zhu zhu track.

Lilly helped the girls make a tower for the zhu zhus to ride on.

Last night, the kids had some fun in the yard.

They climbed trees, played in stinging nettle, and just hung out.

37 baby food containers looks like this. They'll probably be empty by the end of the week.

Ok, now my white trash moment. I'd been using the Lady Speed Stick deoderant for a long time, but thought that it would be healthier to try out the Tom's of Maine. So, for the last two weeks, I used the apricot Tom's.

The FIRST day, I smelled.

Several days, scattered about, I smelled.

So tonight, after feeling self-conscious when I took a picture with the other Sarah, I ran back to the room and reunited with my Lady Speed Stick.

An update

This was a busy week.
Monday, we had labs and I was so excited that because the numbers weren't quite high enough to start the next phase of treatment, they were high enough to go home for a day.
So, we went home that afternoon and were able to have our home study done Tuesday morning.
I'm so grateful for a caseworker who understood and was willing to work around our travel availability.
Oh, and the home study went great!

Wednesday morning, the children came back with me.
Lab numbers should have continued to climb, enough to start this next treatment, but alas, that was not the case.
The numbers actually went down, and too far to be able to visit home again.
So, we're (kids and me) here, and getting into somewhat of a routine for summer.
We do yoga in the morning, get our chore done early, and are somewhat more relaxed than normal. We'll see how long it lasts. :)

Wednesday, Andy got a call from Kelly. Kelly was at camp for the week. She sprained her ankle.
She broke her pinky just a month ago!
Daniel went on a hike and campout on Thursday.
Today, when the news reported 2 Boy Scouts missing from a hike in the mountains, I was relieved to find that the area the news talked about was NOT on Daniel's itinerary. Whew!!

Today is Andy's birthday. We'll be celebrating next weekend.
Daniel and Kelly are both back home from their camps.
I'm chowing (literally stuffing my face) on Oreos.

So, there's the update.

Oh, and my weekend alone with the baby was very relaxing.
I fed the baby regularly, of course.
But, I ate when I felt like it, slept when I felt like it, read books, and watched movies each night.

Lilly painted this gorgeous picture in the sibling room at the hospital on Friday.
The paint wasn't dry yet, but I had to take a picture to show the beautiful blue-green.

Today there was SUNSHINE again!!!!

We went to the park at 70th and 45th, I think.

I think it's the Ridge View Park, but I'm not positive.

Josh was shooting the foam rocket and trying to hit a very tall tree.

It came real close each time.

Maggie and Lilly both did the bars, but here's Maggie.

Lilly and Josh swinging.

We are definitely ready for summer camp to start on Monday.

The children are excited.

They'll be going on field trips EVERY DAY, starting with the Space Needle!

Have a great summer!

Maggie

Someday I might take classes and get a much better camera. But, in the meantime, I can tweak all I want.
And yes, I know her eyes might look crossed, but they aren't.
I was just randomly taking pictures, enjoying how fast the camera captures the image, now that Kelly did "something to the settings...I don't know what, Mom."

catching up

A week or two ago, we went to the Pacific Science Center.

Most of the following pictures are from the Butterfly Room.

A butterfly landed on our friend.
It stayed there for quite some time.

Creepy butterflies (in my opinion) feasting on fruit.

They truly look like they have eyes all over, don't they.

The fern tree. Isn't that curly trunk funky?!

The girls had fun playing chess in full size.

After doing some exhibits, we went to the awesome Michael Jackson laser show.

It was cool, everyone loved it, even the baby. :)

doing time

"What're you in for?"
This sounds like it could be a line in a movie set in a prison or jail cell.
In reality, it goes through my mind every time I see a new face at this House.
Everyone here is here for at least 4 days, many for much longer.
We expect to be here until February.

Without asking that specific question, I receive many replies.
Some families are here for a couple days of testing to find out exactly what is going on with their child's body.
Some are here for transplants. Their stay is usually a few months.
Some are here for cancer.
Some are here for the psychological damage that bullying has done.
Some are here for their "yearly maintenance." (annual testing and treatments)
Some are here for surgeries to fix imperfections.

To many (or most), it does feel like a prison of sorts.
There is no other place for us to be, but we didn't do anything to HAVE to be here.
It just happens.

Although, in many cases, instead of fervently wishing for an early parole (which we do, at times), we plan/hope to stay for the full course of treatment.
Often, it's the ones who get an "early parole" who don't have such a good prognosis, and home is where they will be most comfortable.

It is so much like a different kind of family, those who live here.
Everyone REJOICES when a family who has been here a long time gets to go home.
We understand that there is life after treatments.
That having more than one room for a family to live in should not be taken for granted.
That being able to eat dinner on matching dishes and normal silverware is a luxury.
That being together as a family is heavenly.

So, for now, even though it seems like a VERY long time for our family to live separately, we are content to be here until our as-yet-undetermined release date sometime early next year.

all alone...

Ok, I am alone in Seattle with the baby. Andy took the other children home for a couple days, and the baby and I need to be closer to treatment if needed.

It is weird, to say the least.

To follow my last couple, almost childless days, I'm going to copy and paste from my facebook...


going to go buy groceries for 1 1/2 people. well, he's not 1/2 person, but mainly eats only baby food in jars.

watching a movie tonight..."When in Rome"

Wow. I feel so lazy. Am I going to wake up and get going this late every day this summer?!

Didn't know I was burnt out. It was so relaxing to be able to just get in the car and go...to the library and the music store. Got some DVDs (yoga), books, and bought some piano music. Now I just need to get over to the church or the playroom at the hospital to play the piano. This is better than Calgon.


Now, I'm going to watch "Leap Year." It's kind of nice to watch movies and not hear griping about how someone wants to watch Disney or Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network instead.

p.s. A family here lost their battle this week. Their baby girl did not receive a new liver in time and passed away two days ago. Be grateful for health, children, and smaller trials.