in Seattle

Anthony and I made it to Seattle around midnight last night.
We both were up past 3:30 (the latest I've ever been awake).

He ended up needing some oxygen, but when he's awake, his oxygen levels are great without help.
Anthony's nurses and doctors are so excited to see him, if not excited for the pneumonia.

We'll be here for a minimum of 2 days, and possibly a longer Seattle stay to be near the hospital for a little extra time.

Anthony thinks his oxygen monitor wire is good to eat, as well as his central line (basically to his heart) tubing.
I'm really hoping his Seattle therapists will be able to fit him in, and channel some of this mischief energy into something good.

Pneumonia

Anthony has pneumonia. We'll be in Seattle sometime this evening. We're just waiting for the ambulance or airplane, and we'll update as we're able.

Please pray for him to overcome this, to be stronger, and for my family that is once again feeling uprooted for a bit.

Fun stuff

Here's Andy in our family jersey from the Hockey Challenge.

Anthony and I have a cold this week.

He was having fun taking all the tissues out of the box, one by one.

Now, we're using toilet paper that's soft 'cuz the tissues are all gone.

Last week was spirit week at Maggie's school

On mismatch day, she had her hair in a ponytail, braid, and messy bun.

She wore different, crazy socks, and different shoes.

Anthony was proud of himself for climbing on top of the train table. :)
We made oatmeal raisin and oatmeal craisin cookies this week.
Since there are no raw eggs in the recipe, the children were so excited because I let them eat the dough. They thought it was almost better than no-bake cookies.


For my 35th birthday, Andy spoiled me.
Here is the cake.

Look! I have a dimple!

The kids always get cranky because I cut the cake in different directions and with curvy lines.

Anthony loves to climb into his toy box.

...And then turning on the tv, or turning it off.

One video has Anthony taking some steps!!!!

The other video is Anthony getting crazy excited because we were all cheering him on.

**Anthony's belly is so big and round this week from his monthly steroids and subsequent eating binge he just finished.**

Birthday

This week I turn 35.

Don't know what to think of that.

Not awesome, not bad.

Certainly something to be grateful for.

I don't like to ask for things.

I don't feel I am in need of anything right now.

But, I do want to ask for something from each of you.

This week, if you find yourself near a McDonald's, would you put your change in the Ronald McDonald House collection box?

Even better, a $5 or $10 bill would be awesome!

Or, if you know a family dealing with cancer, would you consider buying them a $20 gas card or grocery card?

I repeat, I don't want anything personally.

What I do want, is for someone who is already dealing with life-changing health threats to have one less thing to worry about.

Anthony's photo session

These pictures were taken several weeks ago, in preparation for the Ronald McDonald House Hockey Challenge.
I can't pick favorites since my brain is still overloaded from the past year.
So, here are a BUNCH of them!

poster child

Anthony was the Seattle Ronald McDonald House cover boy for the annual Hockey Challenge.
This is one of the House's biggest fundraisers of the year.
As cover boy, Anthony had a photo session a few weeks before (many HUNDREDS of pictures taken), a videographer, and an interviewer.
Anthony also got to be the guest of honor at the main hockey game in Seattle on Saturday, and drop the puck to start the game!
What a great experience!

Kelly bought a shirt before the puck drop, then was upset when the rest of the children were given one each. But then, she realized that it was basically a donation to the RMH, which would help another family like ours.

Our local hockey arena only uses one zamboni.

Seattle uses two.

Check out who's on the cover of the magazine on the table.

Right before the puck drop. Anthony and I are wearing jerseys and everyone else has the hockey challenge shirts.

On the ground, waiting to go on the ice.

SO BIG!!!!

In our suite.

Auntie Jenny flew in just for the puck drop, from California!!

The celebrities two suites over.

They played after the main game.

My face on the monitors.

They were showing our video.

Everyone was SILENT while listening.

Josh was bored. Can you see where he is, trying to have some fun?

Anthony and Maggie in the closet.

Cool Bird visiting our suite.