It's Basketball Baby!

Note to blog readers---in both games we were the "guest", haven't had a home game yet. As you can tell one game against Ki-Be not so hotso. The game against Wahluke was mucho improvo! Sammi did great, baskets in both games, I could show you but my tech advisor (BRENDA MARIE ANDERSEN MILES)will not figure out why I can't get video from my camera on my blog.


It's also "note-worthy" to note Sammi listening to an Adult! Her teachers swear this is a regular occurance but Michael and I thought they were joshing us--who knew!!

Blood Counts for week 18

I have been a horrible blood count blogger lately, I repent, I think. I promise all the lab sheets are in order in the "Caring For Your Child with Cancer" book (Hate/love that book maybe a snappier title is needed in my opinon). If you are concerned you may come over to my awesomely painted home and see for your self.
His WBC as of 1/26/09 (Happy B-day Sydney!!) was 2.9 normal 5.0-12.0
His HCT was 31.8 normal is 31 to 48
His PLT was 78,000 normal is 150,000 to 500,000
His ANC was 1,300 normal is above 1,000

All back in their places with bright shiny faces

We are so glad to have Michael and Jackson home--ooops I mean Jackson and Michael, they get after me when I say Michael, Jackson! Jax says he prefers Dad to take him to Chemo over me, because Michael doesn't make him go Christmas shopping! For the record I never made Jackson go, he just refused to stay in the hotel room alone. And, further more, it's January, I wouldn't have taken him Christmas shopping either!! Sheeesh I can never win! I am so glad to have everyone home, and so glad that next month Chemo happens during Sammi & Zoe's birthday's. Because of that we are ALL going to Seattle together. Yeah all of us together! Michael and I were talking on the phone this week when he was at Chemo with Jackson and we realized that we have spent more time apart since September than we have since we met 18 years ago. I didn't explain that well did I? If you added up all the day/nights spent apart in the 18 years before Sept.09 they would be less than the number of day/nights spent apart from each other in the last 5 months. So, yipee for next month!
I wanted to tell you of some service we have received in recent weeks. One time we came home and found our whole yard had been raked, and the leaves taken care of. We have a big yard and LOTS of trees so it must have taken many hours. Thank you secret raker whoever you are! Then when I was feeling blue not to long ago we woke up to a TP'd house with a fun note and treats at our door. Thank you TP gang whoever you are! It happened to be the night that some "not so good-doers" graffited some business's in town. Our neighbor called, she thought we had been tagged too! Also, every month Debra Bergeson brings Jax a bag of fun drinks, magazines, and more to make Jax more comfortable at Chemo. So kind, so thoughtful, and soooo appreciated. We are blessed.


The boys we have been missing return. Notice Jackson's left eye, I just might add for information purposes that when I take him to Chemo he never falls on cement steps at the hospital and hits the corner of his eye!

The note we found on a BIG BOX of treats!

The trees were drapped in beautiful white

And the backyard looks better than before!

A years supply of TP

Chemo round 5

Well if you haven't noticed, which you have because you've been asking, I haven't posted Jackson's last 3 blood counts. I decided to have a bad attitude for a few weeks and be really mad that Jax has ND CNS LCH. I decided to worry over things I had no control over, and fret constantly about his future. I got overly emotional and let myself be depressed over this trial--guess what didn't help at all!! So tomorrow I will catch up post all his blood counts. But 3 weeks ago his ANC was 9,240 which is extremely high he was probably coming down with something and his body amped things up to deal with the infection. Last week his ANC was 400 which is in the critically low range. And this week 1300 which is low, but high enough to get Chemo today so PHEW! Michael took him to Chemo this time. It is something he has wanted to do and the stars aligned work wise so that he could this time. After they drove away I cried my cry and got on with it. I've decided bad attitudes just aren't as fun as they might sound!

29 reasons to love Christmas 2009

#29 Kent, Louise, Michael, Becky, Jackson, Sammi, Sierra, Zoe, Carter, Brian, Holly, Kylie, Sydney, Tyson, Brett, Heather, Wesley, Braxton, Dexter, Brenda, Preston, Carson, Abigail, William, Matt, Courtney, Avery, Adalynn, & Aftyn. Count it's 29 reasons to LOVE Christmas 2009---no offense Trevor, had you come it would have been 30 reasons! This dumb blog has taken me 2 weeks. After I put up Matt & Brian's video of their sledding wreck it wouldn't let put up another video, and would freeze up everytime I tried. And yes, I know the one I did "think" I put up of Matt and Brian won't play, read the last sentence of this paragraph to see my comment on that! But I'm not bitter about it or anything! Finally 2 weeks into it I gave up, and trust me I had some good video, Brett's vault at the gymnastic gym, is priceless, Jackson's sledding wreck, proof that Angels are watching out for him, Heather on the balance beam looking like she is fairly balanced, and lots of running, loud, smiling children. Oh, well, as we say in preschool; "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit".

#28 Christmas morning, it only happens once a year but man it's fun.

#27 Hearing "Mom watch this"---7 million times in one Christmas break.

#26 Digital cameras, and I'll tell you why--I tried 14 times to get these boys in "mid air" and was never once successful. At least I didn't waste any film. Note the previous picture was another attempt.

#25 Carson lost in a sea of snow, new research suggests that California kids love to play in snow.

#24 Watching Avery bail off standing while the boys didn't fair so well!
#23 Watching this happen live, but trust me watching Matt and Brian wreck via video is good too!

#22 Finding Dexter

#21 Carter had as much fun falling in the snow as he did sledding in it.

#20 Crazy people purposefully sliding into cold substances

#19 Carter grinning in Santa's hat is a great reason to love Christmas 2009
#18 One sure thing to love is three sisters all happy at the same time, together--at the same time, this is too rare
#17 You know your big brother KNOWS you when he gets you a gun belt, gun, and cowboy gear.

#16 Eskimo Grandmothers

#15 Many of us often felt like we were on the edge!

#14 In order of age: Jackson, Kylie, Sammi, Sydney, Wesley, Sierra, Tyson, Preston, Braxton, Zoe, Carson, Avery, Carter, Dexter, Abigail, Adalynn, Aftyn, and William PHEW! Perhaps the reasons we were on afore mentioned edge.

#13 The real trick this Christmas was avoiding the paparazzi--cameras everywhere.

#12 Carter officially discovers the joy that is Wii---Yikes.

#11 Sierra, Avery, and Sydney about to plunge into sledding bliss.

#10 Grandma attempting to explain the bracelet craft to Sydney and Sierra--I'm pretty sure Grandma didn't finish one herself--I could be wrong!

#9 Michael and his girlies, Adalynn, Zoe, Sydney, and Sammi nothing like a good Chic flick, how come he complains when I want to watch one with him??

#8 Kylie and Zoe looking bewildered by the bracelet craft

#7 Zoe and her favorite stalking subject Aftyn. Just remember Aftyn it was always out of love!

#6 Carson, Dexter, Braxton, and Wesley getting down with their crafty selves.

#5 Jackson surviving a sledding wreck--hmmm maybe kids with brain cancer and low blood counts shouldn't go off jumps---something to think about.

#4 Cute cougar faces peeking out of hoods makes the top 29 reasons easily.

#3 What could be cuter than Abigail and Adalynn with their playdough, I love barely 3 and nearly 3 year olds, they are so entertaining.

#2 Jackson and Carter went to watch a movie in my room early in the evening on Christmas Day--this is how I found them 20 minutes later--a little tired perhaps!

#1 Christmas morning with my five favorite kids in the world.