Thanksgiving Chemo style

Somewhere between Halloween we squeezed in Sammi's surgery, football playoff games every weekend, Zoe's ball games and Evening of Excellence.  This is Sierra's display, Sammi sang a song and didn't "set" up her area---grrrrr.  Sierra and Hadley did a canned food drive for the Royal City Food Bank.

A picture of the chef's behind the scenes, Courtney, Heather, Mom and Brynn.  Michael took Jackson to Chemo on Wednesday so I could spend some time with Heather and her family.  Thank you dear.  They did an early chemo Thursday (turkeyday) morning and were home in plenty of time for Thanksgiving dinner.  I took Jax back for Histio 3 Round 10 and days 3,4,&5.  We met everyone for dinner in Ellensburg Saturday night for dinner so that we could see the Bergholms one last time before they left for Utah.  It was hard to be separated from my sister who I don't see very often, but I guess you just do what you have to do in this life.  Courtney, & Heather took care of my other four kids, plus Brett's brother Brian and his boys came to Royal also, so they were plenty busy----earned their "mother/aunts" of the year award.  Mom was super busy too, the Monday of that Thanksgiving week Dad had his knee replacement surgery, got home from the hospital the same day Heather and Brett got to town!  Life is never boring in Royal---do you big city people hear me!!

The two Thanksgiving patients, Mr. Chemo is standing, Mr. New Knee is sitting.

Jax and Grandma

Sierra and her faithful sidekick Anistynn.

Good Ole' Crazy Eyes

Coach Matt and his player Avery.

Matt and part of his girls b-ball team.

Carter, Daddy, and Zoe play horse.

Zoe the BALL PLAYER

Please say ball player gangsta style in the title.  I didn't know how else to make that clear without pointing it out, which is so not gang.  Anyway Oct. & Nov. have included basketball practice and Saturday games for Zoe (and her pit crew of a family).  Nothing like a late away football game Friday night and an 8:00 am game in Warden Saturday morning to make you question why you were born.  Zoe has tons of potential, so does her team.  Last year they got killed every game, and sometimes only had a couple of points on the board at the end of a game.  This time they were in double digits and competitive.  Not with every team but with some.  The lost by one point----TWICE.  So close.

Sammi's Surgery

 November 12th, Sammi had her tonsils and adenoids taken out.  She had strep four times last year so we were all ready to say goodbye to those meanies.

Her surgery was at Seattle Children's Hospital.  They know just how to treat little kids with their blankies, and stuffed animals.  All of those precious items get ID bracelets that match them to their patient.  I was only hugely embarrassed that yellow blanket, Fitzy and Lucy came with us.

Waiting ---- in the waiting area of all places.  Bailey, Sierra, Zoe, Carter, Sammi, and I made the day surgery trip.

In her "costume" as Zoe would say.

Sammi's surgery was over 2 hours (maybe 3 it's been to long to remember-this is why you blog when things are fresh in your mind) later than planned because of an unplanned complication in the surgery before hers.  After  a while she stated getting pale and shaky (maybe because she wasn't allowed food or drink since midnight?) and complaining that she felt weak, then she really started freaking out (sorry to use such technical medical terms) that she was going to faint, and SHE DID.  She also started convulsing which really freaked me out.  I told Bailey to get a nurse and take the kids in the hall, which bless her heart she did.  The nurse ambled in, saw Sammi and in seconds there were five of them in our little pre-op room.  One starting an IV, one lowering her head, one raising her feet up high, one taking her blood pressure and sats, and one ordering the other four around!! (I would want the last job)  Sammi immediately came to but started crying, it scared her badly.  After we got some fluids in her she went from gray, to green, to pink again and life was much better.  I got the girls from the hallway and the nurses all fussed over them saying what good kids they all were.  Then we teased Sammi about being a drama queen until it was time for her surgery.  One sweet thing was after her fainting episode she never let go of my hand until they took her away, you know it scared her when she shows a clingy side!

After surgery, looking less peppy than the above picture.

The first thing she said when they wheeled her in after surgery was "does my breath stink?".  She had a mortal fear of smelling like Carter did after he had the same surgery.  After a few tries to keep liquids down we were back on the road heading to Royal and several nights of not much sleep.  In fact the first two nights she made me sleep with her, I will say this, she didn't snore!

Leaving the hospital, everyone taking turns pushing the patient.

Did I mention it only snows if I am driving somewhere---it's weird. The weather man could save himself some trouble by just tracking my schedule instead of the atmosphere.

Halloween 2012

Thor (I kinda suspected Carter might be a super hero---all the leaping off tall things and all)

Cowgirl Zoe was hoping this outfit would inspire her parents to buy her a horse---it didn't. :(

Nurse Sammi will give you shots, and foul medicine necessity not an issue---all for a fee of course.

Some of the worlds sweetest BeeHives.  Reilli, Savanna, Maggie, Hadley (bag of jelly beans) and Sierra.

Sierra is such a clean pioneer.  I tried to give her some cow pies for her apron pockets but -- no go.

Worlds cutest peacock, unless you count her 3 other peacock sisters!

Chick magnet---you bet.

I realize Kristi isn't in our family, but we keep trying.

Detton and Carter, aren't they so cute, I mean fearsome.

Gracee, Zoe, Sierra, Hadley, Tierny, Gina, and Emma.

Bailey and Sammi strike a pose---they usually do.

A bad shot of a couple more peacocks, Matt was all over this golf course----he owned it.

Sammi at her chamber choir concert, she is the pretty one, looks like her mother.

S

Homecoming/Chemo week 2012

Homecoming week couldn't have been a worse week for Jackson, oh just kidding, of course it could have been worse;  wait stop, I don't want the universe to show me worse!!  Every few months he has an EXTRA hospital day for MRI and BAER tests and since this is Jackson's luck it was during Homecoming week.  But he did get to go to school on Monday.  Monday was pajama day for the Middle School, and the High School(funny usually Sammi's hair and makeup aren't quite so down when she wakes up).  It was Red Ribbon week, or say no to drugs, or DARE (depends on the generation your from) at Red Rock Elementary.  Monday was your favorite sports team for the Grade Schoolers (yes I do realize I made up that word---I like it).  That's right 5 kids, 3 different schools, and dress up days for them all.  Michael can now receive visitors, we had to place him in a psychiatric unit because he was in charge of homecoming week from Tuesday through Friday while Jax and I were in Seattle, enough to make any sane Father insane.

Crazy hair day at Middle School, wear as much red as possible for Grade Schoolers, and Michael missed getting Sammi's photo, but rest assured, she looked great. I t was pool flotation device day at the high school.  Tuesday at the Hospital was wear a hospital gown to your MRI day.  Jax looked great too!

Wednesday was St. Patricks day for the sophomores, duck tape day for the Middle School (she made duck tape shoes which don't show) and, mismatched shoe day at the Grade School.  At the hospital it was wear your stretchy pants to chemo day.

Thursday was career day at the Middle school, and crazy hair day at Red Rock.  It was Duck Dynasty tee shirt day for Jackson at the hospital (somehow I survive the embarrassing situations he puts me in).

After Chemo on Friday we drove home.  Jackson had been selected as the "Prince" for homecoming royalty for the Junior class.  Here he is with the "Princess" Brianne Diaz.

Oops--- somewhere in that gaggle of pictures was Sierra's crazy hair day. from the back. No time to move this pic to its proper place.....things to do, things to do.  Carter had red crazy hair ala Courtney but she sent me a picture on my old cellphone which, thankfully, lives no more. (love you Brenda thanks for the new phone!)

We slept at home Friday night, (bliss) and then Saturday morning at 7:30 am Jackson picked up his homecoming date, Morgan Small, and Tanner and his date, Hailey Worsham and Nancy and I headed back to Seattle for Chemo.  I have pictures of their day in Seattle ---- somewhere.  Regardless we stopped in North Bend, ate lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Nancy and I pretended not to be with them so they could kind of experience a homecoming date without their Moms, poor kids.  Then the Hospital for Chemo, then Issaquah and.... I think I forgot Trophy cupcakes in the run down of the day.  Trophy cupcakes should never be forgotten.  After the ride BACK over the mountain (don't even ask about my gas bill for this chemo round) the kids got their costumes on and met their friends for the dance.  Here is Alice and the Mad Hatter or Morgan and Jackson.

The blushing bride, Hailey, and her hubby, Tanner.

Too far behind to put pictures in order people, another homecoming royalty shot.

The whole gang. Peyton and Seila, Parker and Charisty, Carter and Quincy, Tanner and Hailey, Collin and Becca, Jax and Morgan, and Todd and Brittany Jo.

The boys

Two of my favorite sophomores, Jacob Lee and Sammi.

After the dance it was back to our house for an Ice-cream bar, which I was barely able to keep my little kids out of, it took the BIG lion whip.

Aha--found the pictures of the "day" portion of homecoming date 2012--Ready to eat lunch.

teenagers in a hospital room---Hailey with her I have a cough mask.

Jax is Not doing what you think he is putting skittles in his mouth---I swear!!

Tanner and Daren offered to get up Sunday morning and drive Jackson back to Seattle for his Nuelasta shot--Thank You my hands were cramped from all the driving I did this week!!  I guess I can cross long distance trucker off my list of future careers.