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.

Histio Round 3, Chemo Round 9, Days 1, 2, &3

Day 1 was on Tuesday this time because he was due for an MRI and BAER test.  No pics from day 1, but just look back at the other umpteen MRI and BAER tests and you'll be right there with us!  The MRI showed that the big daddy lesions on the right orbital bone and skull are still shrinking and the others are all still stable.  Good news.  Better news---no new lesions.

  On Wednesday Julia came across the sea to visit us.  We had a good time with her---Jackson didn't even complain about going to the mall because he thinks she is funny---phew!

Thursday I dutifully took him to chemo, where he had high blood pressure (don't start boy) so they had to slow down his infusion rate.  To punish him I made him go to IKEA with me, oh and make a return at old navy and buy birthday gifts at toys-r-us..... that'll teach him.

At chemo he drinks,

smiles nerdy while surfing t.v. channels,

and sleeps.

Sierra turns 12 (nearly a month ago!) on 9/27/12

Dear Diary,
Sorry I've been so bad about writing. There has been a weird time warp in the last month which has literally left me feeling like I am not being granted 24 hour days. Behind in everything I couldn't get a minute to write in you. Michael went to Minnesota (Minniapolis? something with an M) for 3 days then came home and went to Canada for 10 days all in September, all for business. Maybe that contributed. I know I don't sleep well without the familiar, comforting "white noise" of his snoring. Should have taped the boy before he ditched me. He came home on Sierra's 12th birthday which was day 2 of Jackson's 8th round of Chemo. I had to farm out Sammi, Zoe and Carter between Mom and Courtney but I kidnapped Sierra from the Middle School because I didn't want to miss being with her on her birthday. She still likes me, I want to enjoy that before the teenage beast overwhelms her and convinces her I am the bad guy! Here are 12 things to love about Sierra;
1. She is kind, so kindhearted that I often ache for her because I know how it hurts her when she recieves the bumps and bruises that girls her age run into.
2.  She is weird, get her with Sammi and those two pull weird faces and come up with weird voices.
3.  She is adored by Courtney's girls, which is so good for her self-esteem, loving we live by them.
4.  She is stylish, and she knows what "look" she is going for.  Sometimes its so edgy I don't even recognize it as a "look"!
5.  She is smart, so smart, and does well in school consequently.
6.  She loves clogging class and is getting good.
7.  She likes to ride her bike and go on walks but doesn't seem drawn to any particular team sport yet.
8.  She is sooooo excited for mutual activities and Young Womens!
9.  She is fastidious about caring for her contact lenses, annoyingly so.  For example, she thinks she can only use the contact solution they used when she bought her contacts.  Counts the number of hours they are in her eyes and removes them promptly when time is up.  Washes and air dries her case daily.
10.  Loves Justin Bieber, and One Direction.
11.  Seems to have inherited my insomnia gene, although I hope not.
12.  Is the sibling most often willing to outside and play with Carter, to Carter's delight.

Good Morning birthday girl.

A 17 year old chemo patient and his 12 year old sister.

Sierra picked mexican food for lunch.

Birthday desert tortillas?!

Michael didn't like his welcome home.  After picking Michael up from the airport we stopped at Southcenter mall and spent about 30 minutes inside and came out to discover our car had been vandelized.  Laptop gone, watch bought on his mission, gone, many other things in travel laptop backpack gone.

By the way--Mall parking lot security, not helpful.

 We cleaned up, ducktaped and cardboarded up the window and carried on.  Next stop was a birthday cake for one of the worlds' most wonderful daughters.

When we got home our front door was decorated with all of this from the Young Women, welcoming Sierra in!

An original Aunt Brenda designed party invite.  Nothing but the best for our 12 year old.

She picked an 80's themed rollerskating party, so much fun.  I wish I would have taken close ups of everyones outfits, my photos were mostly blurry due to my mad photog rollerskating skills.

Birthday cake made by Bethany Maasen.

Kaleigh and Tierney--upright even!

Detton and Carter, their talents apparently lie elsewhere!

After trying and falling multiple times.....and all before making it to the rollerskating rink, Jax hung up his skates and picked up a cutie pie Anistynn (in legwarmers :) no less) instead.  A much safer choice for him.

The lighting of the candles.

"Whoa doggy"~Carter said that alot with skates on.

The Andersen gang rocked the so totally rad look. 

Some dance they all knew the moves too---my brain old---can't recall song---

Kale, Detton, Carter, and Tanner found it was safer to slap fives then skate!

I have dozens of blurry skating photos should I post more?

Michael, I think he sneaks off to practice skating when I think he is working, he was a little too good at it.

Sweet Adalynn, I think she has a twinner personality with my Sweet Sierra.

Totally Awesome chickies. (aka Sierra and Hadley)

Lullaby Songs

Tonight Carter walked into the girls room as I was singing Zoe her lullaby.  He wanted me to sit with him and asked me why Zoe's bed song didn't sound like his so I told him they all had their own lullaby song I used to sing to them as babies (or 7 and 9 year olds apparently!!).  He had me sing all 5 songs tonight and I decided I wanted to write them all down so when I lose my mind ---scheduled to happen sometime next week by the way things are shaping up---we will have this blog post to refer to.

Jackson's song:  Rock-a-bye don't you cry, Jackson go to beddie bye. Rock-a-bye don't you cry, Jackson go to sleep, beep, beep.  (just to further embarrass Jackson I used to pat his little diapered tush-tush on the beep, beep part!)

Sammi's song:  Baby mine don't you cry, baby mine dry your eyes, rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine.  Little one when you play, pay no mind what they say, let those eyes sparkle and shine, never a tear, baby of mine. From your head to your toes, your so sweet goodness knows, you are so special to me, sweet as can be, baby of mine.    Sammi's song is the lullaby Dumbo's mother sing to him when she is put in "jail" and he goes to visit her--took about 100 times singing it before I could forget that scene in the movie and not tear up!!  But I think it is a pretty song.

Sierra's song:  I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream.  I know you, the gleam in your eye is so familiar a gleam.  And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem, but if I know you, I know what you'll do, you'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.  OK, now let's name that movie--if you said Cinderella you would be correct!

Zoe's song:  You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.  You make me happy, when skies are gray.  You'll never know dear, how much I love you.  Please don't take my sunshine away.  The other night dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamt I held you in my arms.  When I awoke dear, I was mistaken, and I hung my head down and cried.  You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.  You'll never know dear, how much I love you.  Please don't take my sunshine away.    An oldie, but a goodie.

Carter's song:  Rock-a-bye Carter in the treetops, when the wind blows the cradle will rock, when the bough breaks the cradle will fall, and down will come cradle, Carter and all.  When I sang this to Carter tonight Zoe was listening and yelled from her room "that's a sad song Mom", and Carter yelled back, "no it's not cause Mom catches me!"  PHEW!!  Actually, Sammi's is from the sad part of Dumbo, Zoe's refers to a lost or departed love, and Carter has to be caught before he and his cradle crash out of a tree.  I think its too late to turn back now for cheerier lullabies, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit. 

All these songs have made me sleepy--nighty-night.

Carter Swag

Carter came up stairs for school on Wednesday wearing this.  His infamous purple shirt that he had to have when we went school clothes shopping because it makes him look "skinny".  When he walked in the living room for scriptures Sammi told him he was looking skinny and swag.  I walked in seconds later and told him he was "styling" to which he replied "Mom I think you mean swag"!  My bad.  After the big kids left for seminary I went to the kitchen to start breakfast and Carter brought me the camera and said "in case you wanted a picture of me in these school clothes", of course I did! 

After a traumatic dentist appointment yesterday I offered to take him to the dollar store.  This is what we purchased---swords and three suits of armour.  I didn't even have to ask why 3 suits because as a student of Carters' mind I know weapons and armour are no fun if you don't have similarly decked out buddies to go to war with.  Before he left for school I told him he had to pick up all his gear so I could vacuum today, when I came back in this was what I found!! Not bad, he has the makings of a good equipment manager!

I don't have a picture from last night, but Carter had to sing in a Stake fireside with other kiddos and I had back to school night at the high school.  That meant Grandma Louise had the privilege of escorting Swaggy Carter to Othello.  He insisted on wearing his "tuxedo" (a black suit I bought him at WalMart for Christmas last year), I warned him it would be hot, but that's what he wanted to wear.  I grabbed a tie and threw it on, and he said No, he wanted the tie from Mason's wedding, so I swapped the tie out and he asked me to get the tie pin off another tie because he wanted to look "important" for singing!

I hope I can keep Swaggy Carter swaggy, having no swag myself makes the job difficult!

First day of School 2012

Name pancakes for breakfast were a bust--after the t in Carter the lid blew off my squeezie bottle and I succumbed to regular, boring round pancakes.  I saw my cousin does just the first letter of her kids name--brilliant, I am stealing that plan for sure next year!!

Then the first day of school pictures, you try taking one of Jackson, the boy refused to act normal for me.  Jackson actually started chemo today but they let us start them late enough for Jax to be at school for 30 minutes.  He is on the ASB and they start the school year with an assembly.

See...

                                                                       My son.

Here she is, my 15 year old daughter Sammi that I am so proud of.

This 15 year old daughter wearing a Justin Beiber backpack--hmmmm.  I hope all the boys in her sophomore class get Selena Gomez's backpacks.

Sierra starting Middle School Today.  They better keep her as sweet and wonderful as she is.  I mean it--you break her you buy her!

                                            

Sweet Zoe.  Wearing jeans, smiling on cue, only needing one picture to get it right---I predict an amazing year for Miss Zoe.

Cool Carter---I would like to state for the record that this is the "scratch and sniff" planet of the Grapes t-shirt Grandma Louise bought him for school (he picked it out--Grandma is a pushover but she has better taste than that shirt) I tried hard to talk him into wearing it the 2nd or 3rd day of school, to no avail, obviously. In Carter's head this is 1st day of school worthy!!

Mocking Sammi....always fun.

                                     

Trying to get five of them looking, smiling, and not moving----ahhhh the joys.

Good enough.

The traditional first day of school in Grandma Louise's office picture. 

The last two Red Rock students--2nd day of school.

2012-2013 Family Theme

Our Fourth annual family theme dinner.  We have started the tradition of having a fun (in theory) family dinner the night before school starts and unveiling a new family theme for that school year.  This year the kids picked broccoli cheddar soup with hot sandwiches.

They each had a "gift bag" on the table with gum, balls (to throw at Jackson as part of his physical therapy!!  we love physical therapy) and candy.

Then it was dessert--giant ice-cream sundaes.

And the 2012-2013 Noftle family theme:

LEAN FORWARD

Thanks to Brenda for making such a cute poster to frame and hang on the wall this year.  We talked about walking into the wind.  If you turn your back to the wind, can't see where your going and even when you think you are walking in a straight line you get blown off course.  But if you put your face to the wind, lean forward and take it one step at a time you can do it.  The best way to deal with adversity in any form is to rise up (last years theme) and lean forward.  We are obviously dealing with some trials in our family, health trials and other trials,  just like every other family.  But besides just dealing with adversity we want our family to LEAN FORWARD and be the best we can be.  We put some phrases on the poster that explain what you are doing if you lean forward; go further, initiate, be proactive, be engaged, listen closer, and act faster.   I love how excited they get to hear the new theme, but this year I asked them to share specific incidences when the theme from last year, or the years before helped them.  I was worried no one would be able to come up with one, but they all did, some had more than one example they could recall.  Warmed my heart right up.  We ended with Father's Blessings and the usual, insomniacs because after all it is school tomorrow -- woohoo!!