June

June started off in a good way with my sister Angie and her then fiance, Matt and his little boy, Daxton, visiting for the weekend. They went to one of Aaron's soccer games with us. We of course had Sno Cones, did slip-n-slide, street hockey, the park at night (the only time it cools down to 99 instead of triple digits) and installed a basketball hoop. The four of us adults also got to take advantage of my Aunt Tammy coming to town and went out on a date on the strip. It was nice to be out with my sister and Matt.

Bill, Jared, Alex (Jared's dad)

The basketball hoop was purchased by us and two other neighbors. Jared, with limited help

from the dad's, dug the hole, the guys all poured the cement and EVERYONE has been loving it. We only received one letter from the association but after writing back and explaining that it builds community and helps promote exercise the left us alone.

Aaron had his last soccer game on Saturday the 12th and enjoyed a cupcake cake that we had picked out for the team.

On Wednesday the 16th my dear friend Natalie Cabezud flew in to town. Funny story, for whatever reason I had it in my mind that she was coming Thursday so when she called Wednesday and said her flight was a little behind I thought, "What?! It's an entire day early!!" Luckily Natalie was coming to see us and not our house, because needless to say, it was NOT ready!

Aaron with Calvin Powell

Livi with Lori Powell

Friday night we went camping with some friends that we met through school. Megan, Mike and Matt are triplets in Livi's class and belong to the Webb family. Jackson was also in their class and is a Powell. He brought his neighbor Gage along as well. (To the right is Misti Webb with Jackson, Livi, Mike, Gage, Megan, and Aaron.)

And of course we all brought our dogs who are as good of friends as our kids. Harley is a golden retriever like Annie, but red, and belongs to the Webbs. And Baxter is an English border collie who thinks Annie is his girlfriend and... a sheep. It's so fun to watch all the kids and dogs play. Needless to say we were all very dirty and Annie was more brown than white. It was a great overnight camp trip up to Lee Canyon at Mt. Charleston with tons of good food (we made cobblers!) and lots of great company. Livi and Matt were content just being together and us adults couldn't be sure but sensed a possible first crush. TOO CUTE! (Ahhhh! Aren't they too young?!

Left: Livi, Matt, Jackson, Aaron, Mike(in back)

The next day, Sunday, was my birthday and Father's Day. I wanted to celebrate my birthday with the ones I love so on Saturday evening, Bill, Natalie, the kids and I went to see Toy Story 3 in 3-D. It was Aaron's first time in a movie theater. (Aaron kept his 3-D glasses and wore them to church the next day. He said they helped him see better.) It was a great movie. Beforehand we had enjoyed pork salads from Cafe Rio, YUM!

Sunday, I woke up to a wonderfully decorated house with birthday signs EVERYWHERE! (Thank you babe and Natalie!) Natalie came to church with us to church and then we opened presents.

These were of me "opening" my gifts... most girls would be excited if it were a pink nightie or something fun. For me... anything exercise related is fabulous! Poor Bill. He even tried to make it a little more girly by getting pink, but these pale legs simply couldn't handle it. Black goes with more anyways.(The shorts were from Bill, the apron from Natalie, and the kids, with Natalie's help, made me a bracelet and necklace.)

For Father's Day the kids and I picked out new swim trunks and shirt. SCORE! He actually liked it!!!

Ice cream sundae's for dessert, with homemade brownie's... HEAVEN! and then an evening trying to figure out how to properly install/use my "real" birthday present: a fully swinging bike rack that goes on the hitch and holds 4 bikes! It took 3 of us with BA's, and a video from u-tube to figure the darn thing out. But we did and I LOVE IT!

The next day, Monday, Olivia had her very last spinal tap for chemo treatments!!! So great that Natalie could be there with us. Luckily Aaron was able to hang with some friends for the appointment. I was glad to be able to get these pictures as they are a good reminder of what I hope to never see again. I still remember when it was all so new. How my heart ached when I saw her drug induced tears. How I giggled when she would ask through almost impossible to understand slurred speech, "Mom, how'd'u do'at?"

Me: "How'd I do what honey?"

Livi: "How'd'u have chu (2) nozes?"

Me: "Does mommy look funny with 2 noses? That's funny. It's just your medicine."

But now we are done with the yucky sedations and have 1 more chemo treatment left in July.

Unfortunately good things come to an end as well and Natalie flew home after lunch at Jason's Deli.

The rest of the month was spent playing in the late evening 'til 9 or so at night outside with the neighborhood kids. We have come to accept our very small backyard and appreciate what it has given us, a large driveway at the end of the street where all the kids congregate. SO FUN! Poor

Aaron though, on the night of the 23rd, it was late in the evening and the kids were playing hide-n-seek, or something. It was dark. Aaron went running across the street and tripped. The only thing that caught him was his face! Poor guy. I don't remember the last time I saw/heard

him cry over an injury, and especially this much. As with all face injuries there was a TON of blood, but we were able to assess the damage and get him cleaned up. And only a week before we got to see Grandma... what was she to think?!

May

Mother's Day was sweet. It was the first time Aaron was able to sing in sacrament meeting. And both kids had made little art projects for me in school. Bill and the kids took care of me and let me relax. We even got a beautiful picture in front of the beautiful jasmine that everyone said wouldn't bloom because of the amount of sun. Well, it bloomed fully and was gorgeous and smelled so sweet.
Livi was able to be part of a reading program at school called Accelerated Reader. She was the only student in Kinder, or first grade to participate. Her teacher, Ms. Lee set a goal for her on how many points to earn (depending on the difficulty of the book, a higher point value is assigned). She reached her goal of 7 points from January and got to join her teacher for lunch at school. It was a really big deal because she's in half day kindergarten. Ms. Lee even bought a cake for them to share.
We joined the YMCA and all became very active with our exercise. Bill has been sticking to a great work out regimen 5 days+ a week at 24 hr Fitness at his work. Since joining the Y I've been grateful to be back at a gym with good classes, good teachers and fun people, something I've missed ever since leaving Cal Fit in Sacramento. The kids have enjoyed, basketball and swimming after my classes. They also are able to participate in Kids Yoga, Cardio Blast and Kids Step. The classes are so much fun to watch, I never get my reading done.
With the nicer weather finally here we attempted to get moving in the morning on time to ride/walk to school. This was our first attempt and last for a while. The kids wanted to do scooters. Livi hit a wet spot on the street from the water trucks constantly spraying to keep the dust down from the construction of the middle school further up. Well, water on the street just means oil slicks and Olivia hit it hard. Flat on her belly/face in the middle of the cross walk. Luckily we were just crossing the street from our house so we were able to get home, bathe, and get in the car in time for the bell. Even her arms and legs were black! (I never was able to get it out of the shirt completely.)

Our "gardening" this year. It made the front look pretty. The kids love to pick out and plant the flowers and I love talking to them about Mom as we do it. The kids also wanted to plant seeds that they've acquired as of late. One Sunday afternoon, they were insistent and Bill and I wanted to nap. We woke up to the kids having planted our garden bed. They had dug holes, 1 for each pouch of seeds, and poured the entire contents into the hole. I explained why that wasn't the proper way to do it and we'll have to redo it if we want any growth. Much to our surprise I found our garden be full of what I thought were weeds one morning. I pulled out a handful and realized, these aren't weeds. Upon closer examination I saw this! We couldn't believe it. We hadn't even been watering them. Apparently there was just enough overspray from the sprinklers. I guess we did garden after all this year!Snow cones with the neighbors and movies projected on the neighbors' house have been a blast throughout the month. Our 1st annual Memorial Day neighborhood BBQ was a great success. With the learning curve thrown in, next year will be even better.




Playing basketball at the Y one day, with the kids, Aaron accidentally pulled Livi's hair. She hardly even noticed, but this was the result! We had suspected for a while that it was falling out again but this was proof. Every brush stroke would leave me cleaning out the brush. So, we called a girl from church and asked her for some help. Katie did a great job. And more importantly, Livi LOVED it! So sassy!With great weather lots of fun is to be had outside. This leads to tired little boys who will steal a nap anywhere they dare. We are now very careful with him in the tub. Luckily I wasn't the one getting Aaron in the tub this night. I usually will let him turn it off when he's ready. Bill, thankfully, wasn't so generous. It was kinda creepy to watch his arms and legs floating.
Soccer was a huge contributor to that fun outside. Aaron did really well. He was great with his teammates and helped encourage the more shy kids on the team. He scored two great goals in one game and 1 or two more in subsequent games. He surprised Bill and I with how well he followed the rules and understood the game. He never tried to kick the ball once out of bounds and always turned the ball towards the right goal before pursuing it. He was aggressive for the most part but what he did the best, and what the coach always wanted him to do, was to "get the ball down field!". What a GREAT first season. (Halfway into the season Bill started looking up pop warner info for football. Aaron can't wait 'til next year when he can play. Pads, helmet and all! BRING IT ON!
May was a very windy month, as usual. Unfortunately it only got stronger the night of the father son campout for church. The boys went, took pictures of each other, ate some Dorritos, and came home. After stopping for some Slurpee's, of course. They were meant to camp out at Red Rock but Bill said it was nearly impossible to hear anyone talking and even he was having a hard time standing up. It turned out better that way because I was flat on my back with a double ear and throat infection and we had painters coming to complete the interior of our home the next day. (Still haven't taken pics of the finished product... need to do that. I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Wedding Bells

(left to right: Katie, Stephanie, Me, Andrea

Anna, Chloe, Voni, Angie, Lorraine, Karen, Kira)

I was fortunate enough to be able to rent a car and drive up to Provo, Utah (area) Thursday morning to attend a bridal shower that my Aunts were throwing for Angie and then help her look for wedding dresses on Friday. Yes, Matt VanDuren asked, and she said yes! She also said "yes" to the dress! (No peeking!)

The shower was great. I got there at the exact time it was starting. I thought I would have an hour to spare... forgot about the time change. Boy did I get lucky. Fantastic food! It was great to see Angie and to listen as she shared her experiences with Matt to Mom's sisters and some of our cousins. We all got teary eyed when she shared about our conviction that Mom helped them find each other.

Friday, while we shopped, Liz Williams, my dear friend, joined us for the searching. It was fun to have a quick visit with her as well. Saturday, it was back in the car for the lonely 5 hour car ride home. Glad I went. Glad to have been there for my baby sister. SOOO HAPPY FOR HER!

Dinner Guests

My mom's sister, Yvonne and her husband, Randy, along with Katie and Alyssa stopped by our house on that very busy Saturday night. I was worried about all the events of the day but thrilled with the visit we were able to have. We had an awesome taco salad for dinner and great conversation. The kids LOVED being with Katie and Alyssa, as well as playing with my Aunt Voni and Uncle Randy. It was fun to have Bill around with our guests too. They got a kick out of the funny stories he's already piling up with his job experiences. We love having company. Friends and family visiting us reminds us of how blessed we are.

Alyssa, Aaron, Aunt Voni

Alyssa was in a softball tournament for her college. The reason for their trip to Vegas.

Katie and Livi. They could've crafted all night.

Uncle Randy held Livi when she was only 1 month old. She slept on his chest for over an hour. Such a great big cuddly bear. LOVE HIM!

It's really fun to be around Mom's sisters. They all remind me of my mom in such different ways. The way my aunt Yvonne scrunches her nose and eyes when she laughs... ohh mom.

GO SEA SIDERS!

Aaron was able to get on a great soccer league through parks and rec. It's 6 weeks with 1 game and 1 practice per week. The coaches are parent volunteers and also double as the ref during the game. I really like this aspect of it because the coaches take the time to teach during the play of the game. We really lucked out by getting the coach we did. Mike Tighe loves the game and his intensity shows. It's somewhat comical to watch as you can see him reminding himself that they are 3 and 4 yrs of age and not the star athletes he has envisioned. They chose the name Sea Siders for the team. It's a nick name of a team from Britain. (The coach's wife is from England.) The games consist of 4 quarters of 6 minutes each. Welcome to the world of little league sports. We are THRILLED to be here.

In the first game we learned several things about our son. 1.) He needs bigger shorts. 2.) He needs shin guards. I didn't think it would be an issue at this age but every time he got in a group I was cringing. 3.) He's pretty darn good.

He had several breakaways where he took the ball all the way down the field with the rest of the players behind him. Coach was very excited about this, as were we. Going into the game Bill was making me promise not to be too loud. I, several times, had to remind Bill to keep it down. It was SUCH A BLAST! The score ended up being 2-2 with the other team scoring all 4 points. The other team was all hispanic and looked as if they had been playing soccer since birth. They could dribble very well and kicked the ball HARD! It made us laugh. At one point there was a lot of excitement that Aaron had scored a goal. He had brought the ball down field and then it went in, but no one could see. It turned out to be the other team, but we were excited for a while. Funny things are bound to happen with this age. One of the boys on Aaron's team is on the younger side of 3 and very timid. He did not want to be on the field. When his dad started calling to him, "Mikey, get the ball!" Mikey ran to the sidelines and picked out a nice shiny blue one amidst all the practice balls.

Of course the best part is the snacks!

Of course my camera skills need improvement. By the time I realized he was breaking away and got the camera filming things had changed.

3 in 3

I took Livi in for her regular chemo appointment on Monday, April 26th. It was her 4th from the last final chemo appt. and low and behold, her port was not working. The saline was ballooning in her armpit and making her cry out in pain. They sent us over to the hospital to do a line study and see if the line was broken or clogged. They say it happens quite regularly. So, off Livi and I walk to Sunrise Hospital, right across the street. Bill, of course had just flown out of town that morning to Iowa, and so Bill was set up to go to the Hulme's house after school. Michelle Hulme, and the whole family for that matter, SAINTS! The staff finally got Olivia back to x-ray and decided to bring in an "expert" to make sure the port was accessed correctly. This irritated me. I said, "You mean that you think the people who access these ports everyday all day don't know how to do it as good as your nurse?" "Well, blah blah blah blah blah..." The nurse comes in. I tell her that all the fluid is pooling in her armpit and it really hurts. She figures that since the saline is going in that it is accessed correctly and then proceeds to flush it again. She can't even figure out what to do. Remember, this is the "expert". I first have to show her how to take the red cap off the end of the line that is there to help keep the line clean, and then she can't get it to flush at all. The whole time I'm floored. I tell her, "You have to unclamp the line.!" ARGH! Then she starts to flush. I tell her to be careful, it's only going to pool and it hurts Livi when it does it. She pushes about 20cc's before I say, "Okay, that's enough. It's clearly not working and doing just what the doctor's office said. You're hurting my daughter. You need to stop!" UGH, I hate nurses and doctors who are too proud to admit they haven't done something before, or that they are still learning.

Enter in the x-ray tech and the doctor. Together they can not find the clot/bulge in the line. They are moving Livi all over the table and can't find it. I look at the screen and the big black spot and say, "Is that it right there?" "Oh yeah, there it is." UGH!!! To listen to him explain what happened with the line is somewhat comical. I know enough about her line by now to know what he is saying doesn't quite fly. We get back to the oncologists office and I share the wonderful experience... it makes for a good laugh. The real reason of why it wasn't working, and remember, ports stop working all the time, but of course, this is my daughter, and my daughter likes to be different. A sheath had formed over the end of Olivia's line. The sheath grew so large that it followed the line clear back to Livi's armpit. The fluid was being pushed through the line, out of it, into the sheath and following the line back to the end of the sheath(the armpit) and pooling. They had never seen this happen before. Of course, like I said, we like to be different. Surgery needed to happen. A new port needed to be placed for her 4 more rounds of treatment and the follow up checks that would happen til February 2011.

The surgery was supposed to be for Wednesday, so Bill, after going out for steak dinner Monday, flew home Tuesday before his first shift of work. (In essence, he flew to Iowa for a steak dinner all on the government's dime. Gotta love those tax payers!) The best part of all, Livi's surgery wasn't able to be scheduled 'til Friday.

3 surgeries in 3 years

Regardless of timing, it was a good thing Dad was there! Don't forget Misaroo II.

Waking up has never been easy for her.

Having the breathing tube really hurt this time. The popsicles offered some relief.

What a great little brother. Bill had gone to pick him up at the house while Livi was in surgery.We had to leave the house at 5:45 so our angelic neighbor Becky, after sending her daughter to seminary, came down to be with Aaron. She bathed him and got him ready for Bill. The boys went shopping to get Liv and new DS as hers had been taken from the doctors office after an appointment. We warranted a surgery as a pretty good excuse to replace her beloved Christmas present. Bill said that the whole time shopping for the game system, Aaron never once asked for one for himself. Only wanted to know how Livi was doing.

When they got to the hospital, Bill went back with Liv and I waited a short time with Aaron. He was so concerned for her. When they wheeled her out in the wheelchair he went running to her screaming her name.

Bill got the car, I carried Livi, and Aaron rode in the wheelchair. A trip down to the oncologist's office for the chemo they forgot to order for the hospital on the other side of town and then home. We all slept for a couple of hours. My visiting teachers brought dinner and I took Aaron to his first soccer practice. Livi threw up a couple of times, once while Dad was outside, she was all alone, poor thing. But had no problem getting to the toilet either time. (Kinda sad when a 6 year old knows that feeling so well.)

Saturday we all went to Aaron's first soccer game. Livi looked great. After soccer we went to Color-me-mine for a Make-a-Wish pottery painting and then from there Livi went to her friend's birthday party at the park. (Writing this now I can't believe she did all that. I can't believe we let her. It's amazing how strong kids are. It's amazing the determination you gain as a parent with an ill child to not let them miss out on life.)

Thank you Grandma for the flowers. They really did put a smile on her face.

GREAT JOB LIVI!

Stubby

As usual with things like this, the photos do not do it justice. And of course it happened when we were trying to get out the door. Sunday morning, crazy trying to get ready for 9am church, Bill's downstairs getting things in the car, I'm finishing up my makeup, kids are keeping themselves entertained... and that's when the problem starts. I hear Bill coming up the stairs and Livi harshly whispering, "Hurry, hurry, daddy's coming!" SLAM! "AAAHHHHHH!!!!!" (What the heck?) Bill pulls Aaron out of the dryer screaming in agony. Livi was coaxing him into a "cool" hiding place when things got rushed because "daddy was coming" and fingers didn't clear the door jam of the dryer when she decided to attempt to close the dryer door. His poor little finger got very large and purple and crooked. A couple nurses at church looked at it and thought it looked good. I splinted it for a couple hours after church and by the evening the swelling had gone down tremendously. Very tender though.

The following Saturday he had a soccer game in which he fell on it... that did NOT look good. I ended up going to an orthopedic for my knee the following Monday and they did an x-ray of his pinkie. They said you would really be able to know if it was broken or not because it was in the joint, but it seemed okay. He probably hurt the growth plate and so now will have a stubby pinkie. I guess there's worse things to have. Poor guy!