Another month... another birthday

Happy Birthday ANA... hard to believe that she's 4.

The first family member she met (outside of her mom and dad) was Emmah. Emmah was in getting chemo and we brought Ana to meet her big sister and for Emmah to meet her newest littlest sister. She's come a long way from the days that we didn't think that she would ever walk on her own.  She spent so much time in a car seat/carrier (from traveling around for Emmah's treatments) that she never really stretched out her legs and every time that you would pick her up she would tuck her legs up underneath or if you put her on the floor on her back, she would pull her knees up to her body.  Of course, she's everywhere and climbing and falling off of things now.

I'd also like to add Ana's birthday gift wish list... hope you have a second... or a minute or three

• Natural Cheetos
• BBQ chips
• Fritos
• Trader Joe Joe O's (TJ's version of spaghetti-o's)
• Pretzels
• Crackers
• Brownies
• M&M's
• A blanket
• A soccer ball
• A Spiderman suit
• Shoes
• A notebook (to draw with)
• A new booster seat
• Something to listen to music to with earmuffs
• Legos
• Harry Potter & Star Wars DVDs
• Play-doh
• A camp sunshine shirt
• Gummy penguins
• and lastly Gummy bears

To be clear, she's not hurting for food, she's not walking around barefoot nor naked for lack of shoes and shirt.  She's not shivering for a lack of a blanket, there's PLENTY of paper here for her to draw on, we have the DVDs she's requesting and if we get any more play-doh, they will be calling us to buy it back when their stock pile runs low.

Interesting requests for sure...

KEIYH

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

The statistics are grim and the funding for Pediatric Cancer research, or lack thereof, is atrocious.

I have learned that Pepsi is giving away millions to fund refreshing ideas that change the world. There is a foundation called "Arms Wide Open" (started by a neuroblastoma mom) that is in the running for one of two $250,000 grants. Their refreshing idea is "TO FUND LESS TOXIC

THERAPIES FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER".

Anyone who has heard Jeff and I talk about our experience with trying to help Emmah knows that it pained us greatly that the majority of scientifically proven treatment options offered up to us were so very, very toxic to more than just the cancer. A hospital webpage that touts the benefits of the treatments they offer does not lend any insight into the darker side of those treatments. Granted, we had Emmah for a lot longer than we would have without chemotherapeutic intervention, but to have to knowingly poison your child to grasp at a cure or buy some time? A double edged sword to be sure.

So please take a moment to cast a vote for this great idea. You can do so online or by text message daily. They contest runs through September 30th and as of today, this idea is in 2nd place. Let's help them hold on to their top spot and get that funding that is so desperately needed!

KEIYH

The proud owners of another 8 year old

So another month, another birthday...

Seems in this house we're celebrating a birthday almost every month... then again, there's good reason for that because we almost do.

So Rachael joins the ranks of 8yr olds past and present.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RACHAEL!

I had written something last night, and thought that it posted... shows what happens when I think. For some reason, it not only didn't post, it didn't even auto save itself in draft either. I know... a pity party cuz I have to start all over.

So what does it say when your child (and children) ask for things like Gold Fish, Sour Cream and Onion Pringles, Orange Tic Tacs, M&Ms, Cheetos and Oreos? That's right, this was her list, not inclusive, but most of it.

I'm saving the best for last... the Pièce de résistance... at the encouragement of her brother (that being brother Jake) she had on her list Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory Brown Sugar BBQ sauce.

Only in my house would BBQ sauce even be spoken in the same breath w/birthday present! She got most everything on the list AND some new clothes.


KEIYH

KEIYH

Red one… Black one… Yellow one…

Thanks a lot Volkswagen.   Actually… thanks a lot Volkswagen marketing people.

(For as much as I’m a comedian, Jake is following in my comedic footsteps)

Exhibit A:

Every morning as I take the kids to school I hear Black one… Blue one… and so on.  Today was no different… except one thing caught my ear as we rolled along.  Oh, I’m used to hearing, “that’s not a Volkswagen Lyndsey” or “that’s not a Volkswagen Rachael that’s a Toyota” or the inevitable “where?” followed by, “right over there” or “it passed us already.”  No, I’m used to all that.  What caught my ear today was hearing Jake say “Turquoise one… actually it’s more of an Aqua.”

What’s next?

“Green one… no… actually it’s more of a Pine Forest Green”

Exhibit B:

Lyndsey started kindergarten this year and it is customary in the K class (we’ve been through it enough times) that they have a week or so of wearing color clothes.  That is to say that Monday is Red day and Tuesday is Brown day and so on.  Well that came to a close culminating in Black and White day yesterday, so today was wear whatever you want day… in other words no specific color needed to be worn. 

As we’re getting ready to go this morning, Jake is sitting in the family room (as am I) and I’m waiting on Lyndsey to get her socks and shoes on so that I can tie them… it is gym day after all.  Anyway, she comes in wearing a sun dress that is a rather bright yellow/lime green kind of color… almost looking florescent.  As she walks in, Jake says semi under his breath, “I wonder if it’s highlighter day?"

KEIYH