Summer fun!

So, we were all suppose to go to Thanksgiving point today to see the Dinosaurs. It ended up that when we got there the line went half way around the building! No one was in the mood to wait in that line just to see a few old bones and have the kids splash in the water and sand, so when Aunt Suzanne said we could come play at their house, the kids were all for it! They had a great time swimming, splashing, spraying and of course throwing waterballoons at anyone that they dared!

Everyone being brave to get close enough to the water to get splashed.

Kathleen gets tired of water quickly, but she had a great time with Courtney and Brennan.

Brandt thought he might be brave enough to throw a water balloon at his mom, but lucky for him he thought about it twice and decided that someone else might be a better choice!

Josselyn threw the balloons at anyone and anything and loved it when she got wet by one. She is a busy child, but the most fun and carefree of any of them! She also made sure that she got plenty of sunscreen on her head so that it didn't get burned!!

I'm so thankful that I have such an awesome husband that is willing on his days off to spend them at the hospital to take care of Odette. He is great and I am so thankful that he is so selfless. I couldn't do what I need to do without his help and great sacrifices! I love you Ken!!

Dealing with Stress

Everyone has a different way of dealing with stress and frustration. Some yell, cry, fight, act out, make messes, but Josselyn decided her way of dealing with the stress of our current situation was to pull her hair out. On one side, she was almost completely bald. We decided, with her input, that she wanted to look like Odette. Ken took the clippers and gave her a haircut. She was so excited, but when she saw the pile of hair she told Ken to please put it back on her head. That didn't last long though, as soon as she was asked to pose for the camera she was in love with her haircut. This morning she woke up and came and told me that she was "a beautiful princess" just like Odette. I am so glad that she has such a good sense of who she is and what it means to be beautiful. That is something more difficult to come by than hair!

When the wind blows

You know the saying "When it rains, it pours"? Well, when the wind blows hard enough, it breaks your tree! Our tree that we were so proud of and that was finally large enough to offer shade in the summer to something bigger than an ant, did not survive the windstorm a couple of nights ago. It was a very sad, frustrating sight to come home to! Thanks to the guys who quickly came over and made firewood out of it. I guess looking on the bright side, once the stump is dug up, I think I might have room for the other two fruit trees that I have been begging Kendall to let me get...there is no way that one peach tree is enough for this family!

Family Fun

Lately it seems that I all do is worry about taking care of Odette and thinking what a bad mother I am to my other three children since I am not always around to make them breakfast, watch at swim meets, do crafts with and kiss goodnight. Thankfully today, Grandma and Grandpa came over to take the kids to the primary carnival. Grandma volunteered to stay at home with Odette so that I could go. It was great to be a mom again and enjoy the other kids, even if it was just over to the church for some cotton candy and games. It was great! I love being a mother of such wonderful, fun children!

Brandt loves his balloon hat from the carnival. He has to walk sideways to get through any doors!

Kathleen loved the princess crown she won from one of the games and her mouth full of cotton candy!

Josselyn now has her very own wand...maybe with a little luck she can make her stomach stop hurting after she inhaled 5 packages of smarties, a cupcake, cotton candy and popcorn!

Chemotherapy

A lot of people have asked what Odette's treatments are like, if she needs an IV each time she gives blood and what is chemotherapy anyway. Well, here is my very best explanation how I understand it...any of you technical doctor types can correct me later.

Two days after Odette was diagnost with leukemia-cancer of the blood, they put in her chest what is called a central line. It is a permanant IV tube that goes directly into her heart. Through this line, they are able to make blood draws without having to poke her each time they need blood, which is every day at least once while in the hospital, and about once a week when we are home. Through this tube is also where they put any medicines that they want to work quickly since it goes right through her veins and doesn't have to digest in her stomach. Here is also where they put fluids to keep her hydrated and the chemo drugs-that hopefully kill off the cancer cells.

For chemotherapy there are many chemicals/drugs that are used. I can barely say them, so there is no way that I will be able to spell them! Some are put in through this central line for short periods of time, and some run in over long periods of time, up to 24 hours like the one that she just got. Other chemotherapy comes in the form of shots into her thighs or they will put her out and she will get a back poke/spinal tap where they shoot the chemo drugs directly into her spinal fluids. Once they have administered the chemo, they will then send in a "rescue drug". (Not all chemo drugs have a rescue drug.) These drugs, (include steroids and bone marrow transplants and others) are meant to help rescue the body from the negative effects of the chemo. So, they are to help neutralize the chemo drug or fight adverse affects, such as protect the kidneys and liver or help to make the stomach stronger so ulcers are avoided or lessened, or to help jump start your bone marrow into producing the good kind of white blood cells. (This is what we want since ALL is cancer of the blood and is seen in the white blood cells having a mutation and growing at a way to fast of a rate.) Obviously there are still side effects that aren't "fixed". Odette will not have any hair after the next week or so since the next chemo drug affects the hair. She also is very sick to her stomach because she has sores there, so she doesn't want to eat and pukes frequently. (This is why we have the feeding tube.) She will also have fevers, not just because she is sick, but as a reaction to a drug or even the cancer. A lot of the drugs can cause irritability, which is rough because normally she is a happy, calm baby. Hopefully next week, she will be getting the steroids and this makes her hungry, then maybe she will start to eat some baby food or anything again!

So, that is basically chemotherapy in a nutshell. I am glad she doesn't have to get poked often and even though it is gross looking and a pain to keep clean and limits her time in the bath tub, I know the central line is helping her to get the treatment that she needs. If anyone has other questions feel free to ask and I will see what kind of answer I can come up with!

Worries

When we first went to the hospital, I know I was really worried about Odette being sick, but I had two other things that were really bothering me. 1-My strawberries need to be weeded. The family had just planted 32 new plants so that hopefully we would have enough for us all to eat and not just Josselyn! I didn't want them to be choked out and die! 2-We haven't had family pictures yet because Odette couldn't quite sit up and I had been waiting. Now I was really worried...what if I never got a family picture?

Thanks to some great neighbors, my strawberries got weeded, and are currently spreading like crazy! Also, a neighbor volunteered to come into our house to do our family pictures. They turned out awesome even though she was not able to use all her professional stuff. They turned out awesome even in our kitchen. The one of Ken and Odette is one that she took...I just love it. If anyone is looking for someone to take pictures, I highly recommend you go through Melanie. Her website is: studiompictures.blogspot.com

Thanks for all of you who have helped out with my silly worries!

Healthy and Happy

Odette is finally healthy and happy! Just in time to start her round of chemo tomorrow. Today she finally laughed, giggled, smiled, rolled over and tried to eat some real food! It is so sad to know that tomorrow it will all be different again. She is getting a chemo that runs over a 24 hour period of time. Last time she got this one, it took a week of puking and a week of slow feeds to get her happy again. I am not looking forward to this, however the sooner it happens that sooner we will be to the maintenance phase which means chemo isn't as often or as harsh...probably at least six months away. I know that time will pass quickly...it has already been 6 weeks of this two year journey...37 days in the hospital. I think we will definately have a baby worth a million dollars when this is all done!

Having Hope

When we first found out that Odette had leukemia, my heart stopped and I wondered why on earth this was happening to such a precious little girl. I didn't know what to think or do. I spent quite a few days just staring into space feeling lifeless. A few days later, I asked for a blessing for Odette because she was having fevers, crying awful and just looking terrible. I was "freaking out", I thought this was for sure the end. The blessing brought great peace to me to know that my Heavenly Father loves me and he would help me get through this trial. So far it has been almost 8 weeks and we are making out okay. Each day brings joy or a new frustration for us and we have to live a few minutes at a time to make it through. Today while reading the scriptures, I was touched when I read "If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them." Enduring our trials well is what we are suppose to do and I have renewed strength knowing that God will help me and my family make it through this rough time. I also read "And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them." I know this to be true. How else would I still be able to be doing what I am without the extra strength given to me by Heavenly Father. There have been many sleepless nights and days of worry and concern for my entire family. I have frequently wondered if our family was going to fall apart through all of this, but I am reassured that there is a way provided for us to accomplish what we are suppose to do and he will strengthen us, nourish us and provide for us. I know my Heavenly Father loves each of us and we will make it through this time in our life, maybe with a little less hair, but tied closer together as a family and to each of you who so willingly share your time and talents with us. We love you all--Stephanie

What once was lost...is now found!

While spending a lot of time in the hospital, the weeds at home were continuing to grow. They are kind of like interest! They never slow down or take a break until you rip them out by the root! With the help of the neighbors and in our spare time we have finally managed to get the weeds in the garden. They are almost as tall as Ken! Today, however he has made it through part of the garden and to our amazement, he as found...tomatoes, green peppers as big as the ones you buy in the grocery store and-this is the best part-BASIL! I might still be able to make my homemade tomato soup in all of my spare time! I am so very excited. Maybe he will find some carrots, onions, zucchini and pumpkins. That might be pushing our luck, but you never know! So, if anyone wants to loose their kids, send them over to pull some weeds in the backyard!