Love It!

I JUST LOVE WAKING UP TO THIS..

ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE ASKS FOR "SUP"...SYRUP!

Don't you just LOVE LOVE LOVE the hair?

Change

I started this blog to be all about Odette and her fight with cancer.

While she is not still fighting cancer, she is still dealing with some of the affects of her fight.

I have decided to dedicate this blog just to her and do something different with the rest of the family.

Not exactly sure about the family stuff yet, but I feel that this one should be just about Odette--

Her wonderful spirit and the wonderful things she continues to learn and teach me every day.

The one main lesson of NOTHINGS IMPOSSIBLE!

If you would like to know what I decide about the rest of the family and how to tell our story, please send me your email and I will keep you updated! (stephandkenschiess@msn.com)

Tube Success

I don't know if it is because of the past experiences at the hospital, or the fact that I know Odette is an AMAZING Child, but I wasn't worried at all when I had to go to the hospital today.

Usually I worry every time I take her into the hospital, even for a check up, and I have no fingernails left by the time we get there.

Getting tubes today went so very smoothly, even with the get up at 5:30 in the morning to be ready to go by 6.

Odette was so funny this morning when I got her up.  First thing she said was, "I snack mommy?"

I felt bad telling her no, but then I told her, "After the hospital" and she replied, "Ok" and didn't even complain about being hungry the entire time.

Most of the hospital staff fell in love with her, as usual.  She is so very easy to fall in love with.  (I do it every day over and over again!)

She had tons of fun playing in the car, coloring and taking care of a baby doll.  The only time she was sad was when the anesthesiologist pulled her back instead of me and it was just a tiny whimper.

She was only gone from me for 15 minutes when the doctor came out and said everything went smoothly and that "she is a cute little pumpkin."  (Told you that no one can resist my petite beauty!)

Not even 5 minutes later she was awake and wanting her "cupy".  She quickly downed 8 ounces of apple juice. Proceeded to try and run around to get the toys and the nurse said, "WOW, she recovers quickly.  Why don't you go ahead and leave."  Told you she was AMAZING!

She only said once today that she had an owie in her ear.  Otherwise, she is being a monster chasing me growling, eating lots of ramen and tackling her "Jossie" sister.  I wonder if she will calm down for a nap?

Oh yeah, we got upgraded to the yellow size socks.  I guess that means she is growing a little!

Who knew?

Going through the drive through car wash ranks among the kids top ten favorite things to do!

You would have thought that we were at Disneyland!

Bonus: It's cost was WAY cheaper, but the giggles and screams were still just as AWESOME as going on any ride!

And yes, Odette has clothes on under that coat.  

She follows after her sister and loves to wear a dress...they don't work so well in a car seat!

Some very sweet little people love me!

And I love them.

(The flowers and the little people!)

I Love to See the Temple...

...I'm going there today!

Ever since Brandt was little I looked forward to the day that I would be able to take him to the temple with me.  I love to go to the temple and feel the peace it has to offer and, probably like most parents, want my children to feel that wonderful spirit there and enjoy going to the temple as well.  It took us a few months to get here after Brandt had his 12th birthday, but we finally made it!  Now Brandt wants to go every week.  I am so happy that he has such a strong spirit and testimony to know what is right. 

Tubes

Most people know that Odette is little.

Just a little over 20 pounds.

She is the cutest, smartest, most lovable 20 pounds anyone could ever have.

I think she would be more if she didn't keep getting sick.

Ear infections are the worst.

She will quit eating for the full two weeks of antibiotics.

I am sure she loses weight then.

So, the solution the GI doctor and I came up with...

Put tubes in her ears.

Maybe she will have less infections.

Maybe she will continue to eat.

Maybe then she will gain weight.

So we are going to try and see if it works.

February 2nd is the big day.

I'd say wish her luck, but I know she doesn't need luck.

She is an amazing child!

Calories

Nutella is Odette's new favorite food.  

If you can call it that.

At 100 calories per tablespoon I am glad she loves it! Yummy!!

Ice Skating

I remember as a kid I loved to go ice skating. 

I was so very excited when Hopekids was given the opportunity by Noah's to ice skate. 

It was on the third floor of the building.

It was the perfect night.

The kids actually were very good at it considering it was there first time.

There wasn't skates small enough for Odette.

However her sparkly shoes were just slippery enough and she "skated" all over the ice.

Kathleen thought it was so awesome and decided this is what she wants to do for her birthday.  (Where do you ice skate in April?)

Josselyn made many friends as she stood still with her arms out and slowly slid around.

Brandt was quite sore by the end, but didn't complain the next day of sore ankles so it mustn't have been too bad.

DI find

The kids have been saying that they want a "cool" and fancy sled.  One day while wandering around the DI while waiting for kids who were at an activity, the little girls and I found this boat.  It was the perfect cool sled--at least for the littlest children.  The older kids think it is pretty cool as well.  The best part was the day we got it, it had just snowed a ton, so I pulled them out of the store in it and all through the parking lot.  They were giggling and had the hugest smiles ever!  We had to make a few trips around the parking lot before putting it in the car.  Now, to try to sled down our hill with it!