Thursday, January 26, 2012

Dancing

Owen loves to dance. Henry loves to do anything Owen loves to do. Hence, dancing time is always fun. We try to have dance time after dinner, before bed. Some of the classics are Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Mathews band. Tonight, for our dancing enjoyment, Lucas picked out Michael Jackson.


Owen has never heard him (I think), but picked up the rhythm pretty quick.




When Henry raises his arms, I think he's trying to jump.



Afternoon Nature Hunt

It was a beautiful day today... so after both boys "napped" we went on a hunt for nature. Owen found a box, and I told him to put leaves, pine cones, sticks... whatever he wanted to into the box.

This stick so too big for the box, so he broke it in half. Henry strolled along, enjoying the fresh air.

It humored me to see what Owen would walk by, and what he would pick up. He found a stick with fuzzy green stuff on it. He asked what it was, and I told him moss. He LOVED it... then a few blocks down he picked up a stick and put it back down. I asked why the stick didn't make the cut. He said, "no moss". But I heard that in Spanish, "no mas". I suppose it works either way.





After a while, the box was in the stroller... and Owen just went hunting.
Walking with his brother.

While Owen was hunting... I was trying to figure out a craft of some sort to do with all of our treasure. And trying not to worry about how many bugs were also part of our new treasure. But, when we made it back to the driveway, Owen informed me that everything wanted to live on our cement. Fair enough.



Firehouse Fieldtrip

Today, Owen and I went on a field trip with his class to the local fire station. We got a tour of where they sleep and eat, and then got to tour the fire engine. Owen is in the grey hoodie and bright red boots. For being a shy kid, he was first in line to go through the fire truck.

He LOVED the tour.


He stood right in front while fireman Lee donned his gear.








After the fire house, we went to a park. YES, a park in January!!


Owen got a "little tired" so took a rest on the benches.




Snack time at the park...

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Snow: Lucas camera

A few days ago, we woke to a dusting of snow. It was enough to make the boys very excited. These are pictures from Lucas' camera. I had gotten home from work, and was getting Henry bundled... Lucas went out first with Owen. Here's Henry watching from the window.





Brothers dancing in the snow.








A tired momma, and her two excited boys.

"see... snow!"

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

SNOW

There wasn't much, but it was snowing. As soon as Owen saw it, he was running around the house saying he wanted to make a snowball... I've never seen him get dressed so quickly! After both boys were bundled, we went outside. The car had the best spot to pick up snow.

Snowball! (broken in half)





Owen liked walking backwards so he could see his footprints.

Henry walked forwards...

Owen also enjoyed making hand prints in the snow. He did NOT enjoy how cold his hands got.




Owen had preschool today. This is in front of his school

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Done

We are done with the first year of hospital chemotherapy. 11 months, 105 days in the hospital, multiple clinic days, countless home medications... we are done. This past week we spent our final 5 nights in the hospital, Henry sailed through it! We were thrown an end of chemo party. We had pizza, cookies and Henry's favorite: Cheetos. He took handfuls of Cheetos from the bag and placed them on his plate... stock piling them. Nurses, doctors and other team members took time to visit, say goodbyes and grab some free food.

To pass time, Henry read books. I have most of them memorized...

I think he looks like a teenager in this picture.

Taking a nap before the last dose of chemo was started.


The new Randall Children's hospital is complete. We watched most of it being built during the past 11 months.

Me and Henry.



And like that... It's DONE!

After the chemo was done, we had to stay overnight for hydration... Henry and I took a walk through the hospital. He led, I followed with the IV pole. We saw the fish tank, found the elevators, went to the water fountain in the atrium, spent 10 minutes "moo-ing" at a cow, found the elevators again, stopped by to see the paper mache animals, tried to break into the playroom, and finally returned to the room. I merely followed him... he knows the hospital quite well.


Fish tank.


Walking the halls.



Taking a rest on the couch.

The final morning. Eggs for breakfast.

Lucas taking our bags out. I admit, I cried. What a long journey we've had. Unit 35, our home away from home for almost a year. In 6 weeks, it will be moved to the new children's hospital... while we will visit the nurses, we will (hopefully) never be back. Such good, bad, happy, sad emotions...


Before we left, Chelsea's closet was giving away costumes. Henry grabbed a "Woody" costume, Owen was super excited to become Spiderman. He wore it for the rest of the day.

Henry was VERY happy to be going home.


Now we wait, as the two "big gun" chemos kick in, Henry's WBC count will plummet quickly. If he spikes a fever, we will go back to the hospital for a few more days... but I'm hoping that was it. No more nights on the small windowsill couch, no more hospital food, no more "big gun" chemo!!