Giving Thanks

I am so thankful for the news we got today from Aileena's Oncologist. It has been a long 4 months. We got the news that her post surgery/radiation MRI showed no tumor or evidence of a tumor. It was a huge sigh of relief. I'm so thankful for the blessings and tender -mercies we have been given during this time in our family. I'm so thankful for a Heavenly Father that knows and loves me and each one of us.

Winter camping 2010

January 1st Patrick had the idea to go camping at Kanasket-Palmer State Park overnight.

Patrick, Nathan, Aileena, and Jarrett all stayed over night in a yurt. Ella, Chase and I stayed long enough to check everything out and have dinner ( which Patrick cooked) then we went home to sleep in our nice warm comfy beds. The next morning we went back for breakfast which Patrick cooked also. Yurts are a great way to go camping they are all enclosed with electricity and a heater! The one we rented slept 5 a futon and bunk beds with single on top and a double on the bottom. I asked Patrick if we should make this be a new tradition and his reply: " I don't know about that...maybe just make memories." Everyone had fun and didn't complain even though it rained the whole time. That was Patrick's favorite part, he loves the sound of rain hitting your tent in this case a yurt!

Christmas 2009 in pictures

Ella is not in the picture with Santa because she was hiding under the table. She didn't want Santa to see her.

Blog Therapy

It has been a year since I started this blog. I haven't posted as much as I would have hoped and I've posted about things I've never dreamed I would. I am not really a writer, I never have been good at punctuation. I have all these thoughts in my head getting them all typed out in a way that makes sense is hard. I don't know if its a disability, handicap, or adult ADD. whatever it is I can always remember my 5th grade teacher making us fill a piece of notebook paper front and back with a period or whatever other punctuation mark we have missed. I. am. not. sure. how. that. has. helped. me.

I am thankful for the blessings my family has enjoyed this year and the many miracles and tender-mercies we have witnessed. I am thankful for my knowledge of the gospel and my Savior. I love my family and I'm so thankful we will be together forever!

Aileena's Radiation Treatment

Aileena started radiation treatment December 8, 2009. We’ve been anxious to get this started- so we can get it over with. The sessions go very smoothly. The appointment is at 3:30 each day (Monday to Friday). Aileena gets out of school about 1 hour before, drives up to the University of Washington, checks in and usually is in the treatment room within 5 minutes. The treatment itself is only about 10 minutes including set up. Then we head one hour back home. The UW has free valet parking which is very nice- they can't even take a tip. We gave them a big box of chocolates for Christmas. Because the appointments are so short, the valet guys usually just leave the car waiting for us, which is really nice. Aileena listens to High School Musical during the treatments and doesn't seem to mind them at all. The treatments will end January 22. She did get Christmas off and will get New Years off too. We meet with the doctor every Monday for a status. The side effects are typically nausea and fatigue, but so far that hasn't bothered her, which is a great sign half way through treatment. The only side effect is that she lost a bunch of her hair on her left side over the last three days, but that was expected. It doesn't seem to bother her and she is taking everything in stride. So far, it is still like nothing ever happened. She hasn’t missed a beat at school and her teacher reports that she doesn’t see any impact from all of this.

Aileena continues to handle this without any problems. Her biggest melt downs are wanting to go back to the hospital- that place where you have your own room, balloons, stuffed animals, games, your own TV, movies on the laptop, meals in bed, your own bathroom, Mom and Dad to yourself, and all the attention in the world. Couldn’t we all be so lucky! At home, she has four siblings to compete with! We just remind her about the shots, tubes in the arms, being woken up at all hours, etc. But, that isn’t very persuasive argument in her mind. For her birthday party last month, her friends brought gifts for donating to Children’s Hospital. Patrick's Kiwanis Club kicked in and we ended filling our large SUV full of toys! Children’s Hospital was amazed at all the great gifts, and Aileena reports she felt like Santa Claus. It was a great experience for her.

We are hitting that point in which we hope life becomes uneventful and cancer free. Our doctor told us this past week that once treatment is over, we can start using the word "cured"- which is defined as no evidence of disease. We like that word! But, we’ll take it one day at a time. We appreciate all your continued thoughts and prayers. Your inquiries are appreciated and not at all intrusive. Your asking how things are going, and comments about your ongoing prayers don’t intrude, but rather lift us up and give us a great emotional boost to know that so many of you are taking an interest in our family. If you know others that are battling illness or other difficulties in life- give them a call or send them a card and let them know you care. It could make a tremendous change in their life for good.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We hope you are all blessed with great happiness, joy, family, friends and success this Christmas and in the year to come.

Here is a picture of Aileena's radiation mask. It's used to hold her head perfectly still and allows the technicians to line up the radiation machine in the exact same position each day:

Aileena's Baptism

Aileena was baptised on Nov. 28, 2009. Her dad baptized and confirmed her. She was very happy and excited about it all. The room was full of family and friends and we really appreciated the support. Her Grandma gave a talk on baptism, and her Oma a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. Aileena really wanted to sing a song for the program, so she did so with two friends and did a great job.

She looked so pretty in her new dress. A lot of family and friends came over to our house afterwards for lunch and time together. It made for a great Saturday.

With Dad:



In her new dress:



Aileena's french tips and new CTR ring and bracelet.



Friends she sang with:

Nay-Nay is eleven!

Nathan celebrated his birthday November 11, 2009. He turned eleven on 11-11-09! A girl even called and left a message wishing him a happy birthday. We've enjoyed giving him a hard time about that.

He was born on his Great-Grandfathers birthday who was born 11-11-1918 (Armistace Day, then end of WWI)! In 2011 we will have to really celebrate. Nathan played flag football this year for the first time and really enjoyed it. He is playing volleyball right now and basketball starts in a month. He loves sports. He is also playing the clarinet and is really enjoying it. He does great in school and is a good friend to a lot of kids.

Nathan is a smart, thoughtful and caring boy. People routinely comment about what a nice kid he is. He's a big help around the house, great with his brothers and sisters, and has a big heart. Here are some pictures of my handsome boy. I don't follow football at all, but I think I've got the cutest QB ever! We're so happy to have him as our son.

Nathan QB-ing

Nathan first day of 5th grade

Nathan at the circus with an Orange County Chopper

motorcycle