8 is Great

It has been forever since we have updated. I am teaching Makenzsie how to update it and she will probably do a better job than me. She did the last post and I think she sounds like a grown up.  I guess she was born an adult. We had a fantastic weekend. Carson was baptized (by his dad) a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe that we are baptized at the age of 8... it is an age that they are starting to understand good choices and bad choices and that they are accountable for their own actions. We are super excited that Carson has made that choice. He is such a good example to all of us.  ALWAYS trys to make good choices and we are so happy he is a part of our family. He was baptized on the same day as his friend Jillian. They both looked so cute. For the program Makenzie sang with her grandpa (Jesus once was a little child), Cousin Courtney played the piano, grandma led the music, Jillians Grandpa gave the talk and sister Wright welcomed them into primary, Bishop Pace spoke, sang I am a Child of God for the closing song,  Grandpa George said the closing prayer.  I am so grateful that friends and family came from near and far.  We really appreciate everyone that came.  Here are a few from the day. The ones in the dessert we took at the location of where the new Temple will be built in Phoenix.

Halloween!

WOW! Its already the end of October! This is Makenzie. We havnt updated since May. Sorry for the delay. Here's what has been going on this month for Halloween. We went to our ward trunk-or-treat on Oct 9th.(a little early but at least we had one). My Aunt, Uncle and my 1 year old cousin Hayden ward had a trunk-or treat on I think October 29th and we went to that. Last night 1 or 2 streets were doing a trick or treating/mingling event and we did that as well and it was fun. Tonight since we can't go tick-or-treating we are going to pass out candy and my Grandparents are coming over for dinner. Happy Halloween!

May is Brain Tumor Awareness Month

It has been forever since I have updated. There is only one word to describe the last few months and that is : Busy... Never ending day to day stuff. It has been a great few months.  In our family no news is good news. Since May is National Brain Tumor Awareness month I thought I would break down and post. Just a little recap over the last 4 years... Makenzie was diagnosed with a astrocytoma brain tumor on her brain stem February 15th 2006.  This February we celebrated 4 years since her diagnosis. We say celebrate because Brain Tumors are ugly and Makezie has made it 4 years... There will be many more years to come. Much to celebrate. Upon Diagnosis she went thru two brain surgeries. Nasty Chemo for 13 weeks that left her on steroids and miserable. There was a bit of growth so they changed meds and went on a different chemo for a little over 2 years (she did great on that drug). November of 2008 she was able to "graduate" and get off chemo. She did that and was doing well until headaches began. April of 2009 we were punched in the gut again when they said, what they thought was a cyst growing, was actually new tumor growth. We witnessed a miracle in that all the new tumor growth was into her ventricle and that is open space in the brain.  Her Neurosurgeon Dr. Moss asked if we wanted the OR the next day...or in 5 days.  In that moment I was like TOMORROW!!! Luckily Makenzie is very wise and spiritual. She knew we needed to wait 5 days. I was so grateful for that.  We were able to prepare and make sure everything was taken care of. Kenzie was nervous but went in knowing she was going to be taken care of. Her neurosurgeon is the same religion (LDS) and was willing to give Makenzie a blessing with Chris. What a great comfort to know that he knew his gift was from God and that he would be guided in taking care of her. Her surgery lasted almost 7 hours with 35 staples across her head. HUGE incision.  He was able to get all the new tumor growth out and dug an inch and a half into her brain stem.  He didn't know how she was going to be when she woke up. Kenzie couldn't walk, use her left hand very well and was in sad shape.  I found a new respect for families who have to take care of a disabled child full time.  It was EXHAUSTING.  Every 30 seconds they need something. It was only 18 days in there and I was done... I do not know how others do it full time. In that time Makenzie was doing therapy and learned how to walk again and use her left hand.  She still has some left sided weakness but you wouldn't really be able to tell.  She is a ROCK, old soul, and wise beyond her years. After her big surgery, a few months later, she had to get a second shunt placed to pick up a bunch of junk left from her surgery. Kenzie started a new chemo that she has now been on for almost a year. She does pretty well on it.  It seems to upset her tummy a little more than than her other chemo but it is doing it's job. She will be done this summer because the drug she is on has a high occurance of secondary cancers when given past a year. April 29th was a year since her big surgery.  She is doing well and happy to be done with school. Above is a cutie little friend of Makenzie.  We have known her since she was about 18 months old and is Makenzie's age. I babysat her for a few years. We love her and she is part of our family. We pray that Brain Tumor Research will come far quickly. There needs to be something better. They are getting so close. Money is needed...I remember hearing something like for every $100 spent on a person with breast cancer on .10 or a 1.00 is spent on a child with cancer. Awareness needs to be raised in order for funding to increase...off my soapbox ;) have a happy Sunday. :)

Dentist

We really thought we did a decent job at oral care. Found out the other day... maybe not. I wish that I got to go. I had too many daycare kids so Chris took both boys. Carson had to have a baby tooth pulled about a month ago. This appointment we had was to check out the rest of his mouth. I was thinking like 8 cavities but we were lucky and found only two. Brayden did good as well. That was his first time at the dentist. He couldn't get x-rays because the little cardboard thing was too big and made him gag. Chris said that they both were brave. Chris did say that the hygenist said that we are doing a good job...poor Carson might just have my poor teeth. The kids loved going to see Dr. Mishler... aka Ben - he's in our ward and just starting his own practice. He does good work and is great with kids.

Meet Cheeto

Well dear friends...Santa made us give in and gave our kiddos a puppy for Christmas. What can I say...he drives a hard bargain. I only had one rule. Cheeto WILL be an outside dog. I do not like dogs (sorry animal lovers). I don't like the smell, the hair, pee, poo...you name it. I do love Cheeto because my kids LOVE him. I mean LOVE LOVE LOVE him. :)It is fun to see them so happy and just taking such good care of their puppy. He has been good. Right now he does get to sleep inside in a big rubbermaid tub and we usually have to take him out for a potty break at midnight and 5:30 (I am usually up at both of those times). It has been so long since I have updated that I don't know where to start. Christmas was fantastic. It was just nice to be able to stay home.

Chris started school again and is getting his administration certificate. When he is done he will hopefully get a vice principal job. He loves teaching but realizes that we won't be able to save anything for our kids college or missions. This will allow me to not have to work, able to make our ends meet and still be able to save. I am excited about that. Chris is also STILL Ward Clerk. It is so funny. It has just followed him wherever we go. He just hit his 8th year mar...IS ANYONE READING WHO CAN HELP!!!! hahaha. Chris is fantastic at it which is why he has done it so long. :)

Brayden will start school in the fall. He has been so fun. :) He is always happy and just a gross, funny, PJ wearin, goofy, crazy, and sweet little boy. He loves Cheeto and carries him around like an airplane flying all over the house. Brayden is my shy one. Always content to hang on my leg when there are a bunch of people present.

I am trying to figure out what I am going to do when Brayden goes to school in the fall. I think I am most excited about getting to volunteer in the class with my kids. Still doing daycare and photography. I am seving in the Young Womens 16-18 year old girls. They are great and fun.

Kenzie is still on Chemo. She is doing very well. This seems to be very mild on her system. Although we know this is nasty stuff we know it is doing what it is supposed to. We feel so blessed. February marks 4 years since diagnosis. Feeling so blessed that she is with us. There are so many who are not as lucky as we have been. Kenzie got a cell phone for Christmas from mom and dad. She loves it. It is mainly to text family. It is alsom really good for her fine motor skills since she has had difficulty with her left side since her big surgery.

Carson is just his sweet self. Loving to come home from school and play with Cheeto. Carson was so sweet when we visted the "REAL" Santa..."not the helper Santa" at the zoo thru the hospital. Santa asked what Carson wanted and he almost cried and said a dog. He asked what kind. Carson said I don't know. Santa said a Labrador (sp?). Carson said with a tear coming down his cheek...I don't care I just want a dog. He could have won an award. I almost cried. What a tenderheart he is. I love Christmas cards and it was always so fun to me because I used to make them. I have not sent any out for 2 years. We haven't even been able to get our picture taken. SAD!!! we keep having to reschedule. One day. I am thankful for the ones I received. It is so fun to see all the updates. Hope everyone had a super fabulous Christmas and hope this will be an awesome year.