How Wicked

Life keeps churning doesn't it?

Today marked the final day of school for the Barkette's.

Holland tearfully said goodbye to her group of friends- the ones

she has gone through with from first grade through 8th grade.

Greer successfully kisses 6th grade goodbye

and Reese, geez, she will be in 4th grade next year.

(She still is the size of a kindergartner and weighs only about 4 

pounds more than Kean).

Speaking of Kean, he had a decent day today for as much

junk as they put in his body yesterday.

He wanted me to hold him and cuddle for most of the time-

no complaints here.

Grandpa Bodily treated him to a lawn mower ride

first thing this morning.

Man, that child is spoiled (and loved)!

I still have to struggle through each day getting 

this child to eat.  

At the hospital yesterday, he was down two pounds.

But the good news is he's back on the dreaded Steroids

so his appetite should kick in big time in a few days.

For those of you who have asked, here is the video my friend

Wendy shot of Greer doing her big solo in front of her school yesterday.

She's singing the song "Popular" from the musical Wicked.

I think you'll agree she has a future on the big stage someday.

That girl cracks me up.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw83FGF9BbNdUFQwZEd1OFMwVFE&authuser=0

The Bug

I'll spare you a running tally on the food intake today.

This picture from breakfast will give you a "taste" of

what life is like at the Barker ranch.

And I'll really spare you about his "roid rage"-- man

was he on one this evening.

 We spent half of of the day at the hospital.

Look at who saw himself on display in the lobby of

MSTI (Pediatric Oncology clinic).

 So, other than eating his way through the appointment-- here

are the cliff notes.

We had some problems getting blood out of his port for a sample.

But luckily, it worked without going through the rigmarole of

having to administer meds.

 And after his counts were so scary low last week-- they

were unbelievably high today.

From 540 to 2314.  

We all about fell out of our chairs.

The doc said we can thank the Steroids--

and that his counts should plummet again after tomorrow 

when he takes his next dose of Methotrexate.

 Kean and I also started on Tamiflu today in the hopes

of not catching Byron's plague.

We notified the girls' pediatrician and if they so much as

cross their eyes funny, they'll go on it too.

As for Sickie, we thought he was turning a corner-- he even

walked the girls (kept at a safe distance) down to their bus

this morning... but was so exhausted he went straight to bed when he got back.

He does seem a bit better but then it comes back with a vengeance.

This is one flu bug we all want to avoid.

Nas---teey.

Kicking a Little Cancer Butt

Phew!

Kean has officially turned a corner.

The worst for this month's dose of heavy Chemo

looks like it is behind us.

And for that I am very thankful.

We are also officially into the power eating stage.

Gotta love those Steroids.

Let's see...

he ate a full plate of bacon, eggs and a bagel.

Two cups of orange juice.

Two pieces of pizza, a bowl of peaches, a handful

of peanut M & M's, two rolled tacos smothered in cheese

and sour cream and a side of beans-- and that was all 

before lunch.

And yet, he's still tiny.

Crazy stuff.

Oh, we received the best news today-

and I mean the best.

Here's the background:

one of our very dear friends, was diagnosed with terminal cancer 

probably a year and a half ago.

After undergoing brutal chemo and radiation at one of our local

hospitals, they told her there was nothing more they could do to help her.

She went to Kean's hospital next and had nearly an identical experience.

They tried and told her they were sorry.

Out of desperation, she went back to a University hospital in Columbus, Ohio

and was thrilled when they agreed to try things no other hospital

felt comfortable trying.

Well, today, she let us know that she just had a clean scan--

meaning no cancer showed up.

Don't ever doubt -- miracles are all around us!

Plus,you know it's a good day when someone kicks cancer's butt!!!

Janice- you are a warrior!

Bacon, Bacon...

Slowly, slowly, our Kean is starting to make a comeback.

Darn chemo.

Makes him hurt all over.

Especially his jaw this time.  

You should hear him grind those ol' teeth.

He'll give Dracula a run for his money with those sharp points

by the time we get through this.

He did just okay at therapy this morning.

But honestly, just okay is great with me with how he has been.

And he is back on Steroids-- which means a short fuse

and a long period of eating.

The favorite du jour?

Salt and Vinegar chips.

 He couldn't get enough of them.

Oh yeah, that and bacon.

If I let him, he'd eat an entire pound.

I'm so mean.  He cried when I told him it was all gone.

Porky Pig

Our boy is just coming off his week of Steroids and 

my, oh my is he into power eating.

No exaggeration here... he is eating all of us under the table.

Let's see, today alone he had two large pancakes, a full glass

of juice, 9 fish sticks, a bowl of mashed potatoes, a large bowl

of fruit, a mango and yogurt smoothie, a bowl of vanilla yogurt,

a piece of bacon, four pieces of pizza, a bunch of grapes, a slice

of mango, a bowl of cantaloupe, several strawberries

and some watermelon.

My stomach hurts just watching him pound that down!

Oh and we finally caught his latest trick on camera-

even though this isn't his best.

But at meal time when we go to pray, he typically says "prayers"

with as much gusto as Jesse Jackson at a Saturday night revival.

Freedom

I swear, there's never a dull moment around here.

Never.

Our breakfast was interrupted this morning with a phone call from a neighbor

saying there were 4 cows trying to break in to our pasture.

My wrangler husband (with Holland and Greer along for moral support)

had to corral the two bulls and two steers and keep them away from our Sadie and our two boy cows.

Only in Eagle-- a sheriff's deputy showed up to help keep them out of the middle of the road.

They ended up putting them into our back pasture - segregated from our cows 

until the owner can pick them up tomorrow.

We told Reese the cows are having a big slumber party with their friends.  

Well, sort of.

Also-- big news.  Holland volunteered to watch Keanut

while Byron and I went out for a date night-- and a little Christmas shopping.

We had so much fun, picked up something the kiddos will love

and sure enjoyed just getting away!

Holland said she had it easy.

Steroid boy -- who had refused to take a nap today--

passed out on the couch shortly after we left.