Silver Linings

We are settling in to the lazy days of summer.

I'm trying to do better this summer than last year when our world fell apart--

by having the girls spend 30 minutes each morning reading or doing math.

Check out how slick this is....

here's Kean in heaven swinging-

 And here's Reese reading her "chapter book" while taking periodic breaks to push her brother.

 So you know how Kean's counts were so shockingly low on Monday that his doc took him off

of his daily chemo at home this week?

Well, I try and force myself to find the silver lining-- and perhaps, just perhaps, I've

found it for this latest set back.

Maybe this break from the poison- oh excuse me, I mean Chemo

is giving him a chance to feel well enough to work on his very delayed speech skills.

Because today he was on fire.

He kept repeating all kinds of words and phrases.

And then tonight at bedtime, he saw Byron and just went wild with excitement

saying "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy" over and over again.

I tell you, it was soooo cute.

Almost as cute as this picture Holland snapped--

(don't know why it is all distorted on the blog- but

you get the idea).

Woodstock: Family Style

Sweet Greer took this picture of Kean with her ipod. 
She's turning into quite the little photographer.

 My kids spent most of the day with Grammy and Grandpa

since I had meetings nearly back to back for the big family style concert/fundraiser

for kids with Cancer.  Baldapalooza is finally all starting to fall into place.

Mark September 14th on your calendars.

More info to come... but we have three stand outs from The Voice

booked and coming:  Midas Whale, Ryan Innes and Amy Whitcomb.

We hope to have a Woodstock feel minus the drugs!

We are now ready to hit up sponsors and donors for the silent auction.

So help, help, help!!!

I had to show you this picture.  It is of a dove's nest the girls

found at my parent's house.

17, count 'em, 17 eggs!  Wow.

I did get home in time to put Keanut to bed.

He'd already had dinner but let me know he wanted to eat again.

Chips, guacamole, stuffed mushrooms etc....

Yes.  The steroids have kicked in.

Dippity Doo

Kean's hair is back with a vengeance.

It has come in blonder and has a mind of it's own.

This, by the way, is minutes after he had it combed.

I told you his hair does it's own thing.

 Byron herded the cats tonight... oops, I mean the kids tonight while Holland and I went down

to the church for a mother and daughter activity.

We played some great games...

 then took turns painting each other's nails.

 I love this girl.

Escape Plans

The boy is back on steroids.

So dinner is all about hearty, flavorful food (a.k.a. spaghetti tonight).

He's a bit pale but other than that, there are no signs

of sickness or anything else to worry about.

We will just have to wait until Monday when we go back

to the hospital to see what his counts are doing.

Holland rode her bike over to a friend's house for the afternoon-- so

she escaped.  The other two kept telling me how bored they are.

Yikes, it is going to be a long summer.

We are hoping to head to a family reunion next week - IF - Kean's

counts and body cooperate.  We've gone to great lengths to

make arrangements to pull off taking him on this little trip.

Keep your fingers crossed our plans to break out of here for a few days

aren't foiled.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

It was back to the ol' hospital today for blood work, a check up and Chemo

through his port.

I'm still trying to process the surprise we got.

Kean's counts have plummeted.

They want him between 1000 and 1500 and he came in at a shabby 400, which

means he's Neutropenic again (has no immune system).

Clear back when we were in the hospital, they wouldn't let us leave

until he got up to 750.

He's been doing so well, I have to admit, I was shocked.

Dr. Camilo really checked him over and questioned me as to

the health of everyone in our home and those we've come in contact with.

Who knows why his counts are so low-- but as you can

see from the picture below, albatross boy wanted nothing to do with getting

examined that thoroughly! 

 The low counts mean a change in treatment.  They took him off

all Chemo he's been getting at home every night and they only

gave him one Chemo drug through his port today (I guess Vincristine doesn't

have much of an impact on counts).

 On the bright side, it was such a beautiful day, Kean got to take his Chemo outside in the courtyard.

As you can see, Reese and Greer were our helpers today.

 And our dear friend, Pam Brown was our Chemo date.

I was a bit freaked out -- to tell the truth.

Here, he's been doing so well I was starting to think perhaps we could relax a little and

ease up a bit on the house arrest front.

One step forward.  Two steps back, eh?

It's going to be a long, long summer.

Thank heavens for being blessed with the Bodily's as neighbors.



A little refreshing dip can sure make things feel better for everyone.

Getting Schooled

School may be out... but duct tape lessons are in full swing at the Barker house.

For her birthday, Greer got her dream come true-- rolls and rolls of the stuff.

 After I vetoed their plan to make a dress to wear to church today,

they opted for purses.

 Kean was totally diggin' on the pink roll.

 That Greer is a creative one.

Here's what she made with her left over birthday balloons.

She was striving for the jelly beans look.

 

Pin-Up

A little surprise this morning for us...

My nieces were shopping at the Walmart in Nampa

and look whose picture they found on the wall!

We have no idea how it got there.

Only thing I can think of is he was one of the honorees

for the Boise State Dance-a-thon (Children's Miracle Network)... and it is some of the

same group of kiddos on the wall with him.

I guess I should check the Walmart by my house.

For being housebound, this boy sure gets around!