Samson

The boys in our family finally got haircuts.
Well, for Kean, I should say, he got a real hair cut-- not my typical
hatchet job, trying to give him a trim while he squirms, lurches 
and fights me every second.

You'll notice, it took a village to hold him still and get it done.

Sara (who cuts his hair) has her own salon but does him 

in her home so we don't have to take him out.  She may look

familiar-- she's the mom of one of Kean's all-time favorite

nurses on the fourth floor (Joe).

She's the one who came up and cut his hair off a couple of years ago

when he was first so sick, in the hospital for over a month

and had matted hair on the back of his head.

We love Sara and as you can see, so does Kean.

Even though he hates getting his hair cut.

As a bonus, look what Kean surprised us all and

went and did all on his own this morning:

The Ronquillos

Every day can't be a motorcycle day.

And some days have to be "housekeeping days"... 

like getting a dreaded haircut.

Kean hates, hates, hates getting his hair cut.

However, Byron gets his hair 'done" by one of the sweetest women in the world-

Sara Ronquillo.

It took several of us working together

to keep Kean entertained and from freaking out

(just out of the picture is Sara's other daughter Lavinina and Byron).

 If this all feels familiar- it should.

When Kean was so sick in the hospital nearly two years ago

(and his hair was matted into little dread locks in the back and thinning in the front),

Sara and her daughter Sabrina came to the hospital

to cut his hair.

 It wasn't any easier then.

Sara has the patience of Job and the swiftness of an Olympian.

 We especially love, love this family.

Sara's two daughters both work for St. Luke's

and so do her two sons-- including Joe-- hands down,

one of Kean's favorite nurses!

Both Byron and Kean got their hair cut and both look

much, much better.

But only Kean got hugs and snuggles from Sara.

The Survivor

I have new faith in the future of our youth.

Last night, this handsome guy, Alex Hill came by with his father,

(the Bishop of our church congregation).

 Alex made Kean a "survivor's" bracelet--

the orange cancer ribbon- to represent Leukemia and grey to represent him being a fighter.

 And he wrote the sweetest note about Kean "inspiring him

to get through trials in life".

He did this all on his own-- he wasn't assigned or asked --

it was all his idea.

I'm so impressed with this 13 year-old.

 I can't say Kean was very inspiring today when we took him to get his hair cut.

He has a photo shoot coming up next week for a hospital project

and my friend, Tammy agreed to try and fix my butchered haircuts.

 It took every bit of muscles Holland and I have to hold him somewhat still.

And he still cried and screamed and grunted and growled.

I swear, it was more traumatic for him than getting Chemo!

Luckily, Motorcycle Jeff came and made it all better...

with a much beloved ride on the Harley.

The Dull Roar

Life has settled back down to a dull roar.

I think that's just how we roll around here- at least for now.

I did some research on the computer today-- don't know if that was a good idea or a bad one.

Two of the Chemo drugs Kean takes (one each night, one once a week)

both have been known to cause seizures in kids with his type of Cancer.

So guess what' I'm leaning towards as the reason for his "episodes".

I'll have to wait for the Neurologist and his battery of tests to see for sure.

While Kean napped this afternoon, I ran over to the girls school to hear Greer present her Pace project.

The kids spend months in the fifth grade studying the Constitution.  That research culminates

with each student having to present a speech (they research and write it entirely at school)

on an assigned topic.  Greer got "How does the Constitution protect Freedom

of Expression".  Today was practice day for the parents.  On Thursday, she and her 

fellow students have to present to a panel of adults.  After they each give a speech,

the kids in her group have to answer questions from the panel 

about the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment.

Talk about pressure!!!

They all did great.

Get this, at the exact same time Greer was giving her big speech,

Holland was serving as the co-emcee for her school's President's Day assembly.

She dazzled (at least in her mother's opinion).

Tonight was crazeee at home!

My wonderfully talented friend, Sheryl Alderman

brought all of her tools over to the house and gave Holland, Reese

and Kean much needed haircuts.

This picture is BEFORE Kean completely freaked out.

We decided he did not like the electric clippers buzzing in his ears.

I swear he screamed and bucked almost as much as he did in the E.R.

on Sunday when they were catheterizing him!

 Of course Reese and Holland were star pupils.

I told Sheryl she should earn combat pay for putting up with Kean.

 Here are our little rug rats with their much healthier looking hair.

And even though Kean acted like he was riding a wild bronco--

he looks much, much, much better-- say goodbye to what seriously 

was looking like a mullet!  Thank heavens and good riddance!

Docs Without Locks (and others)

What a day!

I wish all of you could have been there with us.

The big hair shaving event was quite the shin dig.

150 men, women and children shaved their heads in Boise today

to raise money for children's cancer research.

 We watched in awe as family members of patients, school mates,

police officers, paramedics, military officers, nurses, doctors-- you name it

went bald for a cause.

 The entire affair took nearly four hours... but it was so fun...

and so touching at times. 

 This girl appeared to be about Holland's age and had the most beautiful curls...

And here's Steve... one of Kean's (and mine) favorite nurses.

He raised money in honor of Kean and since our boy couldn't be

there, Steve held a picture of Keanut during the entire ceremony.

He announced that he'd also shave his facial hair if he could raise an extra $150.

The girls took the three hundred dollars they had raised selling blackberries this past summer

and presented it to him on stage.



 

Altogether, he raised about 6 or 7 hundred clams extra just to shave off his

beard and mustache.

 We love Steve and his team of nurses and friends who shaved with him.

 This is pretty gross... but you can't begin to imagine the piles and piles of hair.

Some of it was saved for Locks of Love.

Then it was time for one of our favorite docs-- Dr. Meeker.

He let a few of the kids fighting Cancer get revenge on his hair.

Wish Kean was a bit older... he would of had fun with the clippers...

 It was hard not to get caught up in the emotions of the event.

Holland, several times said she felt like getting up on stage and going for it.

Dr. Chang, another one of Kean's Oncologists (on the left)... said she'd shave

if folks would open their wallets and raise $1500.

She was joined by this sweet volunteer-- the lady getting shaved on the right.

She told the audience she has Breast Cancer and will be starting Chemo shortly.

She figured she's raise some money in that she was going to lose it anyway-- but

what was the most touching is she is about to get married

and wanted to make the statement that bald is beautiful... even for a bride.

 Last up, was our favorite PICU doc, Derek.  He's the guy who administers

the "sleepy milk" to Kean for most of his Spinal Taps.

He's also the guy who breaks hospital rules by having a picture of

Aurora (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) on his hospital I.D. instead of his own pic.

The kids love it and him.

After today, he might have to change the picture to the genie from Aladdin

or even Mr. Clean.

It is official, Kean's doctors are amazing.

 The final tally is not in... but I was told they raised somewhere in the

area of 80 thousand dollars today.

Not bad, eh?

Holland is determined to get a team together for next year.

I've promised to buy her lots of cute hats.

From Shaggy to Shiny

Phew.

We did the right thing in bringing him home.

I wasn't so sure yesterday

but today, he had moments where he was quite giddy to be back.

It is still stressful.

He threw up right after I gave him all of his medications.

I have no idea what stayed down and what came up

but I wasn't about to go through getting him to down those again.

And for all of you who visited the hospital-- we made

great progress in the plumbing department.

Probably, a little too much progress.

He had four, huge, overflowing diapers today.

I guess he more than made up for the 6 days of holding it.

Holland helped me give Kean a bath tonight.

 Not much hair left to shampoo.

 I am in total amazement at how much he has lost in the last two days.

And the rest is shedding like a cat.

Hair is everywhere.

He's as handsome as ever as he transforms into

Mr. Clean before our very eyes.



Un-Shaggied

Keanut is looking haannndddsooome!

I got a wild hair (excuse the pun) and trimmed his hair up this evening.

 I must say, it was the quickest and easiest haircut I've ever given him---

it's hard to tell from photos but his hair is really quite thin

so there's not much to cut.

 Especially in the back.  He went bald-- very bald back there.

But now it is growing in nicely.

My friend Pam watched the boy today while I took my hurt car into the dealership for

an estimate from the accident.

I'm glad to have that done and over with.

Anyone want to buy a Camry with the license plate from the girl who hit

me permanently indented into the bumper?

It makes for a great conversation starter....

Playtime

Ahh the goings on around the Barker house. The girls took Kean up to their room while I got some work done. Welcome to the doctor's office. Reese is on the bed on the left with her legs bandaged. Then it was Kean's turn to be the patient patient. He stayed perfectly still while they fussed and bandaged the poor boy. Guess he's had lots of hospital practice.

Then on Sunday, they turned the diaper box into a customized car for Kean.

One thing we can say for sure is the boy is LOVED....

By the way, last week, I broke down and talked Aunt Dana into giving Kean his first real haircut. I couldn't stand the "comb over" dripping into his eyelashes any longer.

He now looks even more like a little boy instead of a baby. But dumb me, I didn't get any pictures of the "finished" do. So I'll get that done and post soon.

Take A Seat

Hey... he's sitting up again. For a second, anyway.

And we're back.

The girls all got their "summer cuts". Greer's hair was so long, they asked if they could try and use it for Locks of Love (real hair used to make wigs for cancer survivors). If it was not long enough, they were going to send it to Louisiana to be used in containers that are soaking up oil. Pretty crazy stuff).

Every day Reese asks me if its time to go swimming yet. Boy are we ready for su-su-summer. (If you haven't been lucky enough to see High School Musical 9000 times like me-- you won't get that summer reference-- sigh, your loss)!