Road Rash (Ouch)!

Poor Kean.

On our way down to the bus this morning, he crashed and crashed hard.

Bloodied face and bloodied knuckles.

 Any day we get even a skiff of snow, Reese begs to take him down

on a sled.

 Normally, they're both all smiles.

(This was from last week).

Today?  Not so much.

 She got going a little too fast and wiped out.

I'm not sure who cried harder-- Reese felt so horrible for hurting Kean.

Come to think of it, this may be his first ever natural "ouchie" -(one

not given to him at a hospital).

Oh, he cried and cried and stopped crying and bleeding

moments before the bus came.

I sent him to school  but get this, they called and had us

come get him.

I guess you can't have a kid at school with an "open wound"--

their description.  And since there is no way on earth he'd keep

a bandage on, he earned a day off of school.

The Plague

We escaped this past weekend--

we went up to McCall with our friends, Don and Marcee Cook.

They have a time share and were crazy enough to invite us.

 Kean was still having a rough go of it from his heavy Chemo

but it was nice to have a change of scenery for house arrest.

I figured he could be miserable there as easily as he could be

miserable at home.

And luckily, he was only feeling lousy part of the time.

The best part of the trip (or so I'm told)

was when Byron and the Cook's took all of the

kids on a 50 mile round trip snow mobile ride

into some hot springs where they soaked for a few hours.

 Byron and Reese rode on one sled

while Holland and Greer took turns driving the second one.

They all came home rather exhausted- but happy.

 Then today, our entire family (minus Kean who was going to stay with Grandma)

was supposed to go up in to the mountains again--

this time, with a huge group of cancer families and Camp

Rainbow Gold for a big sled fest.

 Here's Byron and Holland...

 and here's Greer.

 What you won't see are any pictures of Reese or moi.

That's because, lucky us, we stayed home to take Reese to the doctor.

She was up all night-- her fever spiked at 104 this morning with a

lovely side of vomiting thrown in for fun.

 She tested negative for Influenza B-- even though she had all

the signs (stuffy nose, headache, sore throat, severe aches)...

And our pediatrician said she wasn't taking any chances with a 

false negative and with Kean-- so guess what?

Reese and Kean are now on Tamiflu with prescriptions

for the rest of the family waiting in the wings.

Poor Reesey is one sick chicken.

But here's hoping the rest of the family, especially Kean

somehow avoids this plague!

p.s.  Lysol is my new best friend.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

It is still painfully cold here-- but that hasn't

stopped the boy from wanting a snow cycle ride

every minute of every day.

His dad did have better luck at getting him to keep his mittens on

(at least for a little while).

 Reese entertained us tonight by putting on Kean's boots,

mittens, coat and helmet and riding his Harley around the house.

Let me tell you- Kean didn't like it one bit!

 What we did all like is Byron's brother's son, Kyle

stopped by and stayed for dinner.

It was so fun to have him  "in da house".

p.s. Kean has heavy Chemo tomorrow.

Jeez, seems like it was just last week

instead of a month ago.

Bring on the bacon.

He starts Steroids again tomorrow too.

Snow Cycle

Those crazy weather guessers.

Our snow didn't go away--

it multiplied!

We had about a foot and a half up here on the hill.

And you know what that means?

The "snow motorcycle" came out!

 Holland (aka Hottie) took Kean round and round.

 And yes, this mother did put mittens on the boy.
And no, he wouldn't keep them on for anything (or anyone).

 Reese and Greer decided to build an igloo.

They didn't get very far--

but did take their lunch out in the snow.

Crazy snow for us here--

but no complainin'.

The kids got their fondest wish-- a snow day!

White Out

White out should really read as "white in".

Kean and I were stuck inside while

the snow came tumbling down from the sky--

non stop today.

After dinner, the girls and two neighbors

hit the great outdoors.

Byron built a fire to compete with the

24 degrees.

 Those crazy girls (that's Holland) took

turns sledding down the stairs.

Guess the hill isn't exciting enough.

 Reese was the first one in and to call it quits.

She proudly showed off her frozen hair.

Crazy Idaho weather.

It is supposed to be close to 40 tomorrow and rainy.

Guessing the white stuff will disappear for a bit.

Back In the Swing of Things....

Kean slept moderately well and woke up just like his good ol' self.

In fact, you'd never know he gave us such a scare yesterday.

I talked to his little therapy school and they said to bring him on in.

His physical therapist had borrowed this new ($900) contraption

that is designed to get him sitting up right and off his back.

I doubt you've noticed but Kean has several pressure sores on the

back of his head from rolling around so much and preferring to stay on his back.

Evidently, he motored around all morning on the chair-- but when Greer and I 

went to pick him up, he was done!

Greer stayed home from the snowmobile trip with Byron

because her best friend in the world, Eliza was back in town.

Eliza and her family moved to California last summer and

since they were in town for a short trip, the girls all got together

for a "ladies luncheon".

I'm told there were lots of tears when it came time to say goodbye again.

 Byron and the other two girls made it home safe and sound tonight.

I guess they had a grand time and Holland is quite the demon on the snowmobile.

 On their way home from McCall, they got to see a number of ice sculptures,

including this giant cup cake.

Oh, and thanks to Lindsay Pennington who

came by with the sweetest note and two plates of cookies.

That made even Kean feel much more hopeful about all this craziness going on.

Let It Snow...

Well, it has finally happened.

A snow day for the girls.

Personally, I think the school district administrators around here just wanted a Friday off--

the roads were fine and we only had a few inches of snow.

In fact, Reese went over to a friend's house while

my mom, Holland, Greer and I went shopping for fancy dresses.

(We've been invited to the formal "Share Your Heart Ball" to raise

money for Camp Rainbow Gold up in Sun Valley in a few weeks.

When we got back to my parents house, Kean was awake and

Grandma the Great (my 95 year old grandmother) showed the girls

how to make yummy old fashioned ice cream out of snow,

vanilla and cream.

Kean was in heaven.

He tells me he wants ice mmmmmm for ice cream.

(Not to be confused with just ice for crushed ice).

Now it is really snowing.

In fact, Greer has been snowboarding in our yard and

Byron broke out the ol' snowmobile to give all the kids rides.

Day three of Kean feeling good

which means the rest of us all feel good!!!

Snow Angels

Fun day for Byron and Holland.

They've been working to get an old snowmobile up and running--

and last night:  Eureka!

So as a reward for all their hard work, they ran

up the mountain this afternoon for a few hours

of sledding in the snow.

 Here is the old snow machine-- that still has a few kinks to work out--

but it runs!

Kean's been in a needy mood since he woke up 

from his nap-- won't eat, just whines.

Personally, I think he's rather miffed that he didn't

get to go "motorcycling" in the snow with his dad.

Someday, Kean.  Someday.

Kiddie Cocaine

Okay, now that I've got your attention, you'll have to agree--  kids and

snow go together like cookies and milk.

Just look at what we woke up to!

 Holland, Greer and Kean were out sledding in their pajamas first thing-

(thanks to daddy-horsepower).

 Reese would've been on the ol' sled too-- but she decided after traipsing across

the yard in her flip flops that she was a bit cold.  Shocker!

The cold didn't stop Greer and Reese from downing at least 3 bowl fulls

of snow.

Like I said, Kiddie Cocaine...

(without the nasty side effects).

The Great Outdoors.

Byron just got home from an overnight snowmobile trip to McCall.

It's always such a relief to have him home on so many levels.

Last night, when I went to check on Kean before going to bed,

I found that he had thrown up all over his pillow.

No wonder he didn't want any dinner last night.

I didn't sleep well... worrying that he was getting

sick and I'd be heading to the hospital in the middle of the night

with Byron out of town.

Thankfully, he woke up happy and hungry!

And raring to go.

The girls talked me into taking him down with them to the school bus this morning.

 If you can't tell, he loved it.

He sure is an out door kind of guy.

Please let Spring get here soon.

This being on house arrest is getting old.



A Stroll in the Snow

We are getting a little bit stir crazy over here.

So even though the temps have been high enough to really start melting the snow yesterday and today...

the boy and I went out for a ride with his sled.

Suffice it to say, I got a good little work out - slogging him through the slush.

One of Kean's Down syndrome buddies from the days when he was in Tumble Time...

an adorable little girl by the name of Mirabel is very, very close

to walking.  Her mom, a fitness guru, started a facebook site to get people up

and moving to inspire Miss Mirabel.
So far, over 900 people from all over the world have joined her site... as we have.

Today's walk was for her.



Here's a link to the site.

https://www.facebook.com/events/477046175670405/479145278793828/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Our other big highlight of the day was

visiting Grandpa Bodily next door.

Kean is still healthy, hanging in there

and not quite as much of a pill as he was yesterday.

However, he did decide dinner was optional this evening.

Guess it always has to be something.

Sweet Dreams

Our boy is doing great.

A little gunky in his breathing but that's it.

In fact, take a look... he slept soundly (and from the looks of it,

quite comfortably) straight through the night.

 Byron headed off this morning with a couple of guys from church.

They headed up to the mountains to take in the food, wood and get the cabins

ready for a youth group that was supposed to snowmobile in this evening after school.

Only problem, I got a call at dinnertime from the wife of one of the youth leaders

saying the roads are closed and they can't get into the staging area where they are

supposed to park and then get on snowmobiles.

I have no way of contacting Byron to let him know they will be alone tonight

(with enough food to feed a small army).

Now, while it's not quite as exciting as snowmobiling, I did take Kean

out of the house for a little sledding.  Today was finally warm enough

to take the boy out doors.

Little pill.

He thinks bald is so beautiful he doesn't want to cover it up.

Even in the cold.

Homebound

In the big cosmic scheme of things, I suppose it is a good time for Kean to be on house arrest.

It is Antarctica cold here.

The high was only in the teens (about two degrees this morning for the walk and wait for the bus)

 and everything is covered with ice crystals.

I'll give Mother Nature points for beauty

but I'll stop there.

I'm ready for warmer temps.

Keanut Butter is loooow energy.

I was looking at him -- well studying him really.

He has lost much of his eyebrow hair

and his eyelashes are pretty spotty.

Thank heavens for three sisters who entertain him and make him happy.

Greer spent a good half hour dancing with him and dancing for him.

Combine that with a long tractor ride with Pappa

and I think it was a good day for our boy.

Play Day

I love days like today.
Greer had two friends over to play in the snow, Holland went to
another friends' house and Reese was invited to play with her buddy Morgan.

It may be cold outside but snow is just plain fun.

Having grown up in Vegas where snow is quite rare, there is something magical about the white stuff. 

 That is, as long as you don't have to drive in the stuff.

Kean seems to be feeling much, much better today.  He ate better,

seemed happier and had more energy.

Kean hates taking his meds.  And I mean, hates.

I think he'd rather have a shot than an oral med.

But once we get them down him, he, for some reason is quite fascinated by the syringes.

Don't you just love our little photo bomber Greer?

My Snow Man

Guess who ventured out into the snow today.

Kean and I walked down to the mailbox.  Well, actually, I walked

and he rode on this cute little sled the neighbors gave him.

I think he was in heaven.... in spite of the hat mom put on him.

I think it is adorable. 

 I'm certain, he thinks it is ridiculous-- but

he was snugly warm and that's what matters right?

I'm happy to report -- no fevers today.

Which translates to no drama with Kean's health.

He's only on one oral Chemo drug right now (until Monday)

and he seemed to have a bit more energy today.

He's still boycotting eating much food, even though he signs he is hungry.

Our "ace in the hole" Holland pulled out all the stops and got him to eat

a lot more tonight than I've been able to get down him.

She has this strategy where she shoves a bite of food in his mouth

and goes wild with the cheering and clapping-- therefore tricking

him into thinking he ate a bite and so he does.

Hey, whatever it takes.



Brrrrrrrrr

Byron and the girls came rolling in tonight after a great overnighter up in the mountains.

They went with Don and Marcee Cook and family, stayed in a cabin, then snowmobiled

about twenty miles into some hot springs.

This is one of our favorite winter trips.

In one incredibly beautiful setting.

The only downside is having to snowmobile out. 

I was told it was quite cold... especially at speeds topping 50 mph.

For the first time, Holland drove her own snowmobile in and out.

Crazy how big she is getting.

Reese felt bad she didn't get to go.  She has definitely turned a corner

but still felt a bit weak today.

Take a look at what Byron and the girls brought her home;

an icicle as big as she is!

Kean is still holding steady.

Although he seemed quite miffed all day that his dad wasn't around

to take him for a tractor ride.

Now let me tell you what a good husband I have.

Even though he was plumb tuckered out from riding all day and

wrangling girls... he drove home, popped in the shower and fifteen minutes later

went out on a date with his wife.

We went to our good friend, Colleen Rigg's 40th birthday party.

The Riggs' had rented out a private suite at a local bowling alley

where we all tried not to make fools of ourselves on the bowling lanes.



I don't think any of us had bowled much... but boy did we have fun.

The men all gave each other nicknames... Byron was Yapper.

Guess there's no need for explaining that one.

My all time favorite though was for a friend of ours named Var.

His bowling nickname for the night?  Varsectomy.

I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time.

I'm just thankful the girls opted not to do nicknames.