Gingerbread Houses and Sugar Cookies

Last week before Christmas, the kids and I got very creative. Before Christmas break we had talked about some things that we were wanting to do. We did accomplish some of them.

Sugar cookies were one.

I thought the kids did a great job of decorating them. There was a lot of finger licking while they were doing this. Hunter wasn't feeling up to doing this one.

Gavin and Hunter were doing this one together. Hunter didn't ever feel like doing much with it. This is as much as Gavin did. I think he did a great job.

The other side of Gavin's.

The front.

Gretchen and the younger boys worked on this one. I did help a little.

Gretchen got into decorating.

We had so much fun doing these.

Christmas

Christmas morning the kids gave Aaron and I a wonderful gift. They didn't wake up until after 7 a.m. Thank You! I heard Gretchen go downstairs very loudly. Gretchen had asked Aaron Christmas Eve night if she had to wait for everyone to wake up to open her gifts? Aaron reminded her that we do Christmas as a family. It'snot like this was her first Christmas. Funny girl.

After the kids heard Gretchen downstairs there was no going back to sleep. Graham came into our bedroom to let me know he was ready for breakfast. He usually does this in the morning. I asked him if Santa had come? He told me that he hadn't. I told him to go check. He came back upstairs so after and said Santa did come and he gave him a flashlight and a little bottle of sparkling cider. We could have ended the day like that. Graham was in heaven.

Some of the stockings on our new couch. Finally we have a couch for the living room. We've only lived here for 4 1/2 years, just saving up the money. I love having it.

Getting ready.

Aaron excited for the festivities. We had the kids open up the gifts the got each other. They draw names. It is so fun to see them really thinking about what the other one wants. Aaron also suggested having the kids take turns opening gifts. It was really great.

Graham got an Imaginext Bat Jet from Hunter.

Harrison a City Lego set from Gavin.

Gavin got a Star Wars Lego set from Harrison.

Gretchen got a Breyer horse from Graham.

Hunter got some Star Wars action figures from Gretchen.

Graham's gift from Santa was the Imaginext Batcave. He was more than excited. All of the kids have enjoyed playing with it too.

Harrison's gift from Santa, a pillow pet. He hasn't let it out of his sight since he got it.

Gavin's gift from Santa, an MP3 player. He can be found with it in his ears a lot of the time.

Gretchen's gift from Santa, horse riding lessons. More than excited you could say.

Hunter's gift from Santa, a portable DVD player. He was so excited to watch movies that the younger kids can't watch.

Hunter got the complete set of Indiana Jones. Movies that the younger kids can't watch.

Harrison opening up some jammie pants I made.

Gavin's jammie pants.

Gretchen's jammie pants.

Hunter's jammie pants.

Graham's jammie pants.

Gretchen very excited to get some boots.

Hunter very excited to get a Star Wars Lego set that is not made any more.

As a family we got Lego Creationary. We have had so much fun playing it.

Everyone in their Christmas jammies. I didn't make any for myself. Next year when I'm not pregnant. The grand total of jammie tops made this year was 6. Total jammie pants made 19. I think it is one of my favorite traditions.

Christmas afternoon we headed to Jared and Lydia's for dinner a fun with Aaron's family. We talked, ate great food, played Apples to Apples and some played Settler of Catan.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we had a great time. Aaron's family, his parents, the Coles, Adam and Jaime, Jared and his family and Jo Jo and Eric, her boyfriend, came over for a potluck dinner. The Stenson's, our friends, came over. We all went caroling around our neighborhood. We had a great time. After caroling we played Michael Jackson on the Wii. Adam, Jared, Ender and Ian dancin' it up.

It was so fun to watch.

Gavin got in on the dancing. At one time there was Adam, Jared, Aaron and their mom. Man, are those boys competitive. We always have a great time when we get together with family.

No Chemo

Hunter and I headed to Doernbecher on Monday morning. He didn't pass counts for his ANC. It was at 0.1. Still up from last week. It needs to be at 0.7 to start the next phase. Hunter's other counts were up. Hemoglobin was 9.0. Last week it was 7.6. The reason for the transfusion. Also his platelets were up from 75 to 126. So on Thursday he goes to the Corvallis clinic to get blood drawn to check counts. If he doesn't pass then Hunter has to go back to the clinic on Sunday to check counts then.

He seems to be feeling better and better. Hunter actually came upstairs to play with some of his Christmas presents. Aaron commented this morning, "It is so nice to have him back." We all agree with that.

Since he didn't have chemo, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Hale's for some time with them, cousins, aunts and uncles. Hunter has been spending a lot of time playing games on Uncle Adam and Aunt Jaimes' iphones.

Gavin enjoying the iphone games.

Gretchen doing the same.

The little boys enjoying Grandma's keyboard.

Aaron helped his Dad and brother Adam plant 15 arbor vitae in the rain. It looks really good with them up.

Hunter Update

I'm playing catch up with this post. Life got a little crazy around Christmas so I wasn't able to post when I wanted to.

Monday night after going to Doernbecher and getting home, Hunter came down with whatever was going through the family before. It was a stomach something. He didn't eat much on Tuesday. Can you blame him? Wednesday Aaron took him to Doernbecher to see if he was needing a transfusion. When he was getting his vitals done he had a fever of 100.2%. When he has a fever of 100.4% he needs to be admitted. His blood was taken and he did need a blood transfusion, but his platelets were up to 75 from 26 two days earlier. His white cells hadn't changed a bit, probably because his body was trying to fight the stomach thing.

During the transfusion the nurses take the kids temperature and blood pressure to make sure all is well. Hunter's fever did go down then up. When it was time to go home it was taken one more time and was down to 100.2 again. So luckily the boys were able to come home. We were all getting a bit worried about them not being home for Christmas.

Dr. Thomas told us that we didn't need to worry about taking him temperature unless we saw that he was flush or felt warm. Hunter didn't eat much of anything until Thursday afternoon. Thursday evening he woke up from a nap and was flush. His temperature was 102.1. We knew the doctors would say keep taking his temperature. That is what we did. His temperature steadily went down. He was also looking less and less flush. His appetite was also back.

Hunter asked Aaron for a blessing. He was needing some comfort being worried about having to go to the hospital. Before Hunter headed to bed we took his temp. and it was 100.2%. Hunter was able to go to sleep and not be too worried about his fever.

Friday he woke up almost back to feeling good. Hunter ate breakfast then played around. He did get really tired after all of the Christmas festivities. But today was feeling more like himself.

Tomorrow is another scheduled day. It is the beginning of interim maintenance again. Hunter has to pass counts in order to begin this phase. Hopefully his counts are good and he can continue on with treatment. I'm still so amazed at his strength through this and grateful for all of our many blessings.

Doernbecher Trip as a Family

We headed to Doernbecher as a family today.

The kids enjoying the suckers they got from the sweet ladies that do the vitals for the patients.

The kids love to play with the pedals for the sink. Today was no exception.

Harrison pushing the pedal. Gretchen trying to keep him from doing it.

Graham talking to Gavin.

Gavin talking back to Graham.

Trying to keep the kids occupied.

The visit went fine. Hunter got one chemo today. We will have to go up again on Wednesday for a transfusion, possibly. Hunter's ANC was 0. His white count was .3. Hemoglobin was 7.7, which is right on the edge of needing a transfusion. His platelets were 27. So Hunter's counts could have hit the bottom today or Wednesday, which is what Kathy Perko, a physician's assistant. said. She doesn't want Hunter feeling crummy for the holiday, who does. If his numbers come up by Wednesday there will be now transfusion. If not there will be a blood and platelet transfusions. We'll just she what Wednesday brings.

The upside, today was the last day of this phase. We are on to an easier one next week if Hunter's counts are up to where they need to be.

He's Back!

Hunter trying to show all that his finger would do when it went limp. Also his wrist went limp also.

E.T. phone home. Now look at it. Everything is working just like before. Wednesday afternoon I got back from picking up the kids from school. Hunter came downstairs and nonchalantly said, "Hey Mom look." Then he moved his fingers and wrist. Phew! Thankfully this time it didn't take as long for his body to bounce back as before.

Also he went to school for a half day on Thursday. At lunch time he called for me to pick him up. He was very tired. Once he got home he ate some lunch and watched a little T.V. with Graham. Then gave Rocket a bath and play with Graham and Harrison.

Friday he went to school all day. Hunter wasn't tired too much. Then went to a deacons quorum party and had a great time. Still didn't come home exhausted. He's back!! And we are all excited.