A Summer Preview

Crazy enough we took all three kids to Park Meadows mall today. HAD to get out of the house. Its too cold to play outside. What's the next best thing? Running around Eddie Bauer! In the front of the store they had a tent set up to display all of their camping and outdoors gear. The kids had a great time in the make-shift playpen. This  picture of Ana makes me want it to be summer. I can't wait to take the crew camping.

Goodnight Sweet Spidey

This post is to embarrass Charlie in 10 years. Let's talk about bed wetting :)

We were advised by a good friend with triplets (B,B,G) that little boys do not "hold it" through the night efficiently until they are about 6 (thereabouts). So Chad and I have not stressed the issue and provide Charlie with "Night time pants." The GoodNights kind with Spiderman made the diapers fun and so appealing that Daniel wants his own! I'll be a monkey's uncle if I have to buy 4 different kinds of diapers for this house. Charlie's night time pants, Daniel regular and night time diapers and then whatever is on sale for Ana.

BUT a break through!

Charlie woke us up this morning (pre- 6:30am) and told us with big smiles that he stayed dry all night long and didn't even have a night time pant on. He was so pleased with himself! I think we were both shocked (and groggy) because I sat straight up and I think I saw Chad smack Charlie's behind just to make sure he was telling the truth. I guess we forgot to remind him to put one on last night and threw him in bed sans-spidey. I was so impressed with him that he will be receiving a special, power ranger lego treat for being such a big boy.

This is perfectly timed because we are looking to potty train Daniel here in the next month. That could be a 50$ raise on the diaper front. Oh Yeah!

Now to work on the thumb sucking.....

Primrose: Daniel's Resolutions

Ah the Primrose emails. It must be Wendy writing these little notes home. Wendy is the assistant Director with a killer sense of humor. I have a feeling this one was sparked by a cranky Daniel drop off a few days ago.


The Text reads:

Hi Mom and Dad,

As each year starts, people tend to make resolutions…eating better, exercising, kicking a habit, etc. Well, since I’m 2 ½, those don’t really apply, so, I’ve deemed 2013 “The Year to Right My (VERY minor and TOTALLY age-appropriate) Wrongs”. In order to implement this resolution, I decided it was imperative to make a tell–all “confession” of sorts. So, I pulled aside the highest authority I could find (by trapping her with my imaginary “Pider-man” web) and put it all out on the figurative table, telling her (virtually) everything like:

1)      The single, solitary time I yelled at Mom-Sorry about that! Sometimes my emotions get the best of me. Hey!  I’m a sensitive guy!

2)      The incident when I hid behind my bed-I apologize if you wondered if I ran away to look for Pider-man, but you know I’d never do that-I  don’t know how to scale a wall upside down or jump across buildings-YET.

3)      The one and only time (each day) when I shook my booty.-Actually, that’s kind of cute, so no regrets there!

4)      That occasion when I tested that word (the opposite of very intelligent) out on Dad.  Again, I’m sorry…As soon as it came out, I knew it wasn’t okay.

So, for everything, I’m sorry. I can’t promise I’ll never do anything like that again (as I am 2 ½), but I got it off my chest & it’s in the past. Here’s to a great 2013. Love, Daniel

Primrose: Stock Show Field Trip

Charlie's Kinder class took a field trip to the Stock Show. First, taking 20+ 5 year olds anywhere, let alone a place filled with animals and probably crazy pointy things, is a feat. The fact that the high temp that day was 14 degrees. Priceless.

Note the ski gloves in the top picture and the sacked out bus riders in the other pic.

The Text reads:

Howdy Mom and Dad!

     I just wanted to let you know that the field trip went off without a hitch! We had so much fun!

     I really felt that I had some idea of what the stock show would entail. We’d look at some animals, the scent of pigs and cows in the air, as we walked around taking in the sights and smells. What I didn’t realize is how absolutely exhausting it is! HOLY COW! (no pun intended) you pose for a few pictures and ride a pseudo horse and when you say “Happy Trails” to the stock show and mosey back to the bus, you find yourself in need of a nap! If only the seats reclined!

Love, Charlie

Kicking off the New Year Neutropenic Style

Coming off of the ski trip and Charlie's tiny bit of pneumonia his counts PLUMMETED! We went in for monthly chemo in January and were shocked at his counts. 62. Seriously his ANC was 62! It has NEVER been that low. ever. Nurse Sally said that it was due to his previous illness, but I've never seen an illness drop his counts so low. Charlies daily oral chemo was halted for two weeks again while he was neutropenic. They do give the IV chemo (vincristie) in this situation. A nice start to the new year, a break from Meds! Its like a gift, Charlie feels better for a few weeks and we imagine a life without cancer.

Since his counts were so low we decided to keep him home from school for a few days till his counts rebounded on the steroids. Here is a picture of Charlie hanging out at Nana's house during his "bubble" days.