Really??HOME??!!!

I was a bit depressed that J. was packing up yesterday and leaving and I couldn't go too. However, it won't be much longer. I read Pres. Uchtdorfs talk in the Jan. Ensign, "Hold On" and LOVED it!!! I told my mom I wish I had read that talk a year ago! It was very comforting, but when I thought about it, the Lord has continually expressed the same feeling to my heart and mind over the last year and a half. Always in my heart I felt the Lord encouraging me to just hold on a little longer. "If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith, remember...Hold on a little longer. You can do this! ..Even when things look bleak. Know and remember this: the Lord loves you. He remembers you. And He will ever sustain those who 'endure in faith to the end."
Talked with the Doctor today about what we need to do to get outta Dodge....we scheduled a CT scan, ultrasound, no bone marrow (thank goodness) and some med tests to eliminate some more meds. Looks like we could be home by March. We're still discussing removing the line, but I'm hoping to get it out before we go home. I'll get to learn how to do shots at home for his Darbo med, and then we'll be returning to Seattle every three months for some bone medicine. We're starting the three month schedule next week which includes three straight days of 4 hour infusions. But it's only every three months, so less pokes every month if we do remove the Hickman line.
Henry's platelet count has been holding steady in the 30s and every few weeks it goes up a few points. His Hematocrit is still dropping, but ever so slowly which is great progress. Everything else has been just awesome! Although yesterday we did have quite a mishap at the park. Henry LOVES the slides, he scoots right off the end like he's gonna start running around.(He's close, but not brave enough to go out on his own) Anyways he went down this really steep one and leaned too far forward. Well Grandpa saw him falling and reached out to catch him, his fingernail sliced that little lip of skin between the lip and the gums.. ya know above your two front teeth. Well he bled and bled and bled and my white shirt was covered in blood! Henry's sweat shirt sleeves were covered and I was freaking out!!! But after much convincing, decided he would be alright. We watched him closely and after what seemed like forever the bleeding stopped and it's healing nicely. I was pretty rattled with so much bleeding, I thought he doesn't have that much to spare he's just gonna dry up!! Silly Mom I know! He recovered quicker than I did.
So I'm trying not to pack too quickly... but a few trial runs to see how much stuff we have will definitely occur.

Together

J. I cant believe how big Henry and Elizabeth are. Henry is a little scooter and scoots his way on the floor everywhere. Elizabeth makes up songs and sings all day long. She is already tall enough to see whats on the kitchen counter without even climbing. Henry mimics everything Elizabeth does.











For the first time ever, I am able to read a book to Elizabeth and she stays for the whole thing. Henry loves to read. Even though he does not speak yet, it is obvious he understands what we are saying and shows us how smart he is all the time. It is hard not treating him like a baby anymore he knows what he wants and knows how to get it. He also gives the best hugs. He latches on and will squeeze for what feels like minutes.

Everyone is doing well. L. is hoping Henry will be well enough to return and continue treatment in Alaska in a few months. Hopefully by summer. I am hopeful but as a survival instinct not allowing myself to get excited just yet. Still a long way to go and many battles to fight, both health wise as well as insurance. I tell people who ask; I believe everything happens for a reason, the reason I may not know or understand, but that does not change the belief that they happen for a reason.

Knik Glacier Outing

J. Last weekend we took a little winter excursion to the Glacier. We couldn't have asked for better weather, it was warm (for winter) no wind and clear skies. The drive out was fast and fairly smooth. Both rigs ran fine (except for a little overheating just before we made it back to the road). We had solid Ice all the way to the glacier and didn't break through once. Around dusk we climbed up near Wolf Point and caught a few pictures of the sun setting. Then on the way out we came across 2 guys about 6 miles out walking on the trail headed out. They had some how put a 4 -wheeler through the Ice or something (probably didn't help that they were drinking). The temperature was dropping and getting cold fast so we gave them a ride out (i.e. saved their lives and more importantly saved some friends some paperwork) and made sure they were not driving when we got back to the road. All in all a good trip. M&D got to see the Glacier up close, and S. even got to learn how to drive the Jeep. Next time N. will haft to take his Jeep out with A.

I was studying in my scriptures and the only way Elizabeth would let me have a bit of peace, was if she could give me "a few" stickers. LOL

Then Henry discovered a new ride. It's actually Elizabeth's princess table, that's a much better use. I have video of him trying to ride it like a horse. I definitely should have bought him a little tonka truck to ride around on.

Elizabeth grew out of her old pj's so we bought some new ones, and she really loves them.

And finally, Elizabeth and I painted our toe nails today. Henry INSISTED that he wanted his painted as well. He really enjoyed the bright pink! Don't worry Daddy, we used some nail polish remover. HAHA He didn't want to be left out! He loves to watch Elizabeth and do everything she does, he even started trying to mimic her laugh today. Some times I wish he wouldn't because then after we get her calmed down, he starts screaming for no reason, just because Elizabeth did! ugh.

Henry is so silly some times

Life in the WA

Elizabeth looks about how I feel this morning. We had a late night, well some of us, Elizabeth actually went to bed at 7:30pm, Henry on the other hand didn't want to go to bed until after midnight again! We woke up to a very foggy gray day.

The first thing Henry does when he wakes up, look out the window for squirrel friends. This morning we looked and looked and found none. This one was hanging out after both kids were in the other room. Smart squirrel. The neighbors feed the squirrels like they feed birds. Every morning a herd of squirrels comes running through with bread in their mouths. Crazy.

After I got back from my run, Henry and Elizabeth were spending some quiet time together. Henry LOVES to read books. Mostly books with dogs in them. This one is "Sam Sheep can't Sleep."

And Elizabeth who has grown legs that never end over night....is watching "Scripture Bugs" some little cartoon we found at Desseret Books. Since Henry's appointment's have been spread out, our days here have become, well less than busy. And with gray days that aren't so warm, we find ourselves in doors more often with not much to do. I built Elizabeth a fort today, I'll have to post a picture of that one later, and she really enjoys it, but it's not as fun with out a friend to share it with. (Henry isn't so into the tent thing yet, I think he's a bit claustrophobic, due to some nasty treatment he had about a year ago.)

Daddy is coming to see us in three days!!! WOHOO!! We are all so excited! Henry used to do this trick with Grandma... pass the pacifier through the web cam...He obviously figured it out because now he likes to play that game with Daddy on the cell phone. His picture pops up on the phone when he calls and Henry sneakily passes the paci through the phone and hides it behind the phone and then pretends he doesn't know where it is.... what a goof!