4 Hatcher

In just days now Hatcher will be turning 4! Although his world still seems to revolve around cowboys, he is really into super hero's. Everything we eat has to be a super hero sand witch, super hero granola bar, super hero glass of milk. I bought some Halloween costumes on clearance and he has definitely been getting good use out of them! This little boy is so small but so full of wisdom. To think of all the horrible things he has had to endure in his short life makes me feel overwhelmed, but it is days like today I'm so thankful both he and I continue to fight. He watched a Zorro cartoon 4 times in front of the fire because preschool pretty much wore him out. In his undies.... always wants to show off his muscles. I love that he is satisfied as long as I'm holding him. I'm thankful that he reminds me that I don't always need to be on the run. That it's good to just sit by the fire and watch the same cartoon over and over when I should be paying bills and loading the dish washer. I love that he is scared of the magical elf Christopher that came to our house from the north pole to watch if he is being good. I love that this morning he put lotion on his chest and said, "oh, this sure makes my surgery feel good." I love that today he painted and got more on the table than on the paper and is sure that his master pieces will make the most wonderful Christmas gifts. Thank you Hatcher for turning 4 .... you are my super hero!

Hatcher is doing amazing! I can hardly believe his progress! We ended up not going to California last minute. His doctors felt like it was best to just leave him and let him continue to get better and ween off of his TPA. So instead of spending the last 2 months in Palo Alto we have been playing in Idaho! Especially the last few weeks I feel like life is somewhat normal again! Hatcher is down to TPA every other day and we hope to be off of it come the end of the month. He still continues with his other lung treatments but getting off that TPA has been wonderful and he seems to be tolerating it just fine. I love this time of year and the magic that is in the air. Hatcher and Jaxyn are both excited for Christmas! We continue to feel so blessed and are so grateful for this time we are spending as a family!

New Updates!

Jaxyn had a Western States Dance and Cheer competition in Blackfoot. It was so fun to be just with her! We stayed in a hotel with Grandma and Kris and enjoyed watching lots of dancing! She really is an amazing little dancer and even won the dance off for age division! There were about 50 girls and Jaxyn was the last girl standing ... way to go sis!

So wonderful to have such good friends! Witches night out was a blast, thanks girls for all the laughs !

Jaxyn and I were able to sneak away for a fun weekend to surprise my mom. I didn't tell Jaxyn until that morning when I told her to pack her bags we were going on an airplane! Her face was so cute epically when she learned grandma Lori and Makenna were involved. I was unable to make it back home when Grandma Carr passed and really wanted to go an lift moms spirits! Dad jumped all over it and planned the funnest weekend for all us girls! We were really spoiled and it definitely charged my soul for a while. It was hard to leave Hatcher, but I think I needed it more than I thought. I hate that we all live so far apart! What can I say I love these people! Thanks Dad for making it all happen, it will be one we never forget! Dad arranged for the girls to surprise mom, nan and pop at the Skylark...so fun and yummy! We all had a good laugh hearing all of dad's stories as he had to keep this all a secret! They were definitely surprised when the girls walked up to take their order!

Dad managed to out do himself again! I could just picture him picking out these crazy glow in the dark head bands for the girls! Thanks dad for an over the top weekend!

It was so nice to be able to go and visit Gandma Carrs grave since I was not able to attend her funeral. It was cold but the girls enjoyed putting fresh dahlias from mom's yard on the graves. We also put some on grandpas and my brothers. It was a neat morning, then we went over to one of our favorites for hot cocoa and breakfast by the bay!

Oh Lon .... how I miss you!

Can't believe how much we squeezed into one little weekend! This was so neat to see. A non profit place called the A.N.T. Farm where they help many with different needs through animal therapy.

Fairhaven Fun! Jaxyn just couldn't get enough of being with Makenna, wish we lived close so these girls could grow up together!

Mom and dad took the girls to a place called "creativitea" It was Jaxyn's favorite part of the trip! And I have to say their creations turned out fab!

The entire weekend really was on big party!

Dad planned to take us all to a play! It was so neat for the girls to see where Lonnie and I danced the nutcracker and our dance performances. I had forgotten just how amazing the Mt. Baker Theater is! And I think we are all still singing "into the woods."

Hope your Halloween is a "KNOCK OUT"

I know it's a little early for Halloween but what can I say ... I love it! Thinking ahead that Hatcher and I will be gone for Halloween I let the kids pick out their costumes. With a little convincing form Jaxyn they decided to be "ROCKY"! They have had a lot of fun and so have I making jello brains and putting up the spooky decorations!

It's been a while since I have updated everyone on Hatcher. First of all thank you to all who continue to keep him in your prayers and think of us! We feel so blessed to have so many that care. I can hardly believe how many people are reading our blog, wow and thanks for caring! He has made so much progress it's exciting. I really didn't think he would ever get to this point. I hope I never forget that this has been really hard .... I have learned to dread those treatments alomost as much as Hatcher! But that I can do hard things and actually find the good in it! Although he has had some struggles with casts, he is learning to work through them and we have not seen a major episode for over a month now! Big things to note ... no more oxygen at night, yippee (he loved getting rid of that), we are down on medications, and biggest he has been off his afternoon breathing treatment for over a week now! We are planning to head back to Stanford this month for a chest MRI and to touch base with all our good doctors! Our hope is that the TPA has not caused any lung damage and that he will be able to come off of his other two treatments. For the first time in a long time I feel good about things. He is growing and although he has days that he just doesn't feel good, the good days definitely out weigh the bad. I have been trying to squeeze in any bit of fun and memory making I can for the kids. I know Hatcher makes me a better mom. I find time to read stories when I should be doing laundry (maybe that's why I have 8 loads to fold today!) and play with play dough and hold him! This week Randy is gone once again and me and the kids have been having a blast. We started a Christmas movie at 9 on a school night and I let the kids stay up and watch it ... you would have thought Jaxyn won the lottery staying up so late on a school night! I am tickeled at how well Hatcher is doing and how smart he is! I could never have imagined watching him go through so many ups and downs that he would be going to preschool and singing his abc's! What a miracle life is for each one of us. So today I am grateful that it is 2 in the afternoon and I haven't even got in the shower yet! That me and the kids made banana bread this morning and that Hatcher said that he hated it, and then smelled it baking and loved it! That my living room is covered in trucks and trailers with no tires because Hatcher is into fixing them by taking them on and off. And most of all that its pouring rain outside and we are cozy in our warm house! I will take everyday I get with both my kids, but the better Hatcher does the more I want! I will continue to update as we head to California and lets cross our fingers that it will be a good outcome!

ISU Football

We were able to attend the ISU homecoming football game. Randy's Uncle Jack was honored at half time and it was really neat! Fun to be with family and it was so cute watching Hatcher and Teague share popcorn!

HIP HOP

Hatcher is doing an all boy hip hop class with one of his good buddys Tucker! They are seriously the cutest little guys .... so fun to see Hatcher doing so well!

Randy had work in Sun Valley so the kids and I tagged along! It was so much fun, I definitely want to go back! Randy has be gone so much the last few months it was great to be with him and enjoy the kids! He worked and we played. It was a lot of work packing up Hatcher, but well worth it! The kids and I enjoyed ice cream and a free concert while Randy was at a dinner banquet. We managed to do lots of swimming and tons of bike ridding!

We meet my good friends Kenz and Chels up in Sun Valley and the kids really had a great time at this dirt bike park. We even went again the next day! Then it was fun at the park and lunch out at a yummy Mexican place! Oh yeah, and lets not forget feeding the ducks and the fun candy store!

Jaxyn really wanted to try ice skating! She surprised me at how quick she picked it up! And by the end of it she really had the hang of things. I love that she wants to try everything!

I love this picture in the middle. Hatcher was ridding his bike and pee peed his pants. He was so cute in his bare bum and cowboy boots! The kids had so much fun ridding bikes, bikes, bikes!

We watched the largest non motorized parade in the west! It was amazing seeing the huge old wagons! Hatcher and Jaxyn had a good time watching all the horses!