Goober Monkeys.

That's all. Just sharing some CHEEZE.

Clinic Day.

We dropped Magi and her donut at Ciocia's house (my aunt) and the big girls and I headed over to clinic. Of course they needed donuts too and we also brought some for everyone at the clinic to share. Iza was very happy to be with Mimi today and thought her sister was brave to get her finger pricked for counts, although at first she closed her ears thinking Mimi would scream.

Today's Counts:
WBC - 2.26
Hgb - 11.6
Platelets - 157
Neutrophil - 1460

Sad and Happy!

When I give Mimi her nightly chemo pill, I wake her up sit her on my lap she opens her mouth takes a sip of water and goes to sleep. Last night I sat her up and she just started crying and said she did not want to take it, then she asked "How many more days do I have to take this pill?" It broke my heart, it took me over 20 minutes to convince her she needed to take it. The good thing is she did not remember any of it the next day...

We go to clinic tomorrow for counts and hoping for some good ones.

On a happier note, Summer Reading Started at the Library! We went today got our tee shirts and charts, the girls are so excited to fill their leaves for every hour they read. This years theme is GO GREEN!

Cheeze! Notice Iza's brand new missing tooth!

Happy Daddy Day!

If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.

~Bill Cosby

"...and the Butterflies Fly Away"

If you have not heard that song, you must not be living in a house full of girls. We hear it a lot... times three!

For Christmas the girls got a Butterfly Garden we waited until it was warm out to send out our certificate for the butterfly larvae and their special food. It was the neatest thing to watch as the caterpillars grew and a couple of days later formed chrysalises. On Sunday, the day of the walk, they became beautiful butterflies, orange Painted Ladies, although the girls though they should have been purple. I am not sure who was more excited all the adults that were here watching them or the girls. It was pretty amazing, although they all came out of their chrysalises while no one was watching. I am pretty sure we will do this again!

This is the only one that stuck around and did not fly away, he was just hanging out and eating the watermelon.

Pain.

Mimi has been having back and hip pain since Saturday, in her words "I can just sit in the stroller for the walk so we don't have to call the doctor." Sunday I know she was hurting because at night she was grinding her teeth and during the walk she sat in the stroller for the most part. But did not let any of the pain spoil her super awesome time! This morning she had tears in her eyes and asked if I could call the clinic. We got the okay for Tylenol and I also put warm towels on her back. The pain came back after lunchtime, after another call to the clinic we got some stronger pain meds but Mimi said she will wait until it hurts "a lot, a lot" to take them. She has a high tolerance for pain which I have yet to figure out if that is a good thing or not...

A Walk in the Park. WoW. Just WoW!

First I want to Thank all the people that were able to walk this morning! We were one MONKEY of a team! We were very excited to be a part of this fundraiser and with the help of some amazing people we were able to raise over $6000! How awesome is that?!

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We hope everyone had a great time walking! A big applause to everyone who contributed and helped us reach our goal plus some, Stacey who raised over $1000, James M. who caught up to Stacey as well! Hannah who was in surgery with a broken arm the day before the walk but came to support her buddy! Everyone who traveled getting up super early to cheer with us, all the shoulders that literally carried Mimi, Iza and Magi. This was awesome!!! We were on the news but I guess a crying mom did not make it on there, I was doing really well until I was asked to tell them about Mimi's journey, thank goodness for Dan being quick!

Thank You to today's Purple Sock Monkey Walkers and Team Members!!!

Mina

Kate, Ella & Lily, Audrey & Caeli
Andre & Marcella
Ashley & Ricco
Steven, Jess, Hannah & Norah
Carol
Elena & Clover
Ela
Shannon, Ainsley & Cash
Chris & Meg
Vic & Eryn

Erica
Roya & Haley
Stacey
Gene & Linda
James
Sherri
Tracy
Sarah, Lesley, Tate & Gabriel

Mary

Frito Lay

Penny

Leidy, Roberto, Amaraya & Penelope

Heather

Link to our page

Clinic Day.

Long day at the clinic, but with some friends who are also waiting time went by fast. On procedure days the youngest kiddos go first, since Mimi was the oldest today she went last. She was a little anxious about getting anaesthesia but between making pictures and getting a "spa" massage along with her friend A she didn't have much time to think about it.

All went well during the lumbar puncture although she got upset right before she fell asleep, the anaesthesiologist thought he could just get the meds in her IV without her noticing but she got pretty mad. Not to self: Let her know it is coming...

It took Mimi forever to wake up, I always get so worried, finally I just sat her up and we talked about food and that got her eyes to open up. We got home right before 2pm and she slept until about 6pm. When she woke up she was mellow and complained of back pain and nausea. It is 9:30pm right now and she is just hanging out in my bed, I suspect she will be sleeping shortly.

Today's Counts:
WBC - 2.02
Hgb - 11.9
Platelets - 192
Neutrophil - 960

Today started Round 2 of Maintenance therapy (84 day cycles.) Same meds just increased doses, I am hoping for no count crashing or fevers, hope with me!

I just found this on my camera. A couple of days ago is was taken by a couple of cute five year olds :)

Kindergarten will start...

September 7th!

Today Iza and Mimi got to meet their soon to be Kindergarten teacher. Iza has met her before during open house, and has been telling Mimi all about her, today they both got to chat with her. They did some flash cards with numbers and letters, colors, shapes, wrote their names and of course colored. Mimi was funny when we were walking home she said the teacher only asked her to count to 20 but she could count to 400!

I am nervous and excited all at the same time for many reasons. We will take things one day at a time and for now just fully enjoy the summer before I have to see my big girls put on uniforms and go off to school!


Tomorrow is Clinic day, no food or drink after midnight, since it is procedure day (Spinal Tap). Thankfully we are going in for 9am so Mimi should not be too hungry in the morning. She has been a bit anxious about the "sleepy medicine" but I think everyone has done a great job this weekend to keep her mind occupied with other things.

June is here!

The girls standing under the Giant Basketball Tower at The Basketball Hall of Fame. also the home of Cold Stone Ice Cream, according to them that is what people need to eat on their "Married" day.

June 2nd is a great day!

13 years since my Senior Prom with Dan.

Our 8th Wedding Anniversary.

photo by Mimi

Iza and Mimi's 5 1/2 Birthday! And they think they are super lucky because they found four-leaf clovers.

Three robin eggs hatched outside of Magi's bedroom window. We sneaked a peek when the mommy bird flew off to get some food. Here is a video we were able to get Iza was taking it while on my shoulders.

Our Caterpillars are making their way up in their well covered cups, which means soon we can transfer the chrysalis/cocoons to their butterfly home.

June is the best!

T-Shirts! T-Shirts! T-Shirts!

T-Shirts will be printed this week I just need to know what sizes people need.

Please e-mail me by 6/3 and let me know. Thank you!!!

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