IT HAS BEGUN!

All day today Eva wanted to wear Grace's clip-on cheesified earrings.

I guess having Gracie as a big sister makes being a girly-girl inevitable.

Tanner's soccer team ended their season undefeated. We are so proud of Tanner. He had 4 goals in the last game and left it all on the field. He is also loving school and working very hard each night. He has been invited to participate in a program called Destination Imagination which starts on Fridays. He went to the first class and really enjoyed it.

Gracie has been doing well, but Kim and I have noticed what is called "Chemo Brain." We were warned that it would happen by the doctor's and hopefully it should be a short term thing. For example Grace loves doing her letters for homework, but once in a while she will forget how to form a letter. She knows that she has learned it but her brain is sometimes slow to catch up, which is very difficult for her when she has written that letter many times in the past. Last night she woke up in the middle of the night and was so frustrated. She could not express herself because she said she couldn't remember the word she wanted to use. We have been doing all we can to help, but have noticed that most of the time it happens when she is very tired. She is very optimistic and most of the day very energetic and happy.

The meaning of Grace

Grace's grandparents wrote her this tonight in an email:

Grace, look up the meaning of "grace" in the dictionary and then in the scriptures. Part of grace is acceptance of the Lord's will.
Think of this scripture. It reminds us of you:
"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."

A day at chemo...

Chemo today

Grace has Chemo today. She has been getting two forms of chemo put directly in her Port in her chest every 10 days. The appointments take 3 to 4 hours because we always have to wait on her blood chemistry to make sure that she's not to low to administer chemo. She receives Vincristine and Methotrexate-two very strong forms of chemo. It usually hits her pretty hard for about three to five days, though predominately in the middle of the night. She often wakes up screaming with pain in her joints. She gets a bad tummy, as well, from the methotrexate and typically won't eat for several days (at least more than nibbles, though we usually insist on an apple or something and of course, water). She gets really nervous about her appointments, so today we're going to take her beautiful new teddy bear that our friends, the Sopers lovingly MADE for her! And, we're taking along her medical bag. I think Teddy is in for an arduous appointment via doctor Grace, but she'll make him better! After all, as she tells us, she is training to be an animal rescuer.

T's great soccer game

T had a great game on Saturday. Like always he hustled like crazy and got 4 goals for his efforts. He has one last game and we are so sad because he is so fun to watch. One more win and he will end the season undefeated!


Today Grace decided she wanted to go to church, but she wanted to wear her new dress Grandma and Grandpa Ujifusa gave her, her play earrings, her charm bracelet, her silver necklace, and her pink purse. We were fine with her request except for when it all came together she looked way to old. It was even hard for us to post this picture.