Grace has had loads of fun utilizing her chemo supplies...sterile gloves, a play stethescope, and her flush needles for her port (minus the needle of course). Ben is a willing-or perhaps better phrased-helpless participant in her game of doctor. Grace says he is very ill, but she thinks he's going to make it.

Eva, as you can see in the video, LOVES playing with her siblings. She has a happy little spirit and they have so much fun playing together-most of the time! :-)

Tanner had a toothpick bridge competition in school recently and he put in a lot of hard work into it. It was fun to go to the school and see how much weight the bridges could bear and how hard all the children worked. We were so excited because Tanner won both awards-for strongest bridge and most beautiful bridge! Way to go T! Sometimes even REQUIRED assignments end up being fun, right?


This...I could not exclude from the blog. It melted my heart! Grace recently acquired an email account-password protected by us of course-and loves to drop sweet little somethings to people. One day when she wasn't feeling well she emailed me, I emailed back a message, and here's what she wrote back to me: you have to read from the bottom of it to the top to see why her response is so sweet.

From:Grace To:Kimberly Sent:Thurs, February 4, 2010 6:15PM Subject:

thanks mom you are a sweety pie feel good. doing wate you can is wate i ask for thanks

________________________________

From: Kimberly
To: Grace Sent: Wed, February 3, 2010 5:53:29 PMSubject:

Re:What a beautiful message! ANd, I really like the page! I love you so much, too, Gracie girl. You're like sunshine on a cloudy day! I am so sorry that you felt so yucky this afternoon, and I'm really sorry I couldn't cuddle with you because Ben was also sick. I know that is hard when you feel so yucky. I wish I could just help you every second. I will do my best though, ok? XOmom---

On Wed, 2/3/10,
Grace wrote:>From: Grace >>Subject: >To: kim>Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010, 6:45 PM>>> > >

dear mom i love so much xoxoxoxoxo grace wednest day 3. 2010 >

KIM IS 30!

So Friday was Kim's birthday and she turned the big 3-0. There is not enough room on this blog to write how remarkable Kim is. She has always been an amazing mother, wife, and friend, but with the challenges that have entered our home the last 2 years she has shown with grace and courage the rare person she is, inside and out. When needed she can be the strongest pillar for our family to lean on and then become the most sensitive and thoughtful matriarch. She is wise beyond her years and wakes up everyday with a smile on her face and optimism that would have been beaten out of most people. I have heard people say that Kim has endured a lifetime of trials, way beyond her years. I don't know if that is true, but I am sure she has amazing things in store for her. She brightens up our day and has compassion for each individual she comes in contact with. We love her and were grateful to have a day to celebrate her.

If you are wondering about the picture above (crabclaw with candle) it is due to the fact that Kim is trying to avoid dairy and chocolate to help Ben's tummy. Because most desserts are made with those two ingredients we had to come up with a creative place to place her candle. The kids and I thought since we were having dungey crab for dinner a crab claw would suffice. A little creepy, but the kids loved it.

Eva loves Belles, but in this video you can tell she sometimes has the devil in her eyes. Look at how much fun she has scaring Belles.

What happened to our skinny premie. Ben's thighs are a sight to behold and he is doing great. Although this picture shows his "sad face" as Eva would deem it. He usually is smiling.

Omi's Visit and Gracie's Hospital Trip

GRACIE IS HOME!

Today we were given great news that Grace is able to come home. There are some serious precautions we must keep since her numbers are still very low, so unfortunately she must lay low for a while and not go to school or have any visitors.

When we found out, Grace wanted to surprise Kim, Tanner, Eva, Ben and Annabelle who were waiting to hear the news from home so we quickly packed, signed the discharge papers and drove home. When we spoke to Kim during the morning we stalled saying we had not spoken to the doctors because they were running late and we should talk to them before noon. At noon Grace tiptoed to our door and knocked. When Kim answered she yelled surprise and gave her a big hug.

It is good to be home.

Grace's wicked sense of humor

I am following an amazingly eloquent entry with this, but I thought you would all get a kick out of Grace and know that even though she is confined to an I.V. tower and stuck in the hospital she is still herself. 

She was very sad tonight to tell her mom and siblings goodnight as they left to go home. 

Being in the hospital or any place for a certain number of days requires you to start being creative to pass the time. Video games, books , movies, drawing, coloring, and many other things can begin to be too played out unless you sprinkle something random in with them.

I got the opportunity to spend the night with Grace tonight. As we were thinking of things to do I thought it would be fun to have a tea party and use the individually wrapped condiments: graham crackers, jam, peanut butter, and saltines that are in the kitchen area to make small sandwiches. As a joke I also brought in packets of ketchup, mustard and mayo and set them on her tray. Now at this time Grace had also ordered up a fruit tray heavy on the grapes and strawberries and a hotfudge-sunday which were making their way up to our room from the cafeteria. As soon as I set the condiments down  I could see Grace's eyes twinkle. She said "dad, how about I make a sandwich while you close your eyes and then you take a bite while your eyes are still closed and you can tell me which one you like the most." Of course I knew where this was going, but I played along. I made sure to keep my eyes closed the entire time and when she told me to open my mouth and take a bite I did. Her laugh could be heard four units away as she yelled that is so gross! You just ate a graham cracker, strawberry, mayo, mustard, ketchup sandwich! Then as quick as she could she said she was done making sandwiches, knowing I wanted revenge, and decided to draw.

I just want to thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers, offers, and help. We are so grateful to be surrounded by amazing selfless individuals.