Preschool Graduation

This year Mackenzie was in Learn 'N Grow preschool and she loved it. She had an amazing teacher, made many great friends and learned so much! She has amazed me at how smart she is and how big she acts. She's now officially a kindergartener and she can't wait to go back to school in September. 

So now pictures of her graduation, which was May 15, so I'm a bit behind.

Mackenzie and Mrs. Misner!

Her best friend and "boyfriend" Bentley had to get in on a picture with her too!

This Land is Your Land

Yesterday Mackenzie and Cameron had their dance recital. It was the first one for Cameron. They both did a great job and had a lot of fun. Cameron said he was a bit nervous when I first took him back stage but he relaxed and had fun performing for family and friends.

His dance was the flag dance. They danced to "This Land is Your Land." If they would have had a hat and beard he would have looked just like Uncle Sam!

Her dance was "Hawaiian Rollercoaster." It's from the movie Lilo and Stitch. They were adorable. She loved having the grass skirt because of the way it moved when she danced!

Cameron's 4!!!

I can't believe he's really 4 already.

We had his birthday party on Saturday at Airway Lanes, as usual. He loves bowling, however, this year I think he bowled only 3 frames. Oh well, he still had fun. I was terrible about getting pictures also. GG made him Spider-Man cupcakes for his party, and he got way too many toys. Five boxes of Legos, trucks, remote control cars and a few Spider-Man action figures!

He got his first present from mom and dad on Saturday, pjs!

Sunday was his actual birthday. He got his presents when he got up. And since it was Sunday he had to go to church. After church we played outside and met his school friend Ali at the school playground to play.

For dinner he wanted homemade nachos and a cake. After dinner he watched one of his new Spider-Man movies.

Happy 4th birthday to my favorite little man!!! I can't wait to see you grow and learn even more!

Buddy

So...after everyone in our house was sick, sick, sick, Buddy got sick too. He was acting so weird and started having accidents all over the house. Sometimes that can be a common occurs ce here and there when he's mad, but this was not the case. I took him to the vet, his urinalysis showed nothing because it was too diluted. He did a full exam and wellness panel and a blood draw and sent us on our way, assuring us that it shouldn't be anything too serious, he's only 7. The next day the vet called me back to explain he has a high calcium content in his blood which could lead to 4 things, however, he also has swollen lymph nodes, so that can only lead to lymphoma. That was a very sad day. I was in class for 15 minutes instead of the normal 3 hours and I only went because I had a test, which I studied for like crazy and almost failed from being so distracted. 

At that point we had to make to decision to put him through chemo or steroids. We decided on steroids because we just don't have the extra thousands of dollars or animal health insurance. Come to find out after we made the decision, it was probably the right one. The calcium in the blood makes this cancer very resistant to treatment. It has shown to only work about 10% of the time when there's calcium present. He's been on the steroids for 3 weeks now and they have seemed to do what they're supposed to. His swollen lymph nodes aren't swollen anymore and he seems to be more comfortable. He doesn't have the same side effects of increased hunger, he's been eating about the same amount as usual. However, yesterday he stole Marty's entire Jimmy John's sub off the counter and finished it off for him 😂 

My new concern is on his bowel movements. For the first week they were normal. The second week they weren't too different, just a little softer. For the past week however, he has at least 4 per day and it's uncontrollable. He's lost a lot of fat and muscle and we can now easily feel his bones. I don't know if it's possible, but I'm thinking he's not absorbing the nutrition from his food.  He's also very tired and short of breath. 

There will be very important discussions at the vet tomorrow. I know when it comes to decision time it's not going to be easy for anyone, however, I'm worried more about the kids. They've never had to handle the loss of a pet before, and at such young ages. 

Have you ever?

Had the feeling your body just says screw you?!  Mine sure did this week.

Wednesday I felt like I was pushing a baby out of my kidney. Ouch! The vagina is bad enough, let alone a kidney. When I went to the dr I found out I have kidney stones! The medicine they gave me had so many side effects that I felt like I had the flu so I stopped taking those. 

The day after I stopped taking those, I found out I have strep throat. Seriously!? 

So I haven't done anything for almost a week. I feel almost 100% better today. My throats a bit sore but I can deal with that. 

Let's hope this week will be better for all of us. I'm on spring break so maybe I can get some things done. The weather is getting better so hopefully we can get outside a bit!

Life

Sometimes it gets the better of you. We've just been dealing with everything lately. From mine and the kids school, their dance classes, back and forth to the bridal shop for Courtney's dress, then our bridesmaids dresses, then pick up, multiple times for me, we've been so busy. Stressed out doesn't begin to describe it.

However, they've been doing amazing in school, learning a ton, and becoming even more coordinated through dance. They love it. However, yesterday they both came down with the stomach flu. It's some nasty stuff. Cameron's doing most of the sleeping while Mackenzie is spending a lot of time in and out of the bathroom. I'm hoping this passes soon.

I have been stressed out with school, more than normal. Macroeconomics is the worst class ever. I don't understand it and will be visiting a tutor this coming week. I can't afford to not pass this class. I had a dentist appointment last week and found I have TMJ. Caused from stress, awesome. Coming Monday I pick up a guard that should stop me from clinching my teeth. I don't even notice I do it. I have to start a paper on the Romans and study for an Ancient Greece history test so I will be done here.

One good thing about them being sick and not going to school, I have this Ezra time to work on homework when I would normally be running between school and dance class this morning. However, I am missing a huge assignment this afternoon because I can't take them to the sitter and Marty won't be home in time... The life of a mom and student.

Christmas Part 2

To start off the second part of our Christmas, we had another Christmas party with Marty's family. This time it was with all of his aunts, uncles and cousins. They always make homemade enchiladas and rice. I love that meal and really enjoy it. There is also a family game tournament and it is always a kids game. Sometimes that give a big advantage to the kids and sometimes it doesn't. This year we played ants in the pants.

Mackenzie won the entire tournament. The last round was Mackenzie and Marty's cousin Eric. She got the game, and 3 lottery tickets. With the lottery tickets she won $10!

Since the kids are in school, they have Christmas parties and programs. Mackenzie had both of hers at the same time. They sang 3 songs and recited 2 poems.

Cameron's Christmas party was a lot of fun for both of the kids. Snacks, games and crafts.

Making candy necklaces

Frosting gingerbread cookies

Decorating her gingerbread cookies

Ring toss

Ring toss

Prayer and snack time

Music fun

Christmas Eve is spent at dads with all of us sisters, our families, and Uncle Doug and Aunt Leslie. We always have a great time!

New PJ's!

Nose cups!

Finally, on Christmas we go to my moms family and end the day and Uncle Doug and Aunt Leslie's.

This year we also had a get together with dad and most of his siblings on Saturday after Christmas.

Danielle also took family pictures for us!