OUR SWEET RICKY

Our Sweet Ricky isn't doing well. As you can see, his beautiful brown mask on his face is white now and he is pretty old though we don't know how old since we rescued him 5 years ago. He stopped eating on Thursday. In case you can't tell from the pics, he loves to eat. I knew he was getting close and probably had cancer but after he stopped eating...We took him to the vet on Saturday and after x rays and labs, I talked to the vet this morning and sure enough, he has cancer and it's everywhere. It's in his lungs, pancreas and two lesions on his spine. He is on pain medicine now and comfortable while on those meds but still not too interested in eating. He mostly lays around but that's not new either, he is an old man after all. It's so hard to have to make the decision to put him to sleep but we don't want him to suffer any more than he has been. We are all upset and will miss him so much!!
WE LOVE YOU RICKY!!!

ANOTHER SURGERY FOR AJ

We saw the ENT today and AJ is set for another surgery, his third. This time they are putting in "t tubes". They are semi-permanent and will stay in for 2 years or more. When they come out it will likely be because they are removed as they typically don't fall out. He is also getting his adenoids out. The doctor promises me that this will be nothing like the 2 weeks of hell we suffered when Jake had his tonsils and adenoids out when he was 3. That was brutal!!! He says it's the tonsils part that is so painful and the adenoids are simpler with fewer complications/risks and much less pain. He better not be lying to me! Hopefully this will help with AJ's ears and maybe in so doing will help break his reflux/ ears/pneumonia/reflux cycle. It helped Jake to sleep better, funny how breathing will do that for you, anyway, hopefully it's going to do the same for AJ. At the least it's going to help his snoring, maybe that will help Caleb to sleep better, wink wink!

SPRING BREAK PICS FINALLY

I think I've finally got it. Here are the pics from some of our spring break adventures. Thanks to all of my wonderful friends who are brave enough to accompany me on my outings. Ryan says I'm glutton for punishment to take 4 young un's out without him, I think sometimes it's harder to take them out with him. Mostly I think I can't stay cooped up in the house with 4 bored and too smart for my good little boys. That can be a dangerous and destructive combination. I'm glad my friends agree, we all had fun and no kids were harmed in the making of many fun and exhausting memories over the course of last week.

More antibiotics

Back to the Dr. today for AJ. Still has an ear infection but we see the ENT on Friday to talk about a third set of tubes, poor guy. He is such a trooper. It amazes me how he can be so cheerful when I know he hurts so bad. I'm sure it's because he is used to pain, having endured it his whole life, between the reflux, the ears and his RAD. He is such an example, only when the pain gets really bad or he is really tired does he get clingy or crabby. Thank goodness Ryan is so understanding and tells me to just sit with him and cuddle him, he needs me and not to worry about the house. I am so thankful for my men, all 5 of them. Everyday they teach me something new or remind me of a lesson I still need to work on be it patience in trials or adversity, cheerfulness, kindness, love, you get the picture. Today Caleb came to me with a handful of pennies and reminded me that his school is doing pennies for patients. He then informed me that he is taking all of his savings from his piggy bank to donate. He is such an example of generosity and selflessness.

More Spring Break Goodies

I know I'm a little behind... Last week was crazy busy and pretty fun. We hung out with Joe and Victoria and hopefully helped a little bit more than not on Wednesday. We FINALLY left for our camping trip on Thursday. I couldn't wait and the boys were just as excited as I was. Poor Ryan didn't get to sleep in on Thursday despite my best intentions since Caleb got past me and woke him up to get going. My favorite quote was Caleb on Thursday morning, keep in mind he and AJ were up at 5:45, yes that's pre dawn. We are laying on the couch as I tried unsuccessfully to get them to go back to sleep, and the sun starts to come up, Caleb says to me, "Mom is this the crack of dawn?" "yes," I say. "Then why aren't we leaving yet?" he says. And at that he and AJ are up and getting dressed, Jake and Levi followed soon after. Oh well, who could blame them. We made pretty good time despite going through Phoenix and hitting construction. The campground was beautiful and the weather cooperated, it was pretty cold at night but thanks to my BFF and her awesome husband we had plenty of firewood to keep us warm and toast our smores. Many memories to keep me laughing and smiling for a long time. Thanks to Mel and fam for coming on this adventure with us, as always, it was a blast for all of us. Thanks to Lyle for the Elk roast and fixins from the dutch oven, I'm not sure which was my fave, the cobblers or the dinner, seriously. We made it home on Saturday, after Caleb cried because he didn't want to leave, he is like his dad, "a toasted marshmellow (crusty on the outside and gooey on the inside). Now I'm peeling, proof to Ryan that sometimes, maybe only twice in 9 years, but sometimes I do burn. I did manage to get AJ's jeans clean, miracle of miracles, my tub on the other hand will be harder, I think we may have left some dirt in the forest but you wouldn't know it to look at the boys, their clothes and after baths, my tub. The kids are back to school and we are back to the grind but we'll go back and I can't wait!!! I can't get my pics to post but I'll try later.

SPRING BREAK START!!

Yesterday I took my boys, along with 2 friends and 8 other kiddos for an adventure. We got ALOT of funny looks as we walked down the street to the light rail stop but who cares what other people think. My husband thinks I'm crazy or glutton for punishment but he doesn't understand punishment until he is stuck in a house with 4 stir crazy and bored kids all day with all of them either picking fights for something to do OR getting into some other mischief OR complaining about being bored. This was a cakewalk compared to that and besides it was fun, mostly. So our adventure started out riding the light rail to the Heard Museum. We wandered the museum for awhile and then the light rail back to our trucks and then to a park for a picnic lunch. It was a perfect 75 degree sunny day with a slight breeze and almost no arguing the entire day. Who could ask for more? After that I exchanged Ryan's new CTR ring, I got the wrong size, then off to Dr. B for, you guessed it, two kids with ear infections and still more antibiotics and a referral to another ENT for more tubes for AJ, his third set. Levi won't be far behind if he follows the pattern set down by his brothers. Then to Dr Davis to get adjusted and then to Sams much to Ryan's dismay. He thinks I did too much already but the dogs need food you know?! Last to Fry's to drop off prescriptions. It was a very long day but all in all... After all of that, on the way home I asked the boys if they had a good day and still they all said yes. Above are some pics we took on the first half, the funner half, of our adventure. Today we did some visiting teaching but mostly, rested and packed for our camping trip. Have I mentioned that I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I think the boys are at least as excited as I am. Hopefully, Ryan will be able to get his homework done so that he can come up with us and not have to bring a second truck. What kind of teacher gives homework over spring break? They obviously don't understand the concept of a break and if anyone deserves one it's my husband. Anyway, so far I'm not doing too bad at keeping my resolution of making happy memories but the year is still young, I have to keep it up! Oh yeah, HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

I love Saturdays too!

The boys started Spring Break today, unless you ask Jake and then he started yesterday after he got out of school. Anyhow, we have lots of big plans so hopefully we'll have lots of good pics. So far I'm not doing so well since I'm so busy doing I forget to bring the camera or camcorder. Today we went to the St. Patricks Day parade in Phoenix. My crazy mom wore a lime green blazer, a lime green wig and a green velveteen hat with green earrings. The kids loved it and so did the parade goers who took lots of pics of her including one for the newspaper. She is such a goofball when it comes to holidays like this. The boys were up and dressed in green before the sun this morning and when we got to the parade they got big green hats. The highlight for AJ was the "horse of a different color". She is there every year and always green. I think it's really the only reason he wanted to go at all. After that we went to a BBQ with some friends at the White Tanks. LOVED IT!! We had so much fun. The boys ran until they couldn't have found any more dirt. Ryan took the three oldest on a hike and the boys, all of them, loved it. I stayed back with some of the moms and just sat, mostly. It was such a nice evening and the best part is Ryan got to go and have fun with us. The boys all fell asleep on the way home. I get the rest of the night with my husband all to myself. HOORAY!!!!!

Rockin out

The boys favorite game is rock band. It has survived despite the fact that they left the drumsticks laying on the floor and one of the dogs ate them. They had another set but have broken the tips off of them and of course left them laying and have no idea where they are so now they have resorted to playing with their hands or ping pong paddles, my personal favorite. I came upstairs and this is what I saw. Caleb is awesome totally rocking out and getting down. AJ cracked me up getting right up there with him. Jake was totally absorbed in his serious concentration. I'm just glad they are actually playing together and not fighting.

My garden is growing FINALLY!

So, granted this isn't the best picture but I'll tell you what it is... It's my garden and it's growing stuff. I have spinach and swiss chard and cilantro and some aloe vera growing. I'm so excited. I think tomorrow we will have spinach salad with dinner to celebrate. I love fresh vegetables, it's so satisfying (is that spelled right?) to grow your own and when you want some, to just go out and pick some. Ryan told me to just pave over it but I didn't give up. He called me out the other day to "pick my weeds" AJ believed him and started pulling them up but Ryan quickly stopped him. What a good helper AJ is. Have I mentioned I love my kids?

Jake's baptism

My oldest was baptized on Saturday. We are so proud of the decision he has made. Doesn't he look so handsome in his new suit, thank you Nana. I was so busy getting everyone ready that I forgot to grab the camera or camcorder so this is the only picture I have. The whole way to the church Ryan sang "Get me to the Church on Time", we almost didn't. We had the family over afterward for some BBQ and goodies. It was awesome to hang out with so many of the people we love so much.