Advent

I can't even count how many times I have thought to update this blog. Thinking I wanted to wait until I had a good chunk of time to just write....those chunks of time I have to myself are often more like little nibbles and are filled by other priorities. A few minutes ago I was needing a "summary of your childs diagnosis" and came to the blog to get what I've written and was shocked!  I can't believe its been since July!

Its getting late and I don't have time to update all the pictures or share all my thoughts so I'll be concise:

We are a homeschooling family this year. I'm getting better at it and am SO very thankful for the inspiration and gumption I had to make this decision. It's a lot of trial and error and a year of experimentation and learning. I've loved being able to do so much with the girls. I've also had a really hard time doing so much with the girls :) I want to get better at knowing them so well, and working on my thoughts and feelings. At teaching and understanding them and our family.  There are so many layers to life and I'm thankful to be adding this layer of experience.

Ruby's health is doing great. Well, she actually didn't feel well today, queasy tummy and said her throat hurt, but in regards to the big picture of cancerous tumors in her lungs, she's great. She had major scans, brain MRI and full body PET CT, last month. And she did them unsedated!  This is a big deal and I'm so proud of her. Thankful that going forward we won't have to worry about sedation unless she wants it for some reason.  I am now familiar with the employees in imaging and one of them, Kat, showed me her screen. She scrolled down FOUR entire pages of an excel type of sheet to show me all the imaging scans Ruby has had since she was born. Too many to count at that moment. One day I'll go to medical records and count them all.

Siri and Jane had a great soccer season, they loved it! Siri is currently in the works of preparing for a pizza making class she and Mark are going to do. She is raising money to help buy herself a plane ticket to come with me to visit my sister Jenn's family in California. I love that she created a google doc all on her own. I think there are 2-3 spots left if you have a 7-12 year old interested in coming Dec 19th. S&J are both taking piano lessons right now and Ruby has her last ballet/jazz class this week of this session.  Annie is such a silly. She can be the most dramatic of all the queens, and as snuggly as a bear. She's the cause of a lot of noise in our house. She's a great sleeper and takes a nap for a few hours every afternoon. And even if she's not sleeping she'll hang out in her crib which I'm so thankful for since that's my time with the girls to do more focused school related work. Or to just eat food without as much interruption. 

We went to Camp Mak A Dream in Montana in August and stopped in Idaho. I took the girls to a pediatric melanoma summit in Texas in September and to St.George in October while Mark went on a humanitarian trip to Mexico. He had his camera, wallet, bag, and phone stolen the day before in California. The timing was good as even without all that stuff, he was able to count his blessings as they helped the people in Ensanada who have far less and are just fine.

We learned about what it takes to repair a chimney, leaking roof, and washing machine all in the same week. Again, a good reminder that these are great problems to have :)  Mark and I workout at a new gym close by that we love. F45. I clean in trade for classes and it its fun because Liz is teaching there too.  I've had some annoying hormone health issues and just started a synthetic T4 to see if it helps. I've seen an endocrinologist and done a few labs/brain MRI. My pituitary gland is fine but labs show my hormone levels to be really low. 

We have waited all year and are thankful for my stepdad who built some amazing bookshelves for Mark's office that are finally complete. Mark goes into the Lehi Stonehaven Dental office most days, but still works plenty from home. My mom and John have moved from their home in Marion to a house they are renting in Francis. I hope she enjoys less space to clean and grass in the yard. Its a great place for them right now. We continue to rent our basement and are thankful for Caity and Ian. It takes kind people to be ok living below a family of 6! 

Siri celebrated her 10th birthday, Mark another year older and wiser too, and Annie has moved on to being 2. Mark had a successful Man Surf Trip earlier in November, perhaps the best yet (I'm pretty sure he says that every year) and we spent Thanksgiving in St.George with some of the Thackerays.

We are looking forward to a week full of all the wonderful Christmasy things.

Montana

Thack Academy

First day of school