McCall’s M5793

 

Alright, so you are going to get some random posts over the next few weeks.  I am gathering all the pics of the things I have made and their pattern numbers. 

  In these, after reviewing all the photos, Avery is sitting perfectly posed.  Payton has a forced look on her face and Hallie was never close to the same position twice (she moves way to much!).  And they all look so LITTLE!  Kind of makes me sad…kind of makes me happy. 

  And almost all of the pics with Avery are pre-tumor diagnosis.  She doesn’t even look like the same kid at all.  Sigh….

 

 

 

 

 

Even Hallie said, “I was so cute!”  Yes, yes you were…are.

Ruffled Skirt

By Stephanie

   So a friend at church gave me a great contact to do some pattern testing.  YAY!  More sewing.  I tested this ruffled skirt pattern.  And all her patterns are reasonably priced.  That is a plus!

   I made it for Avery so I left the bottom layer of tulle off since she is super sensitive right now.  Believe me when I say the pics do NOT do it justice.  It is the most amount of fabric I have worked with in a LONG time.  Layers and layers.  Super girly and twirly.  I am going to make a cute belt with a big flower to complete the look.  She is thrilled to have a new skirt. 

  

Endure to the end

By Stephanie

   Sometimes I hate the word “endure".  Sometimes it’s all we can do just to hang on…by a thread. Or a thread of a thread.

   We are done.  We are all done with chemo.  All except her doctor.  He says we are not done.  We had ANOTHER delay.  BOOOOO! 

   That is how the last few weeks have been. Frustrating.

     We found out after the last dose of chemo Avery decided to pour her drinks down the drain and not take her meds.  FOR THREE DAYS!  Actually I was suspicious of her, and her dad got her to confess.  Otherwise it may have been longer before we knew everything.  SERIOUSLY BAD…if you didn’t already know!

   So the next day (and every day after) I have had to sit and watch her take her pills and drink her drink.  Let me tell you about the first drink…waling and gnashing of teeth comes to mind.  She yelled “you are ruining my life.”  I didn’t expect to hear those words until she was at least 13.  So I laughed, which made her more mad.  She actually said, “You are running my life.”  Yes, yes I am.  When you show you are not old enough to have that responsibility, I take it from you. It’s my job.  The pay sucks, but the benefits are good.  It’s my job.  

  After that my mom bribed her with $5 for every drink she drinks in 30 minutes or less.  Surprisingly she has had better luck getting them down.

   I found this great link.  Drops of awesome.  I just can’t stop thinking about it.  She puts the Atonement in such a great visual.  It really has made me think.   And it is helping us “endure”.  Although if the doctor said we are done today, we would all be grateful.

Back to the Grindstone

By Stephanie
 
   I hope you all had a fantastic holiday season!  Our's was amazing.  We had FOUR, yes folks, that is FOUR families that picked us to do the twelve days of Christmas.  Two let us know who they were, the other two, we have no idea.  But we do have some awesome ideas for us to do a family next year.
   Our holiday season was mostly uneventful.  Mostly.  During one of Avery's doctor visits (she was on a break from chemo) her doctor recommended we do the NG tube.  Her weight was the same, but she just didn't look good.  FULL ON MELTDOWN from her.  He laid out what she needed to do, and so far she has done it.  She even had two helpings of enchiladas for breakfast (I don't care what she eats, just that she eats).  She does look better, so we avoid the NG tube agian (I think).
   New Years Day, Chris and I decided to go to the movie.  But I wanted to see Les Mis and he really didn't.  Katie and Ty were in town and my mother and father-in-law also wanted to go to the movies.  So the girls went and saw Les Mis and the boys, some other stupid movie that I would never pay to see.  Avery had had a bloody nose earlier that day, but then she was fine.  The movie (the almost three hour movie) was almost over when I got a message from Nathan that "Avery's nose has been bleed the whole time you have been gone and now she is crying and feels sick."  WHAT??  Okay, time to go over what "emergency" means with the thirteen year old.  Blood =call mom.  So Katie and I left the movie early and rushed home.  I called her doctors office and they had us take her into the ER.  Which was SUPER packed that night.  But they got us right in and got her blood work.  Her red blood was low but her platlets (the stuff that clots the blood) was SUPER low.  It was 13.  She has never been under 18.  You are probably 200, but for her 40-50 is high.  But under 20 she needs a transfusion.
   So we spent a long night getting blood.  And we had to delay chemo a week.   But we are on the count down.  IF there are no more delays...10 weeks to go.  We are shooting for her Birthday (March 30th), which is also Easter weekend (March 31st), which is also spring break!  If not, it'll be okay, but we are HOPING!!
   And I have a TON of sewing projects and a house to MUCK out.  We have Avery's Make-a-Wish run on Feb. 2nd, which is also Payton's baptism date.  It will be a long but fun day.
   If anyone wants to come run with us or donate here is the link.
Avery's Team 5K or 1 mile run
   We are trying to raise enough for one wish.  Which is about $2500!  I know it's right after Christmas, but if you can, please help make other kids wishes come true!!

Happy Holidays

By Stephanie
    We have been so super blessed this season.  Thank you to all of you who made us feel so loved. 
   As we look forward to this coming year, I think I am going to do something I did a few years ago.  My good friend (and brilliant photographer), Melissa Jacks gave me the idea.  She picks a word for the year (instead of a resolution).  I have picked FAITH and ENDURE.  But this year I want more of an action word. I am thinking of “Engage”. 
   So here is hoping for a great New Year to you all!!

Just Relax…

By Stephanie

   So my nephew Spencer Charles Curtin gets home from his two year mission with our church.  He has been up in Alaska.  Welcome home!  We missed you and I can’t wait to see you!!

   And just went I thought I could relax, since Avery had her two week break from chemo…..NOPE!

    Sunday she woke up with “fuzzy vision.”  For those that don’t remember….”fuzzy vision” has always meant something BAD.  So of course I panicked.  Called her oncologists office.  The doc on call didn’t seem as upset as I was.  He said to just watch her.  Okay…..

   Then later that day she was complaining of light headedness and her arm was feeling weird again.  Again I panicked.  Again the doctor didn’t seem as upset as I was.  He had me give her some steroids and plan to be in their office when her doc came in. 

   I didn’t sleep all that night.  I kept wondering if I should just stick her and I on a plane to Seattle.  First thing I called her ophthalmologist (I really like her btw).  Their office opened at 7am (who knew!).  So I took her right over. 

   She did a full exam.  Turns out her eyesight is getting BETTER!  WHAT??  Just slightly widening her field of vision.  But we will take it!!  So then I took her over to the oncologist office.  He did a CBC (blood count check), everything looked okay.  WHAT??? 

   Here is what they think.  Since she has her slight improved, the brain is not sure what to do with this new information.  Thus it comes out a bit muddled….fuzzy vision. 

   Her weight dropped again.  He said if she goes down TWO OZ., she gets an NG tube.  But he did give us off until Dec. 26th.  I think some (or most) of her issues are her eating and drinking.  He agrees.  But he is a softy and she cries when he mentions NG tube.  But he put the line down.  If she goes down at all….NG tube.  I actually wouldn’t mind getting it back in.  Then at least when something happens I know that is isn’t dehydration or lack of nutrition.  That it is something we can’t fix on our own and she needs to go to the hospital.  Right now, it’s hard to make that call. 

    Hope your holiday season is peaceful and relaxing…..

Tis the Season

By Stephanie
   
   So we knew that this cold and flu season we might end up in the hospital.  But so far we have been pretty lucky.  That was until I got a call on Friday.  Avery called from school.  But when she was talking to me her speech was slurred and she said she had a headache and stomach ache.  The head ache really concerned me.  So I picked her up and took her right to her dr's office.
  On the way she told me her left arm had been going numb.  OKAY...now I was in a complete panic.  All I could think of was stroke!  Her teacher called while I was on the road, she was also very concerned.  She doesn't have kids of her own and had never seen a seizure.  I was pretty sure it wasn't seizure, but I mentioned "stroke" and I think she just about had a heart attack herself.
    We got Avery's blood drawn and her red blood was low.  He sent us right to the ER for a head CT scan. Which luckily they did right away and......everything was clear.  They sent us up to peds to get her blood and some fluids.  We actually got to come home that night!  YAY.  After a bit of delay.....
   When she gets blood they usually give benedryl but because of her issues, he didn't premeditate  just in case.  Half way through the bag of blood, she broke out in hives.  They gave her hydrocortizone (her body is super low on that right now) and benedryl.  In 30 minutes, she looked better, so they gave the rest of the blood.  We got home about 11:30pm.  Not too shabby.  Especially since I thought we would be there at least one night.  
   So far no more numbness.  A bit of a headache, but that might be that she is a bit dehydrated.  We will see what the doc says tomorrow.
   

And to all a good night.......
      Hope you all have your shopping done.....I have a ways to go.