A rough day at school

I received a phone call from the school nurse today. She informed me that Savannah had split open her chin and most likely was going to need stitches. I got to the school as quick as I could and found her in tears. Savannah said that she was walking out to recess when a bunch of boys ran past her, cut in front of her and caused her to trip. Unfortunately, it happened so fast, that she didn’t have a chance to brace herself, which caused her to fall face forward onto the pavement, cut open her chin and bruise her knee. I took Savannah into the Urgent Care Center this afternoon. The cut on her chin was deep enough to stitch, but the doctors worried that stitching it up would cause it to scar even worse. They decided to glue it shut. Savannah was also complaining that her knee was hurting. They did an x-ray and nothing was broken, but her knee is pretty bruised. Savannah is feeling really sore tonight. I am trying not to be mad, but do feel a little angry that kids can be so careless. It’s too bad that she will most likely have a scar to remember this day.

Savannah's Birthday

I found a few more pictures from Savannah Birthday. Payton wanted to help Savannah open her presents and he wanted her to be sure to know that they were all from him as well. He wanted a hug after every gift she opened.

Savannah's 10th Birthday!

Savannah was so excited for her Birthday this year. She informed me that I needed to take the day off work since it fell on a Saturday. I was so excited for a Saturday to sleep in but she had me awake by 7:00 a.m. Savannah had decided that she wanted to go to Build-a-Bear with her brother. She wanted to unwrap her presents and be the first one to Build-a-Bear. Savannah cracks me up; she still has such a love for stuffed animals. Whenever we see any sort of stuffed animal, I hear, “Oh, this is so cute, can I buy this?” Savannah unwrapped her presents and was excited to get speakers for her Ipod, a chair for her room, a scooter and some clothes. Savannah really is not hard to buy for these days. She had us all out the door by 9:15. We stopped off at McDonald’s for breakfast and were at the mall right at 10:00. Payton and Savannah were thrilled to pick out a bear and an outfit of their choice. It felt like Christmas morning to them. I think this is the first time we have been to Build-a-Bear and done this. Payton was so excited to put a heart in his bear and kept asking if his bear was real. Savannah picked out a dog with a black and pink polka dot dress and Payton picked out a bear with a Star Wars jedi outfit. They washed their bears, named them, clothed with and put them in their house to take them home. We spent some time walking around the mall since Savannah had some Birthday money; she had a great time picking out a couple shirts. My kids love it when they have money. We got some lunch and returned home. Our plans were to just have a quiet evening ordering in pizza and having cake and ice cream. Savannah had one of her friends arrive at the door to wish her Happy Birthday and she wanted to stay for Pizza. Payton also had a friend that showed up at the door and wanted to stay. Savannah and her friend had decided to put on a show for us and they had set up chairs and had dimmed the lights and wanted us to come and watch. They were cracking Chad and I up, they were singing and dancing around. Next thing you know, we have Payton and his friend Conrad coming in. They wanted to join in the fun. All four of them were dancing, singing, and pretending to play guitar. It turned out to be the best night. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. I love how kids can make you get lost in the moment and how carefree they are. It was a great evening and Savannah said this was the best Birthday she has had.

I can hardly believe that Savannah is 10. I distinctly remember the day that she was born. She was born in Logan, Utah on a snowy day. My water broke in the middle of the night and she came, just hours later. She was such a joy in our lives and still is. Savannah is a peacemaker and doesn’t want anyone to fight or argue around her. Savannah is really good to entertain herself. She is always trying to make different craft projects, from making pillows and blankets for her stuffed animals, to collecting different household items to make science projects. Savannah has become a great reader over the past year. Savannah is very smart and picks things up really fast. Every week I help her with her vocabulary words and we only have to go over them a couple times and she tells me, “I got it mom.” She has a great memory. Savannah is beautiful from the inside out. She is always worried about everyone’s feelings and wouldn’t ever say anything mean to anyone. Savannah loves to spend time with me going shopping and to lunch. She loves to have quality one on one time. Where have the years gone? It makes me a little sad to think that she is growing up so fast. Savannah has a lot of potential and I feel that she is going to do some great things when she grows up. I dearly love her and I am so proud of her for being such a great big sister to Payton throughout his cancer treatment ordeal. She is brave and has a lot of faith. I don’t know what I would do without her. I am so lucky to have two wonderful kids.

Savannah's 10th Birthday Party

Savannah decided for her Birthday Party that she wanted to invite a few close friends and go to her favorite restaurant Joe’s Pasta-N-Pizza. Savannah was so excited to spend an evening hanging out with her friends. They all arrived and I was really impressed with how polite and nice the kids were. At the last minute, Chad had to attend a mandatory meeting so Leslie volunteered to help out. The kids had a great time at dinner and we returned to our home for cookie cake and ice cream. I can hardly believe my oldest is turning 10 years old on Saturday. She is such a joy and is so much fun to be around. Savannah wants to celebrate Saturday by going to Build a Bear with her brother.

Every year I have the kids pick out a gift for their Dad for Christmas. I had been asking Payton for weeks what he wanted to get his Dad. Each time I would ask him I would get the same response, “Dad really wants a star wars light saber.” I ignored Payton and continued to ask him to think of something else. A couple days before Christmas I took Payton into Target and told him it was time to get Dad’s present. I went to the Clothing Department and started looking around at some shirts that Payton could get him. Next thing I notice, Payton is on the floor crying and telling me, “That is not what Dad wants for Christmas, he really wants a blue light saber, so that he can play Star Wars with me.” I realized at that moment that there is nothing that I could buy that would make Payton more excited to give his Dad, then a blue light saber. I told Payton to get up off the ground, that we would go look to see if they had a light saber. He immediately jumped up with a big grin on his face and said “Dad, is going to be so, so excited.” We walked back to the toy department and Payton found the perfect blue light saber for his Dad. Payton walked around the store while I finished with my shopping, swinging the light saber around and making funny noises (the noises that a light saber would make.) He helped me purchase it and wrapped it himself. Christmas morning came and I think that Chad’s face was just as lit up as Payton’s was. Chad knew how excited Payton was to give him this special gift.

Payton also wanted a light saber for Christmas from Santa. When we would ask him what he wanted, he would tell us, all I want is a red light saber. He was so excited that Santa brought him a red light saber for Christmas as well, so that he could play with his Dad. This will always be a Christmas that I will remember.

Another great week...

The kids did well going back to school this week. It was another beautiful week with temperatures in the upper 60’s. We spent a couple days at the park after school and I finally taught Payton how to ride his bike (with training wheels of course.) For some reason he has had a really hard time with balancing pedaling and steering. All it really took was for him to see his friend Conrad across the street riding his bike and he was determined to finally do it. Payton rode his bike to the park and it felt wonderful to get out and get some exercise.

Payton’s teacher Mrs. Beasley told him that he could bring one of toys from Christmas for show and tell on Friday. Payton had decided that he was going to take a couple of his Star Wars Figures and he could hardly wait for Friday to show the kids. My kids are at such great ages and are so much fun.

Savannah really loves her teacher this year as well. She has a phenomenal teacher, Mrs. Neal, which has really taught her to have a desire and love for reading. I have been really impressed with my kids’ teachers this year. Savannah is looking forward to her Birthday this week and will turn 10 this coming Saturday.

As for me, I spent the week packaging up the Christmas stuff to put back in the attic. Where does the time go? I can hardly believe that Christmas is over. I have been working on getting the house back in order and also lined up Payton’s 6 month Radiology and Clinic Appointments. He will have his scans on Thursday, March 10th and his Oncology Apt with Dr. Bowman will be Friday, March 11th. It has been a good productive week. We have enjoyed having Chad home during the evenings a little more since TCC is still out for Winter Break. It will be hard to get back into that routine again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We had a great Christmas and New Years. I have had so much fun spending time with the kids over the winter break. The first couple days of our break the weather was absolutely beautiful in the upper 70’s and low 80’s. We spent a couple days at the park, went to putt putt golf and let the kids ride go karts. We hit a couple movies, took Payton to the lego store in Dallas, had lunch together, but the best part, was that we got to spend some quality time together. We have had such a good time. It is going to be really hard to face the real world again tomorrow and get back into a routine. The kids are not thrilled about going back to school tomorrow.

This cold weather is returning. I was actually getting used to the warmer temps, even if it only lasted for a couple of days.

The kids are staying healthy except for Payton still has had his same persistent cough that he started in with several weeks ago. I decided to take him into his Pediatrician over the Winter Break and she said that he might have a mild case of asthma. Savannah has a mild case of asthma as well. Payton’s Pediatrician prescribed him some Singulair with an inhaler. We will see if the cough gets any better and if not, she will send us to get some x-rays done on his sinuses. There is never a dull moment with Payton.

We are looking into 2011 with much HOPE for a continued HEALTHY year.