Sept 22, Sierra's 14th Birthday

Stacy here.  My turn to write on the blog is way over due.  Jason always does such a great job, that I have nothing to add. 

He was out with all 5 kids and Axelrod changing pipe this morning, so I found myself with some alone time (awkward I know).  We have had a busy week of just living.  Monday I am working as the school nurse for North Powder school.  I really enjoy that, it puts me at the school with all my kids.  I also work at the hospital in OB on Wednesday nights.  I enjoy that as well.

Gage started preschool this week.  He goes to school Tuesday thru Thursday from 8:00-11:00.  He loves riding the bus with his older siblings.  He was really upset with me the first day of school because he couldn't ride the bus home.  All in all he has adjusted very quickly and easily.  He has had to get used to moving at a different pace in the mornings.

Wednesday, Sierra was able to get her braces off.  She was very excited about that.  She had them on a little longer than she needed to, because of our year in California.  It was a little tricky getting her to the orthodontist every 5 weeks.  We celebrated by having corn on the cob for dinner.  Her orthodontist gave her a bag of candy that was off limits while she was wearing braces. 

Friday was her birthday.  She had an appointment to get her retainer.  Afterwards, Aunt Garrity, Megan, Lindsey, Sierra and I went out for a manicure.  They didn't quite hold up to Sondra's standards, but it was fun anyway.  We celebrated with a birthday party that night.  She had a couple of her friends from school over and relatives.  It was quite the party.  They ended the evening with night games.

Megan and Sierra had a volleyball tournament in Enterprise.  They both won their games and were really excited about that.

On a more serious note, I was downloading a bunch of pictures from June-August of this year.  As the computer downloads them they flash quickly in the download box.  It was a precious moment for me.  It was a quick recap of our summer and it hit me so strong of how very blessed we are.  We are loving being home and dealing with the "normal" challenges of life (friends liking you or not, kids to play with you, how to handle bullies, etc.).  I would say that we have a life of very good memories so far and we are grateful for every day we have to make more!!

Sierra just after getting her braces off.

Getting her nails done for her birthday.

Her birthday breakfast of German pancakes.

Her birthday cake.

Hunter and Range helping her finish blowing out the candles.

Roper really excited for Sierra to open her presents.  They were waiting to go out and play night games when she finished.

Sierra's friends Lauren and Hunter at the end of the bar in the grey.

 Gage heading off to school.

 With Sierra on the run....

And there he goes with his camo pants

Sept 16, Mom's arm, Parvo, and the Deer Camp Meeting

Couple of crazy events. Kids are still doing great. Lindsey's swelling is going down...a little. Gage's appetite comes and goes. School is in session. Megan and Sierra are playing volleyball. Signed Lindsey up for 3-6th grade basketball starting in November. Gage loves to be and dress in 'cowboy'.  He has a cowboy shirt, pants, boots, belt, chaps, and vest. Then he head out to see Grandma or go show Range. He's a pretty cute little guy.

Now for the crazy events. My mom was kicked by a horse last week and broke her right arm slightly above the elbow. They took her to Boise for surgery to pin it back together. She was in a lot of pain, but is doing much better now. Horse is still around. In the horses defense, it was not an intentional kick; Mom was letting the horses out to pasture and they were kicking as they were running out the gate. At least that is the story Mom tells.  The horse (Pepsi) stays because Mom's vote is the only vote that counts.  Mom is doing great and seems to be healing well.

Axelrod has been properly initiated into the Bingham family. Last Monday he came down with parvo, some weird dog virus. Loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness, all the stuff our family is sensitive to. So of course he goes to the doggy hospital, blood tests, spends a few days on IV's and now he is good.  I guess to be apart of the Bingham Clan, you need a few days in the hospital on IV!

Last of all, last night we had our annual deer hunt meeting. This is a big deal to our family and extended family. The deer hunt is in 2 weeks and kids that are over 8 years old can go. So this year we have (no joke) 7 adults and 12 kids going. And here is the funny part, only Nick has a deer tag. No one else drew out this year. So really it turns into a big fun camp out with kids, with a little hunting on the side. But oh how the kids are excited.

That's it for now, Sierra and I head back to Calif the first week of October and all of them go back the first week of November.

Have a great week, till next time
Jason

The Big Dogs at the deer camp meeting

 Sierra in the Cove volleyball game.

 

Sept 8, School is in session

First week of school is in the book.  Pictures are taken and the schedule has started.

On Friday, Sierra and Stacy made a quick trip to Calif for IVIG. They took an Angel Flight on Friday morning, had clinic with Nancy that afternoon, and started the IV at around 9:00 pm. Finished the IV around 10 on Saturday. Then caught a flight back at noon. Thank you Angel Flight!  Sierra is doing well, but her weight is a little down, (grrr). Stacy and I think it is still affects from the prior rejection and increased meds (hopefully). Like I have said in months past, that little demon just sits there on my shoulder.  I ignore him for the most part, but he is always there.  It doesn't take much for him to start whispering in my ear. But for now, we are good.

The Butterfields from Enterprise came over for Sunday dinner. Very nice family. They are wanting to do a school project involving our family and organ donation. Hope we can help.
 

Uncle Josh, Tara, and the boys were here for part of the weekend. Fun to have them here.

Yah, that's Lindsey catching some big air with the help of Uncle Josh.

We had a BBQ Sunday afternoon with all the cousin here. Last we counted we had around 25 kids on or around the trampolines. We played a few night games and it was crazy.

1st Day of school. There was excitement in the air.

Megan is right where she wants to be.

The Calif coaches did a great job preparing her. Thanks Kevin.

Megan went on a 8 point serving streak. Fun to watch.

Hunter with some of his favorite cousins, Landen, and Ryan.

Still doing great.  She has had to deal with a few comments from school about her cheeks. She really wants them to go away. We helped her with how to cope with little kid comments. If it was me, it would be a back hand!  But she is doing good. Swelling not gone yet, but is going down.  We were comparing her cheeks to late May and it seems to be tailing off.  Her next biopsy isn't until November.  The debate is on, awake or asleep?

She is growing up way to fast!

 

Sept 1, The last week

Last week of a great summer vacation. School starts on Tuesday. Kids are excited and we are ready to start the schedule. Sierra and Megan have had volleyball practice this week, both really enjoying it.  First game is Saturday in North Powder.

Finally heard back from Calif regarding the direction they want to go with Sierra's treatment. If you recall, Sierra received really good results from her last biopsy and test results. So we are been waiting to see if they want to back off on the 12 hour IVIG treatments, increased meds, and tests.  The answer is 'not yet'. They want to continue the same regiment for 3 months then retest everything again in November. They don't want to make big adjustments based on one set of test results. If she is still good in November, then they will consider adjusting meds and the frequency of the IVIG treatments.  Honestly, Stacy and I are not surprised or disappointed, we would much rather make a few more trips to Calif for treatments than start that antibody rejection, higher meds, and that stinkin' plasmapherisis business all over again.  So next week and next month, only Stacy and Sierra will be heading back to Calif for IVIG and checkups (meaning she will miss her first volleyball game).  Gage and Lindsey doesn't have to go back until November.  That seems kinda weird to me. I imagine Lindsey will have her turn of rejection issues, but not yet...

In other news....took the church youth on a temple trip to Boise. It was Megan's first time going to the temple. We had 4 girls and 7 boys, it was a great experience for them.  After the temple we did the Chuck-a-rama and Wahooz go-karts.  The kids really had a good time.

 The Baker Valley youth, Quin, Logan, Brandon, Isaiah, Ben, Micah, Dwain,

Sara, Emily, Sierra, and Megan

Waiting at Chuck-a-rama

Gage-a-real-eous found my old cowboy outfit from when I was a kid. He had to put it on to help Uncle Seth with the horses.

 

 The Williams crew combining the wheat. It was a good crop this year.