He really is doing fantastic with a few glitches if you would call them that. 

He did really well after his Cytoxan for about a month and right around the holidays his little body decided to start spilling protein again. 

His doctor happened to be the one on call so I was able to stay in contact with him on a daily basis, giving updates, and discussing options.  Thankfully the doctor took a leap of courage and let me just watch him for a few days in hopes of his protein levels going down and low and behold with some intervention from on high his levels have been dropping. 

He has been spilling for a couple of weeks now, but there is no swelling or at least not a lot as of yet so we are good to just keep monitoring him.  

He was also lucky to experience a fracture in his foot so the little man is wearing a cast shoe for a few weeks.  He has to miss a few basketball games, but that is really his only limit.  He thought it was really cool for the first day and I think the newness and excitement of something broken is beginning to wear off.    

It was a fun day.  My parents were in town and were able to participate in our many festivities.

On the kids birthdays they get to pick the meals for the day so we started the day with a breakfast of pumpkin squares.  I took Aly to the mall a few days before her birthday and she was able to pick out all of her "presents".  I decided a few years ago that it was a waste of time to try to find things she liked and then spend more time returning them all.

We headed over to a local favorite "Mo Bedah" for some Hawaiian delight and then proceeded to the Division of Licensing where she barely got her permit!

We ended the day with some sweet meatballs, rice and broccoli (yes she picked a vegetable) as well as a few friends and Oreo pie.

Aly is a beautiful girl both on the inside and the outside with many talents.  I truly believe through watching her that when you utilize your talents you will be blessed with many more.  We love you Aly.

She got an American Girl doll for her birthday.  We figured since we “never buy them for her because they are too expensive and only Santa will bring them to her” we would get her one this year!

I know, I know it’s so much money for a doll, but she just adores them and takes really good care of them.  I just can’t help myself!

She also chose to be baptized as well and was able to be baptized on the same day as her cousin, Ella.  It was a wonderful day full of love, family, and fun.

Hard to believe our baby is “8″!

Anyway, I think patience is something I am going to be trying to learn my whole life.

Justin’s appointment went fairly well yesterday up until they checked his urine screen. He is on a strict water intake regimen for the next three months as there was blood and protein found this time. The doctor informed me that he will worry about the blood and the only thing I need to worry about is the protein. He said we will do nothing but the water regimen for the next three months and we will go from there.

I am learning in life that nothing comes as fast as we would like it to. I am trying to remember that if we are patient and learn from the journey, we will be able to find blessings that come from trials and become better people from the things we learn.

Every year my parents, sisters and brother and their families get together and have a Gingerbread House Showdown!  We live too far away and we haven’t been able to participate, but this year some of the kids really wanted to decorate one and so the journey began.

I think next year I may try to make the gingerbread myself so each of the kids can decorate their own.  Maybe we can have a little showdown of our own.  It seems like when you get going your creative juices start flowing and everyone has their own ideas of what should go where.

It was a “sweet” Family Home Evening for sure!

We were honored to be able to head to Wellsville for a nice dinner and some fun games.

I only wish I could have gotten some pictures of game time.  Four the boys played Four-Man Chess (my least favorite tradition) while the rest of the gang played a great game of “Curses” (great family/friend game).

Thanks to Travis and Helene for hosting this year.  Looks like I’m up again for next!

His protein count has been steady at “trace” for almost a full week and although I would prefer “negative” – I’ll take it.

Thank you for all the prayers in his behalf!

I love when they get creative and most of all I love to hear the laughter that comes from it all.

I do however have a few from my childhood and one happens to be the beautiful, scrumptious aroma of

COOKIES!

I remember walking in the door from school and smelling cookies in the oven. It seemed to melt all my “problems” away and put anyone in a good mood. My mom was always in the kitchen as well and greeted me with a hug and hello.

I have tried to keep that up as a mom, but I just can’t seem to figure out how to keep the cookie dough out of my mouth. I used to make cookies at least twice per week, but I just don’t have any self control so I had to cut way back.

Today I decided to jump back in and bake up those cookies and oh how I have missed them.

Behind the scenes he helps me in my crazy endeavors that are usually extreme, spontaneous, and not completely thought out

Faithfully he serves our Heavenly Father in all that is required of him

Diligently he provides for our family and our many needs

Happily he listens to many stories that unfold throughout our family’s day

Encouragingly he watches sporting events and chauffeurs us back and forth across the valley

Patiently he waits for me on my roller coasters of emotion

And most importantly, lovingly he makes me feel like I am his queen and am the most important thing in his world.

I love you.