Hospitals & Doctors & Nurses, Oh My!

Well Chase made it home from the hospital on Thursday! Yay! It was a nice weekend at home, it's hard to see him getting weaker but it's nice to know that in the long run all of this nasty stuff will only be for a short period of time. He had his first clinic visit yesterday, it was harder for me than him. He was so brave and so sweet as usual! I learned alot about clinic and the nurses there and will be much better prepared next week! Here are a few pictures of his stay last week... I will post the pictures from us getting home on Thursday in a few days, they are on another camera! The neighbors decorated the circle with balloons and put up a big sign on our garage, it was so sweet! Chase was so happy to see his baby, he just kissed her and kissed her and she just laughed and laughed! It's never been so nice to be home and have all my family under one roof!

And finally home with his baby!  What a great day!  More to come....

The Surprise Of Our Lives! (and NOT a good one)

Hey! I realize that I have been so horrible at updating our blog the past 6 months!! But that is about to change!! From now on it is my JOB to do this, also my therapy!
On Saturday, March 13 we took Chase into the ER at Primary Childrens Hospital because his back was hurting and it was making him walk a little funny. (9 days before this we had been up there because he couldn't move his neck & after a million tests, they sent us home)... We got to the ER about noon and since his blood work was fine a week earlier and his CT Scans were good I was convinced that it was nothing serious and that he had just fallen and hurt his back, he's a boy he gets hurt all the time. So they took X Rays of his back and hips, all were normal... Good - but what is the problem? So at 4:30 they finally put in an IV and took blood and put him on fluids. An hour later they came and told us that they were admitting us to Oncology because he had Leukemia..... SHOCK!! I couldn't believe it! My baby boy has Cancer! I wanted to throw up and break things and crawl in a whole and scream and cry... Nothing can prepare you for this, every parents worst nightmare! So in 9 days it presented itself... On the 4th his blood work was fine, a little anemic but fine and then on the 13th his blood work showed no question that he has Leukemia(Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL). So at Noon on Sunday, the 14th (just 24 hours after went to the ER to have them look at his hurt back) he went in for Surgery to have a PORT put in his chest (a permanent IV so that he doesn't need to get IV's in his hand all the time), they took Bone Marrow from his hip and he had an LP, a spinal tap to check his spinal fluid and then a shot of Chemo in his spine to go to his brain. Then on Monday he had a Chemo that is called Vinchristine that goes in his Port, he will get this every Monday for the next month. Also on Monday he started oral chemo twice a day which is basically very strong steroids, the side effects are "Roid Rage". Then yesterday he had a LAP shot in this thy muscle that was HUGE and BRUTAL!!! He is so brave! My LITTLE BIG HERO!! It's all happening so fast, no obvious warning but also no time to dwell on it, which is a blessing! We spent the week at the hospital and got to come home yesterday. We are very lucky that his treatment will be done as outpatient! We only have to go to Clinic on Mondays for the chemo in his PORT. Also on Mondays he will continue to get spinal taps with more chemo to the brain and bone marrow taken from his hip. If he needs fluids or more blood transfusions we will be able to do it there also. So barring any weird side effect or sicknesses we will be able to be at home! The bad news is that his treatment will take at least 3 years so this is our new "normal". The good news or the GREAT news is that ALL has a 95% cure rate! So he WILL be absolutely fine and cancer free but it will just take a while! There is no doubt in my mind that he will pull through this, he is so strong and so brave! Of all of my kids he is the most positive and go with the flow, I know he can do this! Besides it is really our only option! His hair will start falling out in the next few weeks so next Friday we are having a "Head Shaving Party", anyone that would like to join us is welcome to! My cousin Alysia does hair and she is bringing her clippers and clipping anyone that wants to help support Chaser! We are charging $5 a person and donating it to children's cancer research, we figure it is a fast, fun & easy way to support the cure! There are so many places my mind has taken me this week that I feel like I am a different person than I was 6 days ago. I've learned so much that I never wanted to know, ignorance was sooooo bliss for me. I follow so many blogs about sick kids and wonder where these parents find the strengh and how they do it everyday. And now I know that you don't even have to look for the strength, as Mommy's and Daddy's it is in our DNA... I wouldn't trade Chase for the world so I know that whatever kind of Hell we are facing I am ready for it, bring it on! We will do this and be that much stronger after words!!! There is no doubt in my mind that the pleasure of being his Mommy will be worth all the PAIN!!!! Pray for my little man and ALL of the kids that I met this week that are in the same boat or worse!! God Bless Everyone!

More Summer Fun!

Here is some more fun from the summer, just good times! Since the baby was born mid July, I didn't go on very many boating trips or even play outside with the boys very much. So I really don't even have a whole lot of picures! I feel like a horrible mom but I had soooo soooo much fun nesting with my baby girl! I loved every second of it!












Happy Blogging!

It's been a while!

Well, I have really been sucking at this but I'm back baby!!! I'm dying to share all of the fun we had this summer & fall... Colton finished preschool & played on a T-Ball team (hillarity ensued), Whit & Nick got married, Colton started kindergarden, Cimberly made my dreams of having a daughter come true and Chase finally got his hair cut!! And last but not least, Shawn Boy & I celebrated our 5th anniversary! Wahoooooo!! Here are a few things from the first part of the summer.... (with more to come).

Colton & Daddy driving the boat!

Chase's hair blowing in the Bama Breeze!

Chase & Cadence enjoy the view at Grandpa's Cabin

"Woa, look at the size of that Sail Boat!"
Just pondering life! (they are so cute)
They love eachother so much!
Colton's last day at the preschool! SAD!
Him with Miss Connie! His all time fav!
Mrs. Carlson
Shawn & Just (in there 'Life is Good' & 'Life is Crap' shirts, LOL)

Fun times on the Tramp!
Happy Birthday Whit! (Courtney makes the coolest cakes)
T Ball BABY!
Colton's # 6!

Every game was such a SHIT SHOW! But so fun & cute! I loved it!

Happy Blogging!

Isn't She Lovely

She is finally here!! On Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 1:58 pm, Cimberly Sue arrived!(pronounced Kimberly). She weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. & was 20 inches long. A little smaller than her brothers were! She is sooo sweet, just an easy baby like Chase was. I think that if I had another one like Colton I really would be fit for a straight jacket like my Dad says. Shawn and I are so excited to finally have a daughter and the boys are soooo in love with her it is the sweetest thing I've ever seen! Colton is so hyper he can't control his excitment, is anyone surprised by this? And Chase sort of blows my mind, he just turned 2 so I wasn't sure how he would react to her and he is the sweetest most gentle little boy with her!! I don't know how he knows but he just does! They can't stop kissing her, but neither can I!!! She is very kissable, I am totally rested, the first week I was waking her twice a night to feed her and now I let her wake up on her own, she gets up once between 2 and 3 and then sleeps until 7 or 8, CRAZY!! I can't believe how lucky I am on so many levels!! My family is complete and I feel so blessed that everyone is happy & healthy!! Thanks to all of you for your gifts & kind words! We love you all so much! Life is good!

Shawn, Jamie, Colton, Chase & Cimberly

_______________________________________________________

Our last photo as a Foursome!

With Maama SuzOur first Photo together With Aunt WhittyAfter her bath (BTW, she is Colton's Doppleganger) Chase is so sweet & gentle with her, he loves her! Our first photo as a fivesome (not the best!!)She has the big Hunter Head, none of the baby
hats fit her orange on a toothpick!

Me with my Babies! (I was a little rough the second day)
Colton is sooo Proud to be her BIG Brother!

Right after they brought her out, she was so awake!
Her first photo with Daddy!

Chase was a little freaked out by all of the crap they

had me hooked up to, he is so sweet!

Maama Connie with her first Granddaughter

Chaser & Maama Suzie

I really can't stand her!

Look at her cute socks that Aunt Whit made!

She is so sweet & good, we are so lucky! 2 cutest girls ever!! Cadence & Cimberly

Happy Blogging!

Holy Tolmans!

Just wanted to share this... It's my Mom's family... Immediate family! My Grandma (minus Grandpa), my mom's brothers and sisters (minus 2), all my cousins (minus 4) & the great grandkids (minus Cimberly, she was in my belly)... Like I said, Holy Tolmans! We know how to multiply!

______________________________________________

The Tolman's

The Grandkids (minus 4 of us)

The Great Grandkids(minus Cimberly, she was in my Belly)

My Mommy's Family

Me & My Grammy!

Happy Blogging & Family Makin!

Thanks Ladies!!

So, I suck at blogging lately!! It's been a while! But definately don't suck as bad as BRENDA!!!
So a few weeks ago Brenda came to town and my lovely ladies (also neighbors) Carrie, Amy, Becky & Brenda had a little "Baby Shower" for me. They took me to dinner and spoiled my little one with gifts, it was so fun! And then after dinner they took me to Target to get stocked up on maxi pads and all of that fun stuff that you need after giving birth!! They just make me laugh! I've never had friends take me to buy 100 maxi pads before, FUN!! I'm super excited to use them for 4 weeks!! Wahooo! So thanks again ladies for everything but mostly for being my friends and neighbors! You make me so happy!! I'm so lucky to know you gals!! I love you & Mmmmuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

Happy Bloggin' and Maxi Padin'!!