Suprise Washington!

So the next few days after Jackson's diagnoses, we were all feeling low. "All" meaning, me, my sisters, my parents, my nieces, my nephews, my children...ALL of us. Thursday, Holly called me. "Guess where I'm driving tomorrow?" she said. I knew. Washington. Holly's awesome.

I got a little more depressed. Stupid 1150 miles that separate me and my hometown! I called Trevor to pout. I'm good at that. Always have been. He was sympathetic, but busy so he said he'd call me later. 15 minutes later I got an email update on my phone. It was a flight itinerary to Washington! For the next day! I love my husband. Not because he secretly bought me a last minute flight to be with my sister and nephew, but because he knew my heart was aching and wanted to mend it. Serious Xbox points were scored, let me tell you.

After hurriedly arranging childcare (thank you Danielle and Mimi), and attending a Blue and Gold Banquet, I frantically packed and was off!

I won't lie, it was fun to surprise Becky and the kids. Becky knew Holly and her kids were coming but had no idea I was there. I like being on the giving end of those surprises.

That night, Courtney and I got a bee in our bonnets. This happens a lot to both of us. The difference is that when it happens to Courtney, she actually follows through with it. We decided to give Becky a room make-over. She already had bought herself some super cute bedding but hadn't had the time to repaint, hang curtains and generally put it all together. Enter Courtney.

I'm sure Becky, Holly and Mom didn't remember signing up for manual labor on their weekend, but such is life when the baby girls of the family take charge. We wanted to give her a soft place to land, a sanctuary to retreat to in the stressful months ahead. I hope she liked the outcome. I did. I came home and redid my own room. This trip cost Trevor more than he ever could have imagined!

I was also bossy enough to insist on taking pictures of the kids. They know better than to deny my wishes.



~Cougar Man was a stud model. But more excited than anyone else when his turn was over!~


~My sweet Zoe, a kindred 4th child.~


~Sierra...who is all of the sudden old and even more beautiful than before.~


~Baby Anistynn.~


~The lovely Sydney.~

Hanging with my Jackson was especially entertaining. He tapped into his comedic side during the weekend. When Carter wanted Jax to push him around the gym, Jax said, "I can't. I have brain cancer." While I was cutting into the cheesecake, Jackson asked if he could have the 1/4 sized portion I had just cut. When I laughed and rejected him, he said, "But Aunt Brenda, I have brain cancer." I think I heard that phrase at least 4 times.



Goodbyes aren't ever fun and this one was especially hard. Becky and I both teared up in the middle of Target as mom and I got ready to go to the airport (Becky started it). I hate not being there for my sister, and so I'm incredibly grateful that I got to go. And if all else fails, I can look at this little mug and smile.



Jackson starts Chemo today and my thoughts are of them and my heart is so full. I texted him this morning and told him that I love his guts. He said, "That's weird, but understandable". I love that boy.

Valentine's Day + Bad News

Valentine's day (sigh) I usually love it. I get a prize and I buy my lovies prizes. We have a nice dinner together and Trevor and I teach them all about etiquette. Not this year. I was already feeling funky that day for no particular reason. I was just going through the motions, dropping of my babies at school with their awesome homemade valentines, cleaning up all of Will's messes at home, picking up Abby, taking her to dance, walking with my bestie, driving home, fixing lunch, showering and then I went to pick up the big boys.

That's when the bomb dropped. I got a text from my eldest (and wisest) sister, Rebecky. "Histio strikes again. New lesions in skull and pons-thickened pit stalk too. Will let u know more when we can. Dr. McClain (miracle Dr. from Texas) recommending higher doses of chemo-maybe even inpatient doses. Trying to learn if there r areas that can be safely biopsied right now". To which I replied, (aloud and via text) "Shit". To which she replied "Double shit". UGH! Again they have to go through this and much more aggressively too.

Well, I wanted to roll up in a ball and sob, so I called my honey instead and cried. Then I called my mom and we both cried. Then my sister Heather, but I think, by then, I was all cried out and I was just mad.

Then Trevor came home early and brought me this...

Oh, how I love him! I love that he was trying to heal my broken heart. It almost worked.

Then Trevor's mom came over and brought us this...

The kids were thrilled with their McDonald's gift certificates. I was thrilled with the sugar. Either way, it was such a sweet gesture and we loved it! She even help us clean up the mess we made when Trevor dropped my crystal vase (the first Christmas present he ever game me... SOB)!

Mimi's gift cards inspired us and Valentine's dinner was at Mickey D's. We gathered the kids around the table and read scriptures while they ate their Chicken Bites. We also told them that Jackson's evil Histio was back and that their family really need our prayers, ALL our prayers right now. Then Trevor gave our family prayer, and he cried, which made me cry again, and it's making me cry again remembering him crying (BTW it was a manly cry, not girly hysterics like me).

We put the kids down and ran to Panera for Valentine's Day soup and sandwiches. I would love to say we talked and had a decent time, but instead I was still texting my mom and sisters and even talking to Becky. She is amazing. She is so strong. I am constantly in awe of her. She even worked today. I didn't even want to get out of bed. Healthy no?

~Jackson with the Bro's-in-law over Christmas.~

Time will tell what the newest plan of action will be. Until then, prayers are all we can give to help. That fact alone set me off yesterday. I was so angry that I was so far away, not that I could really be of any help if I was there, but still. I wish I could run by Subway and get her a Diet Coke or make her one of my inedible meals. Instead, I'm here, blogging about it and frankly begging for your prayers on this special guys behalf. No 16 year old or his parents or his siblings should have to go through this three times!

To learn more about this rare condition go here, or here.