I'm blogging from eastern Washington state tonight. I've been here since Wednesday evening. My older sister, LaVanita, has breast cancer and I came to be with her for her first 2 chemo treatments. My Mom and younger sister Voyla will drive up here next Saturday, and my Mom will stay til after chemo, surgery, and radiation.
Everywhere we go - the grocery store, restaurant, doctor appointments - people comment on how much we look alike. Voyla and I get it sometimes (we both live in Utah), but nothing like LaVanita and I get. She is at least 4-5" shorter than me, and has more reddish hair. We even sound alike! When we were children, people often thought we were twins. We're 2 years apart, but she was always small, so we were very close to the same size until high school.
The first chemo treatment was scary, and even after attending "Chemo Education," we weren't sure what to expect. We each packed enough books, magazines and projects to fill several weeks, even though we were only going to be there 4-5 hours. We did almost nothing. It would seem that putting such powerful chemicals into a body would be much more dramatic. . . but there was no music of doom, no solemn march, or soap opra music. Just the click of IV machines and low tones of the nursing staff. Every single medication was accompanied by simple, direct explanations by the nurses. For the final 2 infusions, the nurse gowned up and wore protective eyewear; she injected the IV tubing manually with a clear red and deadly potion. Each dose is double calculated for patient surface area (a combo of height and weight) and a pair of nurses double check each other. LaVanita has a port in her chest, for ease of infusion. She felt nothing. This did not stop us from eating baked beans and hush puppies from Miz Dee's BBQ. After all, they only have hush puppies on Fridays. We couldn't afford to miss it.
So, here we are, almost 72 hours later and all she is feeling - and has felt - is a tiredness and some aching. Rumor has it that nausea sets in at about the 72 hour point. We are waiting, and hoping that she will be one of the "lucky" ones who doesn't have the violent reactions. It's hard to feel lucky when you have lost your husband to a sudden stroke 3 years ago, and now have Stage III breast cancer. And you are only 57.
LaVanita's daughter Punkin and her granddaughter Belly came Friday night from Seattle. We talked and visited and caught up on everything. We keep up through her mom but it feels good to connect, even if it is only at the dramatic points of our lives. LaVanita's son, Popeye, will be here in the early morning hours for a quick 24 hour visit. He also lives in Seattle.
I know we look old on the outside, but I still feel like a kid, giggling and talking into the night, long after we should be asleep. It is hard to believe that we are the grandparents and commiserating about hot flashes and aching joints, and bragging about grandchildren.
But wait! There is more news! In Utah, Sarah was quite ill this morning and had contractions. She went to the hospital, where they did blood tests, gave her fluids, monitored her for awhile and then sent her home. Unfortunately, this evening she was running a temperature. She is almost 37 weeks (see baby ticker), so the baby is nealry full-term. Her projected delivery date is June 30; actual due date of July 7. Thanks Kate, Jenn and Dan for pitching in today, and tomorrow for Sarah's regular OB appointment. Meanwhile, Mel is in Idaho with his dad and sister. Grandpa is 91 and on home hospice. Not five minutes after talking to Sarah, Mel called and said his dad had had a small stroke. Tonight, he seems to be mostly recovered from any lingering effects.
In other news: After making a defiant stand at work for Family Medical Leave to come to Yakima, I found out AT THE AIRPORT that I wasn't actually covered at all under FML for a sibling. Oh well. For now, I'm going to do my Scarlett O'Hara thing and "think about it tomorrow." Or next week.
Note the cute Grammy Jammies from Grammy R.
(looking east from Dad's grave)
That was Goat's first Sunday in the Nursery, too. I tried to stay in there with her (I was SURE she'd need me), but the teacher wouldn't let me stay! I wanted to protest, but the Goat did great without me. *sigh* She was the tiniest one in there, and had to be convinced to leave the bubbles when it was time to go home. 
The Goat is so sweet to stay in her stroller for the entire game.
Goon loves to play on the sidelines, throwing the ball to his dad.
Bay up at bat!
I went to Bailey's school to eat lunch with her. I took a Happy Meal (per her request) and she had a special dessert. I am amazed at the LACK of chaos while the kindergarteners eat lunch.
Note how bare the tree is. This was taken April 10. We've had about 4" more snow since then.
Here she is pointing (with chalk) to the front porch of the house. She had just rung the doorbell - you can't quite see it, but it's above the painted flower. The door is missing because we hadn't latched it the week before when we went inside. We had a big windstorm, and the door blew off. Papa has it in the garage while he repairs it. 
These are plastic insets - similar to window boxes. The yellow one is for digging for bones - I do believe I posted pictures of the ones I've been collecting all winter for such a purpose. The blue one is for "swimming." Maybe we can get some plastic fish to make it a koi pond. I will be adding a plastic wading pool to the area. That is, if it ever gets warm.
The red curtains are dual purpose: it is also a puppet theater! On the far side, there's a chalkboard marquee to advertise your production. Two puppets came with the house. Also note the basketball hoop above the window.
This is the most frequent visitor to Guggie's playhouse. Note the "Big Sister" shirt. Since Sarah is now obviously pregnant, I thought she could have it for Easter. We sit next to each other in our lawn chairs and blow bubbles while wearing our sunglasses. Hers are Dora, from Target. Mine are not. We mention this everytime we wear them.
On April 2, Jenn turned 24. We celebrated by going for Korean food - even Grandpa liked it. Instead of a birthday cake, she wanted lemon meringue pie. Jenn blew out the candles once, Laura 3 or 4 times. Happy to You, Jenn!
We were tending Laura a couple of days ago. She reached into the drawer and fished out all the plastic and some baby utensils. (She isn't actually tall enough to see into the drawer) She then proceeded to make "locks" for our cupboards. We have never had to use this method for her, as we have locks installed inside the cabinets. This was her idea -- locking doors is her favorite thing to do. Just ask Sarah about the garage!
I am tired of cold, snowy, overcast days.
I broke (?) my ankle back in the fall, although it had been hurting for several months. I wore a boot for about 6 weeks, but it didn't help much and I didn't pursue it after I was done with the boot in December. It still really hurt, so I went to the podiatrist in early March. The xray showed a much worse break, with soft tissue that had formed around it, and encapsulated it. I was sent for an MRI which showed a torn/ruptured tendon. I went to the Dr. on Thursday afternoon, and was operated on the next Wednesday, March 17. Once he opened my ankle, he found TWO ruptured tendons, one completely separated by a couple of inches, and another about 2/3 ruptured. He repaired them - one with a "jacket" to help it heal-- and scooped out the tissue surrounding the fracture. I ended up missing 8 days of work, and working partial days when I first went back. This cast will be on until at least April 20 (although if it doesn't come off by then, I will need a straight jacket for myself).
This is the view from the hall way as you enter the sewing/office/scrapbooking room.
It's bad. Really bad. So far, I have carried out over 5 big trashbags to give away; and probably 2 of trash.
You can see how high it is in comparison to a truck, and a car.
We lose parking spots all over campus for piles of snow, so every weekend, a truck comes and carries some of it away.
At least it's sunny - but you can tell it's still really cold as the snow is NOT melting. 
While posting these, I realized I was right up against the mountain and could've taken gorgeous pictures if I'd turned halfway around. Instead, I felt the need to prove I am right. 
Using your zipper foot and a size 16 or 18 jeans needle, make a tuck above the hem in the jeans.
This is what it looks like when you are done - notice original hem still intact. After trying on AGAIN (measure twice, cut once), I trim the seam, zigzag over it, put fray check on the edge of the seam. Press what remains UP.
Voila! You have jeans the correct length, but still have that factory finish that you can never duplicate at home. I read abouit this technique somewhere -- it's how professional tailors hem jeans. 
Note his hat. On the right is Daniel blowing Grandma Wilcox's driveway.
You couldn't tell the street from the yard. 
Brody and I got there first. That is a very spooky looking pirate in the background. 
Handsome Scallywag
Brody playing a game -- he wasn't all that interested in them. 
We knew it would be hard for the kids to leave, so we made up a song (sung to "Once There Was A Snowman")
Brody and Daniel (note cat peeking out from under Dan's blanket).
Brody got his own camera!
Can't decide what to open first!
Tessa and Grandpa all snuggled up, watching the festivities.
