2010

Look at how much his hair has grown in the last month! I can't Believe it.

In this last month Bridger’s hair has really come in. It is getting thicker and longer. One day he said “My hair sure is coming in…and it doesn’t come out any more”. He is continuing to do great he is sort of getting used to the new schedule or maybe I am just getting used to the phrase “I don’t want to do my school lessons today”

He did get a rash on his face last week but I think it is just from being dry. He doesn’t have to go to the Dr. until the 10th of Feb. We the test results are back by then. Below are some shots we took with our new camera!


Smile for the camera


My handsome boys





Bridger loves his new toys, and his dog Chester!


Happy New Year



Bridger playing with glow sticks. On Sunday nights even though it may not be the most reverent game we have Sock wars. We save all our miss matched socks just for this game. We role the socks up and then run around hitting each other with them there is no order and no point but we always laugh a lot. And have to shake off a few accidental hits to the head. Tonight however we added a twist by turning off all the lights and wearing glow sticks around our heads. Too mucuh fun!!!

Bridger has always enjoyed his little cars and air planes more than sports. Today was a turning point. It was beautiful outside so we were blowing bubbles. After an hour of that we started to play some badminton. For the first time Bridger actually dove for the ball (birdie) and he hit it! He also got a real grass stain. We were so excited over both him hitting it and the grass stain we cheered for both. Bridger joined in and said “hurray I got a grass stain” It may seam an odd thing to be celebrating about. But the fact that he is out side wanting to run and dive for a ball is such a big step for him. He was having so much fun he kept diving for it over and over again. As I look at the stain on his jeans I am not sure how to get it out because I have never had to worry about it before. But like the wood sing on my laundry room wall says “There is always something to be thankful for."

We made another quick trip to Houston last Thursday. We made great time and had a fairly short appointment. We left the house by 6 am and where back home by 7pm. The appointment went great. Bridger continues to gain weight and grow. We got great news that we don’t have to go back for THREE weeks! Watch out everyone we just took our first big sigh of relief. When we got home that night Bridger said “I am so happy we don’t have to go back for three weeks”, I agreed. Then first thing in the morning he woke up out of bed and walking down the hallway he said “Mom it was so nice of the Dr to let us come home for three weeks”. It is definitely on his mind. They made it sound like they will take out his central line when we go back or shortly after. Things are moving in such a positive direction we feel very blessed.

The other day we ran out of bread. I only had hamburger buns to make Bridger his signature “triangle” sandwich which is made of peanut butter and honey with the bread cut in to four small triangles. He was in dyer need of a triangle sandwich and relented to use the buns with a strong suggestion of slicing the top half of the bun in half the long way “to make the bread last longer”. He went in to the other room and thirty seconds later I heard “how’s my sandwich coming in their?” Later he was trying to convince me that it was time for me to let him play video games and said “mom I really insist”. What a funny boy.

We drove down to Houston Thursday afternoon we had to be there by 5:30 to pick up some supplies form the home health company. We made it by 6:00 luckily our friends at the office picked up the package for us. We stayed the night in the trailer and my worst fear happened. We ran out of propane again in the middle of the night. It was freezing with all the crazy weather and all. The wind was blowing pretty hard which caused the trailer to rock and the trees to hit against it all night long. Needless to say I saw every hour on the clock and probably would have gotten more sleep had I stayed home. On Friday Bridger was seen by the ophthalmologist and his regular Dr. Everything is still about the same. I was glad the swelling of his optic nerve hadn’t gotten worse the Dr. wan not happy that it was still their. Because he is not having any symptoms they will just watch him. He also had slightly elevated liver enzymes. This could be from a virus or a med. So we have to go back next Thursday to make sure they are back to normal again. He also went down again on donor cell % he now has 3% male cells. I pray this number doesn’t increase. They are also performing a test that will cheek to see how his white blood cells are working, if they are doing their job and how well. Other than that he is doing great. He was very said to have to go back. I think I forgot to prep him that being home didn’t mean we wouldn’t ever go back. We are just so glad to be home that I forgot to stress the need for frequent visits. I don’t know maybe it will always be tough for him. It’s not like we are taking a vacation once a week. Anyone have suggestions on some good books on CD that we could enjoy on our long drives?

Happy New Year! We have a new year, a new schedule, and new goals. We have been very busy getting into our new routine. The good new is that this routine includes being HOME. We will be driving once a week to Houston for visits. Even better news is that this may change fairly soon, and then we will only be going down every two weeks. Bridger is doing great and continues to get stronger every day. He only takes three different medications now. At his last visit we found he had gained weight and grew taller. He still deals with dry itchy eyes and having the central line in place. He is not sure he wants them to take out the line because he doesn’t want to get pokes. We will have to way in on the risks of infection to help decide when to take it out. We are all so happy to be home and together. We enjoy every minute. I have started Bridger on a home school schedule which keeps me busier than him with all the prep time and what not. Anyone who has any great ideas, I am open to them. We have started out with two hours a day of school work, activities and so forth and hope he gets used to being on a set schedule that does NOT include video games or TV. We have many goals for this year, some big and some small. Here is a few;

Bridger - Learn sign language. We suggested riding his bike without training wheels.

JanaLee - Become a runner instead of a jogger. Start and finish a sprint triathlon. Build our nonprofit organization that will help other children and their families here in Dallas at the Children’s Medical Center as they seek medical treatment and receive bone marrow transplants.

Blake - To be home from work by 5:00 every night ...ok ...ok that was my wishful thinking. Blake isn’t here right now but I know one of his goals among many is to start riding his bike more frequently (it helps with his disease).

Chester (our dog) - Not to bark so much. We hope he is an over achiever.

This past year, as many of you know, has been one of great trial for our family. But with the trials has come a greater understanding and an appreciation of God’s love. We have received more blessing this past year than ever before. We have been enriched by those near and far who have shared their love, support and care for us. Thanks to you all. May you have a wonderful new year.