What a busy week it's been with graduations and honors day programs, but everyone is officially out of school.  Yippee!!!!  They are all so ready to enjoy the Summer. 

Yesterday we took all the kids to the Brain tumor Foundation for children's fishing event.  They had so much fun even though they didn't catch anything.  Nolan was extremely patient and worked on improving his casting.  Charlie was getting really good at threading the worms on the hooks...ewwwww....lol

Everything is going good.  Nolan seems to be improving a little bit everyday....He's still having some balance problems but it doesn't slow him down any.  The only problem we've had so far is I didn't realize etoposide needed to be refrigerated.  I just noticed the smell from it kept getting stronger and stronger.  It got to the point it would burn my nose and throat despite wearing a mask.  After last night I picked up the bottle and noticed it had stuff floating all in it.  It looked awful! After talking with the on call doctor we decided to stop the etoposide until Monday.  So I will have to make a trip Monday to get more etoposide mixed.  He also has a clinic appointment scheduled for Wednesday with IV chemo to follow.  Please pray for good blood counts.  Nolan's been looking a little pale lately...

Thank you for all the continued prayer and support...

Brittany

Kenzi and Rylea with their pony tails they are donating to make wigs for cancer patients.

The girls have been begging to do this for a while and just this past week we saw a girl in the clinic getting fitted for her wig.  She was having the best time trying on all the different colors and styles :-)

Just made my heart so happy to see her so happy! I knew then we were doing the right thing.  I talked with the lady that does the fitting and asked about the best programs to donate to and she told me to go with the Pantene Beautiful lengths program.  If you would like more info hers the link

http://www.pantene.com/en-US/beautiful-lengths-cause/pages/about-beautiful-lengths.aspx

Cure Childhood Cancer's Christmas Party

Nolan with the "right" family and the there was one kid (Luke) that would
NOT wear his Santa hat.  So he's a pirate...lol That's just his phase right now.

Rylea was "Mary" and Mason Martin was "baby Jesus"

Video of the short but very cute play

Awesome Cake!

The kids making their Ginger bread house

Luke putting some finishing touches on the house.

Nolan with one of the best volunteers!  She is at the clinic every
Wednesday to play with the kids.

Luke thought this part of the opera house looked like a pirate ship :-)

Nolan with his friend Jessie Claire

It's an Aflac duck Christmas tree.  Nolan said, "it's so awesome!"

New puppy

Back row: Santa Clause, Mackenzie and Beethoven
front row: Luke, Charlie, Rylea, Nolan and Simon

Mackenzie and her Christmas present Beethoven

Mackenzie and Rylea with Beethoven

                                                                  It's sideways but cute!

Beads Of Courage

Nolan always gets so excited every time he starts a new Beads of Courage necklace.  Usually I just post a picture and announce here goes another one...lol  This time Nolan not only wanted me to count and see how many beads he had but he wanted me to break it down and see how many he had of each color.  This takes a lot of time!!  It probably took me close to 2 hours to get everything completed. 

Orange beads are for line placements or removals (picc and ports) ----  8

glow in the dark beads are for radiation-----------------------------------30

Dark green beads are for TPN (IV nutrition)------------------------------83

Purple beads are for IV antibiotic infusions--------------------------------27

Red beads are for blood and platelet transfusions----------------------16

Blue beads are for clinic visits--------------------------------------------133

Aqua beads are for tube insertions(NJ,GJ & G tubes)-----------------19

Silver Beads are for dressing changes-------------------------------------19

Black beads are for every time he's poked with a needle--------------210

Tortoise beads are for lumbar punctures----------------------------------4

Star beads are for surgeries------------------------------------------------9

Light Green beads are for scan(x-ray, MRI and CT)---------------------78

Bumpy beads are for unexpected events-----------------------------------5

face bead is for hair loss-----------------------------------------------------4

Green Beads are for are for fevers and neutropenia----------------------10

Magenta is for ambulance rides and ER visits-----------------------------13

Square hearts are for PICU-----------------------------------------------4

Yellow beads are for overnights at the hospital------------------------90

White beads are for chemotherapy---------------------------------------208

Purple bead is for completion of treatment------------------------------1

Wingman, Courage beads, biopsies and other-------------------------75

Rainbow beads are for (PT,OT, Speech and audiology)--------------114

Nolan has had more therapy sessions then 114 but rainbow beads are hard to find. So I finally just settled for 3 a month to represent the 3 different therapies Nolan has to do every month.  He also gets a rainbow bead every time he gets his hearing tested.  He has had approximately close to 250 therapy sessions over two years.

total bead count = 1,160

I'm not the best at math and every time I count these I get a different number...lol  AND I'm using a calculator.  So I rounded the # that I got the most.

Nolan is very proud to say he has started his 13th necklace.  I'm just so glad he has something to look forward to in all this.  It really shows his story and what all he's been through.    Thank you Beads of Courage for being there for Nolan!!  www.beadsofcourage.org

                            The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

                               and he knoweth them that trust in him.   Nahum 1:7

                                          Nolan showing Coach Kenny his beads of Courage.  

             

                                                             


                                                                                
                                                            but those who hope in the LORD 

                                                   will renew their strength. 

                                            They will soar on wings like eagles; 

                                                  they will run and not grow weary, 

                                                  they will walk and not be faint.

                                                                Isaiah 40:31

                            We are so proud of you Nolan!   You truly are a miracle!!!

                                                                                     

I had to sneak up behind a chair to capture Simon singing.  He's trying to impersonate Chris Tomlin :o)

Nolan is continuing to do really well and is working with the homebound teacher now.  I think he's loving being at home a little too much...lol  He will go back for more chemo on November 2nd.


Brittany