Alex's Lemonade Stand

Alex Scott was a young girl who lost her battle with Neuroblastoma in 2004 at the age of 8.  When her cancer started regrowing in 2000, she started holding a lemonade stand to help raise money for local hospitals.  Her legacy continues with the help of her parents the whole nation.  This weekend was the 7th Annual Alex's Lemonade Stand at the Mall of America.  We were lucky enough to be a part of it last year and this year was just as amazing.  Sabrina gets to hang out with Mommy and Daddy all day and watch dancing and singing.  We know the stand raised about $10,000 for childhood cancer research in hopes that one day children will not need to suffer.  Jim and I think it is important for Sabrina to grow up knowing about her cancer and how she can make a difference.  Who knows...maybe she will grow up and help find a cure, if it is not yet known.

It was amazing to see how many people stopped by to see what Alex's Lemonade Stand is all about.  There were amazing dancers from a local dance company and that drew quite a crowd as well.  My own students raised $1506.00 throughout the year to donate at this event.  It was a great feeling to hand over that check...thank you CMS choir students.

                           The crowd at Mall of America!!

Sabrina on the big screen...this photo was taken minutes after we were told she had cancer.

Lakeville South students in attendance...some were musical performers.

    Sabrina was even able to sneak a little nap in during the day.

A Summer for Changes!

Normally when summer begins, we look forward to spending time as a family and resting before a new school year begins.  We will continue on with this normal plan, but we know in the fall things will be different.  

First, Aubrie will be beginning preschool...hard to believe, but she is ready.  Her speech/language therapy has helped so much in the past year.  She is almost caught up to most kids her age.  It is amazing how much she has grown in the past year.  A year ago at the age of 3, she would only say 2...maybe 3 words in a row, now we can't get her to be quiet.  We could only understand 40% of what she was saying and now we understand 95%.

Next, Ashlyn...she finished 1st grade!!  It was a very successful year.  She learned how to read, tell time, count coins, and of course how to love Justin Bieber (blah!).  She has many friends to keep her busy over the summer.  Ashlyn was sad for school to end.  We asked her how her teacher liked her card and Ashlyn burst into tears, "Don't say her name (the teacher), I am going to miss her!"  She continued to cry for hours...she must be her mother's daughter.  Nana took her out to buy her some hanging earrings since she can now wear them, but we don't own any...that made her happy.  She will be happy about 2nd grade in a month or so :)

Sabrina and Kadence won't have too much to change.  They will continue on at their same daycare and play with their same friends.  They will just become more independent as the summer progresses.

Jim and I have new jobs that will begin next fall.  We both lost our jobs in Lakeville due to budget cuts and we were worried about the future.  Somehow life worked out and we both accepted new jobs in the past week...in the same district.  We are looking forward to beginning this new path of life.  We will be able to keep the same daycare, and most importantly, our home :)  Jim will be working at Eagan High School (with one of his good friends) and then he will travel to Dakota Hills Middle School for a class or  two.  He is excited to work with these new students.  I will be working between two buildings.  I will teach all the choirs at Black Hawk Middle School in Eagan and then travel to Eastview High School in Apple Valley.  I am excited to grow a middle school program and I get a chance to work with high school women...something I think I will really enjoy.  It is hard to be an Apple Valley grad and now working at the rival school...oooh.  I will continue to work for Weight Watchers through the summer and hopefully will be able to get some evening or weekend hours during the school year.

We are hoping the transitions go smooth, but for now, it is time to enjoy summer.  Vacation Bible School starts next week, soccer continues for Ashlyn and Aubrie begins gymnastics.  

ALEX'S LEMONADE STAND PLUG...this Sunday at Mall of America.  11-4, dance, music, silent auction, and of course lemonade with donation (1 penny or more).  The goal is to raise $20,000 so we need lots of people to attend.  Come for a minute, stay for an hour...whatever you have time for.  We will be there all day with Sabrina and the other girls will come for a visit around noon or so.

2 Year Cancer Free!!

June 4th marked 2 years since Sabrina's tumor was removed.  We knew the risks of surgery on our 3 1/2 month old, but knew if the tumor was totally removed, no treatments were going to needed.  I remember sitting in the PICU with her the morning of surgery.  We had one of the pastors from our church come and pray with us over Sabrina.  Surgery was then moved back an hour or two...we waited while Sabrina was sedated and resting.  Jim and I were able to go down the hall with her and then we kissed her and said our "see you laters".  We went to the PICU family area to wait for news...it was a 3 1/2 hour surgery.  I was able to nap in a chair, but was awaken when one of the oncologists came in to update us about half way through.  She said Sabrina was doing well, but they were being cautious.  Every time they touched her tumor, her blood pressure and heart rate would go nuts.  The tumor was a sponge and every time it was handled and squeeze, hormone were emitted making her body react.  She said she saw the tumor and it was the size of a women's fist...showing us her fist.   I remember seeing the surgeon walk into the room and we knew it was over...but was the whole tumor removed, we didn't know.  We went into the hallway and received the news that the tumor was out and he was sure he got it all...tests would confirm that later on.  She was still in the OR having her bone marrow taken for a biopsy, but would be back soon.  We were so excited, but couldn't wait to see her.  We waited anxiously until we saw the crew wheeling her bed in.  We let them get her situated and then sat beside her knowing she was cancer free.  Her blood pressure was great, her heart rate was stable and she had only a bandage on to cover her incision...plus a drainage tube and an epidural.  After that, she healed quickly and was home 5 days later.

On this 2 year anniversary, Jim, Sabrina and I were able to be a part of the 1st Annual Lemon Run in Edina.  We couldn't think of a better way...raising money to help those children still battling cancer...or yet to be diagnosed.  The Hollway family, along with a few Edina seniors, put on a fabulous event.  Molly Hollway is a senior at Edina High School and is also a Neuroblastoma survivor.  She is a great role model for all children.  We enjoyed running the 2.2 mile course and had Sabrina along for the ride.  It was a beautiful day...it couldn't have been better.  Jim had a couple students come and participate as well.  It is great to look around a park and see so much yellow...the color of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.  We look forward to the lemonade stand next weekend.  Sabrina will grow up sharing this experience with everyone.

                              Molly, Sabrina and Megan

Crossing the finish line together...Sabrina wanted back in her stroller :)

Sabrina next to her sign....they were placed around the course in honor and memory of those children   who are fighting or have fought cancer.

What a fabulous day...we can't wait for next year's run!!!

Ashlyn is 7!

Ashlyn turned 7 on May 25th.  She was awaken that morning by her sisters singing "Happy Birthday".  Before getting out of bed, she exclaimed, "I feel taller!".  Within 20 minutes she was in tears, "I don't look 7."  Heading to school in her new dress seemed to help a little.  She brought cookies to share at school and when she arrived at school there was a birthday crown waiting for her.  She had a soccer game that evening and her grandparents were able to watch her while I stayed at home with a sick child.  Grandpa took her out for ice cream after her game...some fun bonding time.

On Friday the 27th, Ashlyn had a birthday party with a few friends.  She chose to have her party at a local pottery painting place.  Each child was able to choose a piece to paint...all the little girls were quite artistic.  Ashlyn wanted a Justin Bieber themed party so we had plates, VIP pass name tags and rock star cupcakes.  She received many wonderful gifts from her friends and is learning to share with her sisters.

We will celebrate with the family on Memorial Day.  Ashlyn wants an ice cream cake and she will choose where we eat as a family.  Jim and I are excited for her present...but it is a big secret, no one knows but us (well, I guess we told the little girls, but that is because we had to tell someone and we know they won't share).

Tomorrow, May 29th, also marks the anniversary of the day we first heard Sabrina had Neuroblastoma...cancer.  I remember thinking it wasn't possible, but we had to do anything possible to help our little girl.  She smiled and melted the hearts of many nurses.  If you look at Sabrina today, it is hard to believe she ever had a deadly tumor inside her body.  We are blessed every day and hope in the near future parents will no longer have to watch their children fight such a nasty disease.  Over the past two years we have crossed paths with many families with children fighting cancer.  Some children have beat this disease and have gone on to become great young adults, some others are still fighting, and sadly a large number of children have become angels.

Sabrina and Her Eyes

Well, since last November, Sabrina has been visiting an ophthalmologist.  We noticed one of her eyes would wander to the side.  It was diagnosed as Intermittent Exotropia.  We started out by patching her good eye 1 hour every day.  The patching helps re-train the "lazy" eye.  The brain starts to forget about it, but when the good eye is patched, it is forced to use the other eye.  We did this daily until January when we met with the doctor again.  In January, her eye would still wander, but he was happy with the amount of control she had over it...meaning her brain has not forgotten it.   He did notice her good eye would also wander when not in use...we were told both eyes wandering is better than only one.  We were able to slow down on patching and only patch when we see it wandering more than normal.

Once April came, we started noticing both eyes wandering.  We took some good photos and videos of her eyes...as frustrating as it is, it is so interesting and a little funny.  We knew she was due for an appointment in May so we decided to patch daily again and wait for the appointment in May.

 

Well it is now May and time for her appointment.  We made sure he knew our concern about her eyes and said we notice her eyes wandering about 60% of the time.  He checked her eyes out and also noticed a change.  Her eyes used to wander at an angle of 15 degrees or so and now it is 30 degrees...a pretty big change.   He was concerned and now if things don't improve, we may be looking at surgery.  Sabrina will be seen again on June 29th.  If her eyes improve than surgery will not be needed (at least for now).  The doctor does not like to do the surgery unless the eyes are consistently bad.  If her eyes are still wandering a fair amount and her angle is still around 30%, then we will move forward with whatever the next step will be.

Sabrina is a trooper and can handle whatever comes her way.  For some reason everything is happening to her...she has to grow up to work in the medical field some day.  She will know about oncology, ophthalmology, asthma/allergy, radiology, and pediatrics.

The End is Near

This week is a big week for our family.  First...and most important...Ashlyn turns 7 on Wednesday the 25th.  She is excited and wants a Justin Bieber themed birthday...yuck!  She will have a soccer game on her birthday and maybe we will head out for dessert afterwards, but she will celebrate with a few friends on Friday...painting pottery.

The other big events this week deal with Jim and I.  Due to budget cuts in our school district we have both lost our teaching jobs.  On Tuesday, May 24th we will both be directing our final concerts in Lakeville.  It is a bummer they land on the same day so we can't be there for each other.  I will try to make it to the end of Jim's concert when my concert is finished.  We are ready for our school year to be done, but sad that it is ending for good.  We are both looking for jobs, but school districts are beginning to post open jobs.  They will come :)

The girls are doing well.  Ashlyn is concentrating on her upcoming birthday.  She is playing soccer and we have found she makes a great goalie :)  Aubrie went to visit a preschool and she walked into a class, in progress, and sat in their circle and joined right in.  I think she will be ready for preschool in the fall.  It is hard to believe we have another child entering school.  Sabrina has become the family clown.  She does strange things and laughs at herself in the craziest laugh and looks at us until we join in laughing...quite the clown.  Kadence has been hit with allergies :(  We are pretty sure she has allergies.  My allergies kicked in the same day she started having a dry cough, clear runny nose, sneezing and itching her face...poor kid.  The nebulizer helps her cough so at least we know she can breath with ease.

Have a great week...the world didn't end tonight as was predicted so I guess we will keep moving on to bigger and better things.

Aubrie is 4!!!

Aubrie turned 4 on April 30th.  This is the first year she understood when her birthday was.  She knew when it turned April 1st, her birthday was near...too bad for her it is that last day of the month.  That made a very long April for her, but the day finally came.  Our family was very busy on the 30th with 3 musical productions between Ashlyn and Jim, Mommy worked, and the little girls needed to stay home for nap time.  Aubrie was able to get a personal size strawberry shortcake and she helped put candles in and she and Mommy had a mini party...just the two of them.   She wore a birthday shirt when she went to see Ashlyn's church production with a green tu-tu.  I will post a photo when I have some more time.

On May 1st, we celebrated as a family.  She wore her birthday shirt again and we went to lunch at Red Robin...a family favorite for birthdays.  Aubrie ordered spaghetti which she has been asking for recently.  The workers sang to her and brought some balloons. Then she got her birthday sundae!!  She ate one bite and said she was full...Ashlyn and Mommy took advantage of that situation :)   We went home and opened many wonderful presents and ate My Little Pony decorated cupcake cake with ice cream.  She had a wonderful birthday weekend!

On Tuesday, she had her 4 year old check up which included one shot...not a good birthday surprise.  Aubrie was pretty mad at Mommy for that, but by morning had forgotten about it.  We were impressed by how much she has grown.  She now weighs 39.4 lbs (about a 7 pound gain in 1 year), that puts her in the 80% for weight.  She grew 3.5 inches and is now 42.3 inches tall, which places her in the 93%.   She looks perfect in every way and we celebrate that!!

On a side note, Sabrina had a routine blood check down at Children's and those numbers were great.  One number went up, but is still in the normal range, so no worries.  It is nice to have the metanephrine and normetanephrine levels checked in between her scans...gives us some peace of mind that things are still good.