First, we're going to put this here, and I can't believe I forgot it last week. Guess who this is? Guess if we love Carlie's artwork, but especially if she draws someone we know and love. =)
Next, we're going to give you this from last Sunday night. Only because I don't think you've had the privilege of seeing Sterling at his finest, and we really don't want you to miss out on any of the fun. You're welcome! And in case you're wondering, he's not teasing this mouse.
Monday morning at SIX, Derek met for camp. Bless these leaders for taking this giant group of boys and making a fun, productive week of activities for them!!!
To squeeze in a birthday party before Connor's friend Walker left the country, Jeff took Connor and his friends to Boondocks. Only 3 boys could come, but they had so much fun playing arcade games, playing a group arcade game similar to Star Tours, and laser-tagging. They had *super yummy* pizza,
and Connor got to spin the Birthday Kid Prize Wheel, and won a toy.
During this day, all of us were in different places. So Miranda & Carlie went clothes shopping, stopping to get some healthy food,
Jeff dropped off the birthday boys (and we added a friend who had forgotten), and went to work. The boys opened presents, had cookies since Connor doesn't love cake,
Then they just played all day, until about dinner time. These boys get along so well. Mostly, I think, because Connor is so easy going with his friends. He doesn't fight with them. I can't believe how many hours he can just put together legos:
Or jump on the trampoline, and just dramatize their favorite characters & scenarios. =)
During their hair adventure, it was just Morgan, Connor & me at home, so we decided we needed some Blue Lemon. I know it seems like we're eating out a lot, but we are so busy, it just sounds like it's so much easier.
So Tuesday was the day of the week you were going to pick to say a prayer and think about including Miranda. Here are all our simultaneous adventures that started Tuesday. First of all, Miranda checked into her room and got her vitals taken by her nurse Dave and some techs. He was very considerate of her, and grew on us.
Also not pictured today Halle & Kierste started swimming lessons for the week, and Morgan had an ortho appt. Then H&K got to go on their birthday trip from G&G Madsen: they invited 2 friends and went to dinner & a movie (Incredibles 2). Of course they had fun:
Meanwhile, Miranda & Carlie went up to North Salt Lake to have our friend do Miranda's hair color.
She had just had a baby 3 weeks before (if I had known this I would NEVER have asked her to help us!!), so Carlie's job was to hold Hayes. Yes, Hayes is a girl. Her older sister's name is Chase. Go with it.
On their way home, this popped up... They buckled up right away.
When Miranda got back, we had to grab a pic of her blond highlights. She hadn't asked for highlighted streaks, but with crying baby, that's what she got, and we're so grateful she could squeeze us in.
Miranda & Morgan have decided to ditch college and do modeling full time. I agree. They are fabulous.
That night, we had a short FHE, followed by a blessing for Miranda.
Soon after, they accessed her port. Thank heavens for that port. Between blood draws twice a week at home, chemo on Tuesdays, and all the other IV fluids & medicines for overnight stays, it will save Miranda at least a HUNDRED needle pokes.
A lot of the day (6 more hours) was just making sure she was fully filled to the top with water. This is how we waited, plus watching some Gilmore Girls, that we've started together since she got home.
Meanwhile, Morgan was having his own blood draw...
He's been rocking it at the dermatologist, and his skin looks so awesome! Then we were hooking up all Miranda's fluids... she had to get fully hydrated - and when I say fully hydrated, I mean poofy skin/ feel like she's going to burst hydrated - before she could start the actual meds coming in. She was so cute about everything, and attentive to all the education we received... at least 2 hours of lecture off & on during the 2 days, not kidding.
During this time, Morgan had an EFY company get together, including 5 of the guys and 5 of the girls. One of them may or may not have been Mariah. Pool, hide & seek, going to get ice cream, pizza, playing World Cup in the back yard. We were so excited for him that they got together as a group so soon after EFY. This is the only evidence that it happened; Carlie snapping a pic when she came to get him. =)
Derek was also having his adventures at scout camp. I need you to notice his shirt & (swim) shorts. That is the same shirt as yesterday, which moms LOVE to see when the leaders send pics. =) But look how happy he is.
Then at 4, the genetics team came in to take more blood (!!!) to test for that pesky DICER 1 mutation that we all might have. I'm actually anxious for those results, which might take a month.
Finally the actual chemo started. Miranda mostly slept & sometimes we watched stuff, but it was just kind of a long day & night. Here's the beginning moment:
Little did she know that the Young Women, plus anyone who wanted to add things, came over and left her a decorated living room with gifts all over.
Jeff took the kids to Los Hermanos. He took a picture of each side of the table, so I merged them together... that's why Carlie & Morgan are so much bigger than HK&C. Hahaha!!!
Then they went to the late show of Incredibles 2. Apparently we losers have to see it as soon as possible. It was epic.
The next day, we waited for them to clear us to leave, then heard they would biopsy Miranda's thyroid later, so we waited. It was kind of nice to have nurses right there to administer anything Miranda needed. When she went for the biopsy, they led us to the Jazz Room. The walls had lockers & murals on them, there were framed pics of all the players, and even the ceiling tiles were all signed by the Jazz players. Miranda was super impressed by this, as you can imagine. It made everything seem so fun.
Meanwhile, Jeff left with the Teachers for their High Adventure trip. They stopped by a cool restaurant, Zax, to eat on the way - Those are real flames coming from the tree branches!
Derek was having his adventures at camp. Here the mom gets to point out the shirt & "shorts." But again, look how happy he is. =)
When she got home, she immediately settled down to rest in her room of love. The boys were at camp, Carlie was at Mutual - then hanging out with us, and the littles, who had been taken for the late afternoon to G&G Madsen's to hang out, were now settled in the basement, compliments of my mom, so the house was nice & quiet.
We got this picture from the Deacons' Camp on Bear Lake. They were having a great time earning merit badges & having spiritual & bonding experiences. We got to hear about it in sacrament meeting today because the talks were a boy from each of the 3 quorums, and a leader from each, telling about their adventures and some of the spiritual experiences they had. It was pretty awesome to hear how unified they are.
At home, we got the twins off to swimming lessons, Connor off to a friend's house, and let the day happen. This is how most of it went. Ok, I have to say here, that the home health nurse that's going to come do Miranda's labs every week came in and declared these balloons a safety hazard. Hahaha! We laughed at her when she left.
Then we took dinner to a lady in the ward down the street, who also has cancer, and just got home from surgery. Her prognosis is not as amazing as Miranda's. =(
That night, all the girls discovered an ANIMATED VERSION of their favorite live-action show "H2O; Just Add Water." They were in heaven. After the first episode they decided they weren't going to watch the whole season, but just for kicks, went back and watched the first episode of the live-action show, just to compare. =) Ah, sisterhood.
This is actually how we find Miranda a lot of the time. She wants to be in the room with us, but can't stand very long, so we turn around and find her lying on the floor... kitchen, library, kitchen. Wherever. =)
So while Jeff's gone, Miranda's been sleeping in my bed with me so I can hear the alarm every 3 hours and hand her the right meds. Miranda sleeps so soundly, we're not sure what she'll do if she's in charge of the meds. =)
Friday morning, Miranda started working on some BYU stuff, and Zeus came and parked himself on her feet. He's been doing that since she got home. He's a guardian of the sick; he can always tell.
We got these drone pictures of Derek's camp. It looks so cool!
That's my son, the only one in the water right then... also in a suspiciously black shirt with neon swim shorts...
Carlie worked a lot this week at the shack, and seems to be the only one small enough to do the ice cream loading from INSIDE the freezer. =)
Jeff came home early from H.A. to be with us, since there were 7 leaders, and Miranda could use some extra parental company. Yay for us! Sorry, Teachers!
Oh Taylor. If you stubbornly stick around and keep thriving I’ll have to buy you better living quarters and a companion. I’m not sure, but in the goldfish world, this has to amount to celebrity status because how many other goldfish actually have 100+ people who know about them, let alone their names?!? #imtheonlyonecaringfo
Then, Chloe started growling at the dog bed and digging behind it. We moved the couches again, as per the usual around here, Morgan caught the awesome surprise underneath, and we let the dogs have it on the deck. Chloe claimed it fastest, so she pranced away with it like the trophy of her life. She can no longer get out of the fence to bury in front of Zeus, so she tried to bury it in the lava rocks... regardless, this was Madsen House entertainment today. Oh Chloe.
Derek got home, took a shower, clipped his nails, cleaned his feet, took a bath, then jumped in the shower again. Without prompting. Good thing, because guess what he came home dressed in? I'll give you one whole guess. Yep.
So here he is post-shower, and Zeus, as usual, is right by Miranda's side. This time resting on her leg. Doesn't want to miss anything.
And we played some Mormon Rummy. This is where the letter title came from. Sometimes this week, when Miranda has wanted something, she has said, "But I have cancer!" as a way to get it. =) But at a particularly intense juncture in the game, when everyone was taking what Miranda wanted, she called out in agony, "Everybody hates me!" Morgan silently pointed a dramatic hand toward the room next to us, exploding in Pinterest decorations, and overflowing with gifts brought in from family & neighborhood friends. Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!! No one hates you.
And this beauty!! So this morning, Sunday, Halle had to stay home and keep her germs to herself. She has had a fever & ear ache since Friday afternoon, and is still languishing in her bed all by herself. She has an iPad to watch Netflix, and also be able to text me when she's hungry or hurt. People have been bringing her things, helping her with stuff, and then squirting their hands with sanitizer as they leave the room, so we can keep her germs all in one place. =(
I found Miranda outside with Zeus (under the table perfectly covered by the chair) parked by her side, but I totally missed the 2 CATS who joined them a few minutes later. Pets are so funny. Ironically, the old lady Chloe who loves Miranda the most, was inside taking a nap. Off duty.
And memes!
And actual sign in Germany, snapped by our friends serving a mission there:
And because Miranda & I are watching Gilmore Girls in between everything:
Love you! We talk about you all the time. Can't wait to hear how you are!! ~us
