A Little Bit of Heaven - July 23, 2008

These are the pictures from our emergency family beach trip. Since Jacob was having surgery and wouldn't be allowed to swim, we packed the family up and went to Corona Del Mar. This was Jayson's FIRST time to the beach. And is that him SITTING on his own? My baby is getting so big.

Jessica couldn't get enough of the water. Neither could James. He was usually too far out there for me to capture him without a longer zoom.

Jacob did a bit of everything. He was truly in heaven. He captured a couple dozen sand crabs, built sand structures, jumped waves, boogie boarded, twisted, jumped, splashed, made sand trails, and entertained my camera. I never did get a formal eight year old shoot, so we made up for it at the beach.

I never did get one with all four kids at the same time. They were all too busy, too happy. It was simply perfect. I've got 5 dozen photos to prove it.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

I wish this word was the name of some ancient dinosaur. I wish it were a word that remained in medical journals. I wish it weren't a word that I am going to know everything about.

rhab·do·my·o·sar·co·ma /ˌræbdoʊˌmaɪoʊsɑrˈkoʊmə/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rab-doh-mahy-oh-sahr-koh-muh]

You can even hear it pronounced HERE by pressing the audio icon. Although I'll warn you that hearing it out loud doesn't make it any more believable.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the name of the tumor found in my little boy Jacob. It's why he had to have surgery last Thursday to have it removed. It's why he had to withdraw from swim lessons and sit the rest of basketball season out. It's why he's not allowed to ride his bike or play too rough. It's why his baptism is being postponed to an unannounced date.

Rhabdomyosarcoma broke my heart, spun my head around with a million thoughts and questions, and immediately changed the way I feel about each moment.


How did we find it and when?
During a routine check up on Monday, July 21st, Jacob's pediatrician noticed a mass and sent him for an ultrasound that same day. By 4:30 p.m. that afternoon we were sitting in a urologist's office. The ultrasound confirmed it was a tumor not a cyst or mass that would just go away. Next we scheduled CT scans, blood work, & surgery to remove the tumor. Later we sat together at Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt watching Jacob pick out mini gummy bears, lick them clean, and stack them on a napkin.

Tuesday we had to call our parents. Heartbreaking. Nothing worse than being the bearer of bad new. It was also our 11th Wedding Anniversary. We had already purchased tickets to see Wicked at the Pantages Theater. At that point, all we could do was worry and cry - we did both - so we went to the show too. Happy Anniversary to us! I will say how grateful I am to be in a strong marriage. Who could have known eleven years ago the joys and oppositions we would face together. Thanks to my Jon for being mine.

Wednesday was fasting, waiting, scrambling with insurance and paperwork issues, testing, and waiting some more. Jon took Jacob at 6 a.m. and they didn't get back until after 2 p.m. James & I packed for an emergency beach trip (upcoming post). We all needed to feel the ocean breeze, play, swim, roast, & be together.

Thursday was surgery day. Jacob received a blessing that morning. He was admittedly scared, but he put on a brave face. Things went well. We left for the hospital at 10:15 a.m. and didn't return until 8:30 p.m. Both Jon & I were by his side all day. The staff at the surgery center was so kind and congenial. They put us at ease and for the record - I hate hospitals. Always have. Never wanted to marry a doctor. We were so relieved that the CT scan was clear - meaning that the tumor hadn't spread anywhere else. We went home that evening with a preliminary report that the tumor was a rhabdomyosarcoma. A pathology report would come next week to help in staging and prescribing treatment. For now we are thankful that his malignant tumor is in a "favorable" location, that it was found early, and that there is treatment. We are grateful to go home and rest. We take it a day at a time and this was a very long day.

Friday was a resting day - movies, video games, etc.

Saturday - Jon asked Jacob to be his assistant coach for the basketball team. He suited up and held the clipboard on the sidelines. We also attended our Pioneer Day Celebration and fielded questions for our concerned friends. We are surrounded by wonderful and caring friends; the best.

Sunday - Jacob gave his talk in Primary about being a missionary like Ammon. He helped me make homemade chicken strips. He liked smashing the crackers (very therapeutic) and mixing the crumbled coating.

Another Monday - please wait for the upcoming Slap in Your Face Post. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!

Tuesday - Jacob insisted we take our picnic. I had him in the sun during swim lessons and then again at the park. We played frisbee golf which was fun. He's running around like a crazy. I have to keep inviting him to come help me with things (like make dessert - he's not interested in doing any real work) so he'll stop trying to play basketball and stuff.

Wednesday - We had our follow up today with the urologist and then were sent to meet with the oncologist - another LONG day. I'm not going to update this blog with all the medical details- except to say that this is a STAGE 1 GROUP 1. The embryonal rhadbomyosarcomas are treatable. We will be returning to the hospital as early as next week for a few tests and to receive chemotherapy (a medicine that helps find the bad cells that want to make tumors in your body). Jacob might have to stay overnight for a few days. That's it - you don't get to know more than Jacob does right now.

Your concern, love, and prayers on our behalf are felt and appreciated.

Now, remember to kiss your babies. Look at them. See them. Tell them you love them even if they can't bare to hear it one more time.



Helpful Reads:
THIS handbook
THIS entire site has helped me a bunch
I also found THIS site helpful

How To - Picasa Slideshow

Did you know that if you upload your photos directly to blogger (instead of to photobucket or flickr) they are being hosted in a Picasa Web Album? Well, that's where they are. Google just offered a new service - a slideshow. You will see this option when you go into layout and select "Add Page Element" - it's on the top right. I haven't found this to be very user friendly because Blogger assumes you know the name of your album or it assumes that the pics for the slideshow are already uploaded.

But - never fear - I really do like the Picasa Slide Show. I like that you can get it BIG. I've used www.slide.com before, but they aren't as big and after a while they all start looking way cheesy or all the same. So I'll tell you the Picasa way that was easiest for me.

First - Go to Google Homepage (www.google.com) and from the drop down menu select PHOTOS.



Then sign into your Picasa Web Albums with your Google Account. This is the same user name and password you use to sign into your blog. If you are using Blogger and have already posted photos, it will bring up your albums - probably using the title of your blog for the album name.



Next - select the album you'd like to use or create a new album and upload the photos you want for your slideshow. Continue to edit/crop/add captions etc. When you are finished select EMBED SLIDESHOW from the bottom left.



A new window will pop up. You can then select the size of your slide show in the drop down menu. It will depend on what blog template you are using to determine what size will fit just right on your blog. I've altered my blog margins in the HTML (a process and tip for another day) and I find that the 600 px size fits quite nicely for mine.



After you have select the size you need to copy the code in the yellow box. Select all of the code a press CTRL and "C" at the same time to copy.

Now go to your blog post. I prefer to be in the HTML setting, so I can see where to type around the slide show code that you will paste. You can paste it in the COMPOSE mode, but after I've clicked on PREVIEW the code is invisible. How do you paste? You put your cursor in the box where you want to paste the slide show and press CTRL and "V" at the same time.



Okay. Now you are going to have to try it out and see what part of this goofy explanation does make sense. Once you've got your slide show on display, drop me a note so I can come check it out.

My Beautiful Swan

I said to Jessica, "You're a silly goose." To which she replied, "I'm not a goose. I'm a swan."

Pioneer Day Celebration

Our Stake has a huge Pioneer Day Celebration every year on the Saturday after July 24th. This year there were wonderful displays of Mormon Battalion memorabilia. There was panning for gold (which all the kids thought was real), a gun display, rope making, pioneer games, ring toss, black smith shop, horse-drawn wagon rides & pioneer doll making. Add that to BBQ sandwiches, sweetest corn on the cob, wonderful company, & pie and you've got yourself a nice evening.

Our kids played and played.

This slide show is dedicated to my sister Laneea to illustrate the new slideshow maker from Picasa. I also want to point out that NO photoshop was used. All pics are SOOC.

Enjoy!



P.S. This is the extra large (600 px) size.

Blondie at 3 Months

Now that my blond nephew is 4 months old, I thought I'd get around to posting pics from our mini practice shoot back in June.

Six Months

What a Handsome Baby!

I can't believe that my baby is 6 months old! He coos, yodels, giggles, & cries with enhanced volume. He is deliberate in his reaching and grabbing. He is very interested in the activities around him which makes nursing a trying event. We excuse ourselves to the quiet quarters so we both can relax. He has an improved liking for rice cereal & pears. Still he likes his meals served warm - even when we are on an outing and it's blazing hot.

Jayson does enjoy the swimming pool and being held by all his extended family. He enjoys playing with his toys in the ExerSaucer or hanging measuring cups in his high chair, but only for a short time. Since our two-week Utah trip, I've found that he is more content when we are out running errands - riding in the stroller or shopping cart- than hanging out at home all day.

He doesn't sit up on his own yet, but he's getting close. He can roll from his belly to back, but not the other way around. I don't think he has any motivation to do it. Another one of my babies that doesn't enjoy being on his big belly.

He weighs just over 20 lbs. which is why I don't stand around holding him all day long. I love him. I think he is the most handsome baby around! I love his peach fuzz growing back in. I'm sad that he is now rubbing a bald spot in the back.

He is going to sleep earlier and is trying to stay asleep until 7 a.m. (unlike a couple weeks ago when he was getting up at 4:30 a.m.). He still takes shorter daytime naps. One for sure between 9-10 a.m. and usually one or two more throughout the afternoon - short and sweet.

Disney Tips N Tricks - The Attractions

Disney Parade - I love the Disney Parade. It's musical, colorful, & has some flare. The latest parade is like a show and parade in one. They progress halfway down the parade route and then stop and spend about five minutes doing a performance and then proceed the second half. It stinks to be sitting just over halfway down the parade route, see the thing coming, and then have them stop for what seems like FOREVER!!! One parade time starts on Main Street & ends in Small World. Then next scheduled parade will run the opposite direction. (Check with a cast member to find out where the parade will start). During busy season, there will be two parades daily. One in the afternoon and one in the early evening. I highly recommend the parade. It's a chance to sit, eat, and rest while being entertained. Choose the evening parade to see the floats and features all lit up. The daytime parade will be best for your point n shoot cameras.

Fireworks - MY FAVORITE!!! These show LATE. I usually have one or more children falling asleep. ALL of my toddlers have screamed and cried during this show and I've been racing off to a bathroom to calm them. The explosions are loud and startling. I like it best when Jon & I have come alone. Second best is when I don't have a baby and the toddlers can handle the noise.

In the off season, fireworks are only featured on weekends. You need to check the calendar at www.disneyland.com to check scheduled showtimes.

The latest show is more like a walk through memory lane - Disney style. Various rides and themes are highlighted in the show. Indiana Jones - flaring flames. Star Tours - laser show. Theme songs from other attractions set to bright fireworks above the castle and around the Main Street circle. When the show first switched, I missed the old one. It's just different. To get the full effect - be in the area in front of the castle. If you don't mind missing the laser show or fire torches, you can still see fireworks over by the Nemo ride or by Tom Sawyers island (where Fantasmic will be).

Disney Tips N Tricks - The Parks

I consider myself an expert on spending the day at Disneyland with my kids (who are young and chicken). So if you have kids like mine and might be looking for a Disneyland adventure here in CA, my experience might just come in handy.

This will be an ongoing list as I have time/energy to add to it. If there is something you would like to know ASK & I'll get to it sooner than later. Truly it's just a list of my opinions and what has worked well with my kids.

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I've been doing the kiddie scene at Disneyland for SEVEN years. We first got season passes when I just had the two boys and baby Jake was just 15 months old. I've gone on my own with the two boys and when Jessica came along I took all three along with just me. (When she SCREAMED the whole ride on It's a Small World, it didn't seem so small). Sure I enjoyed the days when Daddy could come too, but it's a place that I like to be with the kiddos during the day. Which brings me to this point: I don't stay all day. We put in a good 4-6 hours and call it good. We go for either the day scene or the evening scene. Since you'll be trying to do this all at once, it's going to be trickier for you. When our family comes to town, we drag our kids out for the whole day too. This is why I suggest

Tip #1- Go for a multi-day ticket. If you are visiting with children, you will be more relaxed spending 2 partial days in the parks than 1 ridiculously long day. When you were in high school, it made sense to arrive when it opens and stay 'til it closes. Let just say: tantrums, tears, tired - don't make for cute Disney pictures or happy memories. If you only go one day, remember that your kids don't know what they're missing. Don't rush. Enjoy each of the rides you get to. Plan time to just sit and eat snacks or let them wander. This is where ToonTown comes in handy for those new walkers that need to exercise their independence. The early toddler goes bonkers waiting in lines. They do not anticipate the thrill of the adventure like an older child will.

Disneyland vs. California Adventure - over time I have developed a love for the attractions at California Adventure. There are definitely some things worth seeing, but not enough for a whole day at California Adventure. You will be wishing that you had more time to finish things up at Disneyland and maybe a half day at California Adventure Park.

Tip #2 - Understanding the Park Hopper. Most multi-day tickets are also hopper tickets. This means that you can go in and out of either park on the same day. If you buy a one day ticket, it is JUST for ONE park for the whole day. You pay more for a one-day park hopper ticket & the privilege of going to both parks on the same day. In my opinion - not worth it. Unless you are staying more than a day, skip California Adventure. Also note that hopping isn't as convenient or simple as it sounds. It's time consuming to walk to the front of the park, cross to the other and re-enter (pull out tickets, check stamps, etc) the other park. California Adventure usually opens an hour after Disneyland and will close BEFORE Disneyland.

Some promotions are for a day at Disneyland & a day at California Adventure. If the price is right, this could be a fun deal. Just know that these promotions are not HOPPER tickets. You get one day at each park.

If you've already planned your trip, my tips on when to go to Disneyland will be useless. Crowds come and go throughout the year - holidays and summer break. Add scorching temperatures to summer months and that is why we NEVER go during July or August anymore. We have convinced all our family to adjust their trips so we don't have to accompany them during that time.

WHEN to visit Disneyland: The best trick is to look at the hours of operation. You may be sad to see that the park opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 8 p.m., but often you will be able to visit MORE attractions on those days during those 10 hours than you would if you brought your kids on a marathon day from 8 a.m. until midnight - seriously, NO young child wants to be at Disneyland for 16 hours in one day. I have heard the frustrated tones of many parents speaking of bribes and dolling out dollars for Mickey Ice Creams to soothe their heat exhausted children who have missed their naps. Look for shorter operating hours - this means that Disneyland is expecting fewer guests. Also look at the Annual Passholder Blockout Schedule. Those of us with passports have blockout dates when Disney expects the most visitors. I advise you to wait and come on a day that my passport is valid. It's less crowded. THIS link should hook you in to the blockout calendar - if not go to their site and follow the annual passholder info.

LINES & Wait Times- off season: don't wait more than 30 minutes. I prefer 15 minutes. There are exceptions: Peter Pan will ALWAYS be the longest ride in Fantasyland that's worth going on. If the line is still contained inside the covered maze, it will be alright to wait. If guests are waiting along the chain in front of the ride and around the corner - walk on by. Most young children will be excited about going on Dumbo also. If their whole trip hinges on riding the elephant, you might have to waste more time in line to fulfill their dream. My rulebook says: 30 minutes or less or walk on by.

Busy season: anything under 60 minutes you should go for, but make sure you are taking advantage of FAST PASS. Get a fast pass for one, then wait an hour for another. By the time you wait one out, your fast pass will be almost ready to use. Fast pass works great for the big rides, but kiddie rides in FantasyLand DO NOT have a FastPass option. Get one for Autopia or Buzz Lightyear (unless of course Buzz ride has a 10 minute wait time - just hop on).

During the off season, expect less crowds. But also note that certain rides will be "Closed for Refurbishment." They keep a pretty accurate list on the calendar on Disney's website.

January - wonderful - Small World & Haunted Mansion are closed to take down the Christmas decor. Our coldest weather comes in January or February- rain & winds too. Hard to know if you are booking in advance.

February - wonderful

March - 1st half is wonderful. 2nd half is when Californians have Spring Break - it gets crazy busy!!! We've been to Disneyland in rain ponchos in March. Don't let the rain scare you. The temperatures don't get too bad. The forecast will scare lots of locals away (because we are spoiled and can wait it out). So many attractions are inside anyway. There are lots of covered areas in the park. I suggest picking up some ponchos at Target (there's one a couple miles south of Disneyland) instead of paying a premium price for ones with Mickey ears.

April - Neighboring states have their spring breaks so we get lots of visitors - unpredictable crowds. Weather is lovely. I'd rather brave a crowd now than in the summertime.

May - Wonderful. We start seeing school groups or high school tour groups visit for their end of year trips. Weather heats up.

June - You can still sneak in some nice days at the beginning of the month during the week (before the CA school get out), but the tourists start invading and the temperatures soar.

July - Plan for crowds. Pack lots of water & juice boxes. I do give Disney credit for managing the masses. When they expect lots of guests, they put both trains on the track. They have more boats afloat, more vehicles on the course etc. Sometimes it's a pain to navigate when they make some areas a one way zone or re-route you. Overall, it's all for your good. For me - TOO hot. Lines TOO long. Sometimes they will run out of Fast Passes for the DAY. All you can do is bake & wait!

August - HOT. Crowded. At the end of the month the pass holders can return. The next couple of Friday nights get flooded with us returning before school starts or after our first week back.

September - Do come. Skip school and you won't regret it. It's still VERY HOT here. The Californians are back to school during the day. It's wonderful.

October - Wonderful. They've started Halloween/Harvest Festivities. Cute! Temperatures mild and so enjoyable.

November - Christmas decor goes up usually the first weekend, so you can get into the holiday spirit early. Weather is WONDERFUL. The Christmas Parade, Fireworks, & Events don't start until Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving week is ONE OF THE MOST CROWDED EVER. If you expect to ride rides, you'll be waiting. Our family has gone - we get the ENTIRE Thanksgiving week OFF of school - during this week. We visit in short spurts and don't expect to go on many attractions. We go for just the parade, fireworks, & maybe a ride or two. If you are trying to see everything, don't go for Thanksgiving.

December - Of course there will be crowds for Christmas, but the first and second weeks in December are not bad. Go at the beginning of the week (Mon,Tues, Wed). The firework schedule will probably be nightly by then. Evenings will get busier, but lots of the locals are attending company parties and finishing their shopping. Plan on sharing the festivities with lots of other guests. Avoid weekends and the week of Christmas. We've never gone between Christmas & New Years - it's ALWAYS blocked out for us. I believe the Christmas stuff is still up into the first part of the New Year - check the calendar.