Let The Pigskin Fly...

September 5

Saturday morning, Scott took Isaac and Ian to their first football game ever...University of Wyoming vs. Weber State (Utah)! And, yay! The Pokes won...29-22!

September 5

They were soooo excited to drive over to Laramie and had so many stories to tell when they returned... marching bands and licorice (a whole package each, mommy!) and a fast ride in a golf cart (It must have been going 30 miles an hour, mommy!) and hot dogs...and football!

" ...Who wants to go throw the football?"
" ...Anybody want to throw the football?"
" ...I have a football, we could go play catch!"
" ...What's fantasy football, daddy?"

I believe a new era has arisen...
Go Cowboys!

Zane-18 months!

Today is Zane's last day of being 18 months old! Here he is with his curly little locks eating a piece of pizza. He and Colby were just cracking themselves up today at lunch- a couple of little comedians!

It's been a year and a half since February 6, 2008! Already! Wow! Do you ever feel like things in your life feel slow and fast at the same time? So much has happened since that time!

Day 1- February 6, 2008

Zane has changed a lot over the summer and particularly over the last six weeks or so, I think.

August 22
Sprinklers with the brothers

He's still not much of a talker (how can he get a word in edge-wise with 3 older brothers?!)...probably biding his time for just the right moment to present some sort of dramatic soliloquy or something...like this morning... First thing he did when he saw daddy come down the stairs was say,
"Hello!"
It was so completely clear, at the right moment, and with the right inflections, that we imagine he really meant to say it...but, his only other official word is "Dada," so I guess we'll have to wait and see if he says it again!

Here are a few snapshots of Zane's personality at 18 months and some possible leads for future employment:

July 17
Plumber...

July 17
Nudist...

July 17
Musician...

July 17
Social butterfly...

July 17
Budding artist...

July 25
Pastor...

July 28
Beach bum..."No one told me there was going to be sand on the beach!"

July 28

Conscientious business man and facebook addict... :)

August 11
Food connoisseur...

August 23
Backpack...er...

August 23
Naturalist

September 3
Avid sports and tail-gating fan...

We have enjoyed you so much, Zane! I wonder what God has in store for you?!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

He did it!

Thought you'd like to see...

He did it! Doesn't he look great!

The bone marrow came in a bag and took place pretty nicely on September 2nd as planned. Sounds like he had a pretty exciting "Bone Marrow Birthday Party" complete with guests, party favors, banners, presents and some very, very special visitors (us...via Skype!).

If you notice, he also had some red and blue streamers twisted above his bed, which I thought were a very clever reference to blood and transfusions...but found out they were instead a very clever reference to Riley's favorite colors! :)

Brenna also was given an award for being such a supportive sister!

We'd really appreciate it if you'd keep Riley and his family in your prayers these next couple of months as so many expected and unexpected bends and twists continue to happen in their lives.

Will You Pray With Us for Riley?

Will you join us in praying for our nephew, Riley and his bone marrow donor? His transplant is at 2:00 pm tomorrow, September 2. Please pray that his body accepts this new marrow, that side effects would be few to none and that his immune system recovers quickly.

September 1
Acrostic by Isaac (8 1/2) for Riley (8 1/2)

August 26

Energetic and artistic are probably two of the main words I would use to describe Riley! Energetic may have to wait for a couple of weeks, but I can just see him like in the Curious George story, where he finds a wheelchair and races down the ramp and makes the sad little girl smile at the end.

September 1

Tired and feeling sick today. Riley's own immune system is basically gone. Once the transplant takes place tomorrow, it will take approximately 3 weeks to start working for him. Please pray for protection for his immune system in all of this... that his caregivers, including his family, would all stay healthy for him.

August 25

Receiving total body radiation and trying not to giggle. Riley had to hold still for this for 15 minutes and then turn around and do 15 minutes on the other side. He is a trooper, isn't he?

August 27

I love this picture! What a sweet picture of Riley and Brenna! Please also pray for Riley's sister, Brenna and Riley's parents, too. Once the transplant has taken place tomorrow, the road to recovery is a long process...

August 31
Riley sleeping while 5 pumps pump fluids into his body

...and includes a very long hospital stay- approximately 2 months depending on how his body reacts to the new marrow. Please play for the family's patience and endurance as they are also far from their own home and their own routines and normalcy have been replaced by hospital protocol.

I have an acrostic for Riley, too! :)

R- Risking life and limb
I- I thought for sure you'd have broken bones!
L- Leukemia hit instead
E- Even out-of-control white blood cells can't keep you down!
Y- You are a go-getter, a prize winner!

We love you, Riley! Hope your bone marrow birthday party is fun!