Our 2008 Graduates!!

We had the pleasure of having FOUR graduates this year. Lan graduated from Kindergarten. Robert graduated from elementary school. Taisha graduated from middle school and Makayla graduated from high school. Taisha had a graduation party at the school instead of a ceremony but the others all had programs and diplomas.

Here are some highlights in the pictures we've posted. (We planned to have a Luau outside but the weather here was almost snowing! We had to take it inside. The biggest downside to that was the silly string all over the sofas.)

Our kindergarten graduate!

Lan hasn't been to school since 4/15 but attended her kindergarten graduation tonight. Her little classmates were so excited to see her and were full of questions about her foot. What a treat to know that Lan has so many friends. I did have to laugh as one little boy was talking to her very loudly and a classmate pulled him away and whispered sharply, "She can still understand what you say you know!" I guess seeing her in a wheelchair perplexed the little boy into thinking that much more of her was compromised.

At the very end, her teacher stood to say that her class decided to do a service project and they did it for Lan. She then unfolded a sweet purple tied quilt where each quilt was signed with a picture drawn by her friends, teachers and principal. We will certainly take that to Shriners for the next two weeks to be wrapped up in hugs by all that love!!

Lan's recovery 5/12/08

Each day it looks better and better....I'm getting more used to it and so is she.

Caden's BOARD meeting

What a crack up! He practiced and practiced his report on the Australian quokka and then spent the actual presentation whispering into the whiteboard.

He also got to be king for the day as they celebrated his birthday at school the same day as his birthday is in the summer. He was beyond pleased!

Can you tell if these two get along? Yes, they do. But they truly act like an old married couple. Lan is forever telling Caden what to do, when to do it and how it should be done. This is particularly true when they are driving their Little Tykes truck. Caden always drives and Lan will shout, "Hey, slow down! Turn! Stop! Go faster! What are you doing? You could kill us don't ya know!"

The first bath...mom and dad are in charge

It was time for the dressing to come off and the first bath to be given. Stephen and I were a bit anxious about being in charge of the bath and making sure her foot was dressed properly again.

Do you know that the medical term for her residual limb is stump? It sounds so blunt. Stump. But there you have it. Right now I'm not completely comfortable with stump but I'll get there with practice.

Lan has been beyond brave and tolerant. Even in the throws of boredom she keeps her spirits up. I'm having a march harder time than she is having. And its not Lan that is causing my mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. It is our dear Ammon who requires my constant vigilence. With me having gone to China for two weeks and then not too much longer after that having to be with Lan in the hospital I've been gone and so he is now very clingy and possessive of me. Only I can take him to the bathroom or get his food or pick out his clothes. He doesn't want me out of his sight which means that he is with me and Lan, which means he is continually pushing Lan's buttons...and mine.

Ammon had another seizure yesterday in the middle of Albertson's so he slept on the way home which meant he would not sleep all night. I was so tired. He was not...at all...sigh....

We have two weeks at the end of the month and first of June where we need to stay at Shriners to have Lan's prosthetic made and physical therapy. Trying to figure out what to do with Ammon is already giving me heartache. He'll be a nightmare if I take him with me but another two weeks away from him and he'll melt. We'll figure something out.