Protective? Yep, just a little!

Chris went with Kaden to his basketball practice. I got this text a few minutes into it...

Chris is a good dad! Don't worry, Kaden was just fine and has been doing a good job listening to body. He knows when he needs to take it easy and when to play hard! 

Volleyball

Taylor had her first tournament of the club session. They went 3-2 and moved up 5 spaces. Power league isn't my favorite because they make for such a long day, but they are on Saturdays so I won't complain too much. Taylor did a great job...She's such a natural leader in the court. Love it!

 

Snow Camp

While Taylor, Kaden and mom were in Seattle/Portland having their adventures, Ethan was having his as well.

Donuts for breakfast. Clever.

Ethan, Alex and Todd in the snow cave

Daddy Daughter Ball

Emma LOVED going to the Snowflake Ball with her Dad.

Emma and her BFF Taylor

Crazy group of girls!

Nephrostomy Tube

We went to Seattle Children's Hospital to get Kaden's stent removed. This is Kaden's 5th stent within the last year so we knew what to expect. Planning on a quick 15 minute procedure, we decided to make a weekend of it. Taylor had a tournament in Portland the next day so she came with us. We planned on shopping in Seattle then drive over to Portland that night. We stopped in North Bend at the outlet shops before heading to the hospital. Kaden was complaining about his stomach hurting. I thought it was from fasting but either way thought we should cut the shopping trip short and get to the hospital. By the time we checked in he started to feel a little better.

Getting ready! He never gets worried or nervous. This is one brave kid!

As they took him away, they gave me a pager and said to stay close because it wouldn't be long. Taylor and I hurried down to the cafeteria because we were starving. After an hour I started to worry. Finally I got a page to come to the surgery center. I checked into the front counter and the receptionist said the doctor wanted to talk to be but he was still in the operating room. She called him and I talked to him on the phone there at the counter. Dr. Lendvay said Kaden's stent was covered in stones. He had a difficult time getting it out and it tore a hole in his ureter in the process. All the stones clogged the ureter and his kidney was so stretched and huge it had lost all function. They needed my approval to place a nephrostomy tube so his kidney could drain and hopefully heal itself. Of course I approved  and hung up the phone. Dr. Lendvay and the I.R. soon came down to talk to me and have me sign consents. They showed me pictures and it was quite impressive! When they placed the stent on Dec.12th his kidney was as big as it's ever been. Comparing the two, this kidney made December's kidney look healthy! A few more hours of waiting and we finally were brought back to see him.

After the surgery, before he was quite awake, he said, "There's something sticking out of my back. Get it out!"

I was worried about how Kaden would take this. Most 7 year olds are not carrying around their pee in a bag. After explaining why he had to have this and why is actually a good thing, he was just fine! I'm so impressed with his good attitude. He takes everything in stride and just deals with it! We checked out of the hospital and headed on down to Portland. Kaden was such a good sport throughout the tournament. He had the Kindle to play so he was a happy camper! After 2 days of wearing the bag on his thigh attached with velcro straps, the irritation had gotten to him. So I made some special underwear for him that makes it so much better (and hidden). Compression shorts with a pocket on the side!

My cool invention!

I felt bad that Taylor was stuck at the hospital all day with me - but not that bad!!! :) It was great to have her there!

My partner in crime!

We'll go to Spokane in 10 days to test his kidney - crossing our fingers that it regains some function. If not, he will have it removed.

Fun in the snow

Ethan went snowboarding 3 times in January. He loved every minute and wishes he could go every weekend!

Lunch in the lodge

Dinner at Miner's. Man those boys can eat!

Ethan, Benson, Cooper and Christian

This kid is getting good!

The boys come over the night before and spend the night. It makes the mornings much easier. According to them, playing the xbox on the theater screen is as good as it gets.

Taylor and I went cross country skiing for the first time. We loved it! It is quite the workout!

Sporting the downhill gear. We were sweating up a storm! 

Resolution

I have felt a lot of self-induced pressure to keep up on this blog. I need to keep a better history of our family, and this seems to be the easiest way to do it. So here we go....

And That's a Wrap

Ethan has loved his 2nd year in the Limbo Fish Steel Drum band. They had an end-of-the-year BBQ to celebrate their successful year! Way to go, Ethan!
To say "thank you", the kids attacked Mr. Leggett with silly string.

Kaden = 2 wheelin'

A big kid on a little bike without baby wheels!

Gateway Goodbyes!

So proud of our graduate!

Some of his buddies (John, Peter, Jack, Grady, Kaden):Singing:Marching in:
This was so funny! The kids come out of the curtain then go to the right where their teachers are waiting to give them their diplomas. Well Kaden comes and just stands there.

Lady telling him to, "go over there"Still stands there. So the teacher has to come out and literally shove him where to go.Pheww, finally made it!We loved our teachers, Miss Heidi and Miss Tonia!Good job, Buddy - off to Kindergarten!

E-Dog

I feel like I've neglected Ethan on here lately. Here's a few pics just for fun...

At his friend's house having a cheese-ball war:

Spring Tour - Day 2

Mr. Leggett's update/pics for today:

Hi all,

Another great tour day for Limbo Fish. We started with breakfast at the hotel then a fairly long drive to Aberdeen where we had to burn some time at a park. We made really good time with very little traffic and a favorable tail wind. After a hearty lunch of pop and french fries (oh, and a few bites of hamburger or chicken parts) at the local McDonalds we headed into the deep, dark, wet, Olympic rain forest. We arrived at Lake Quinault school in what the folks around there refer to as a light rain....we would call it a steady downpour. Within minutes of our arrival the bus driver (whilst attempting to turn around) managed to get the bus thoroughly stuck in the school's drain field. The brown stuff you see on the bus tires is mostly mud.

The assembly went very well. We performed for the entire K-12 student body. They seemed to really appreciate us and especially our effort to get to them at Lake Quinault which is basically the middle of nowhere. It seems that performers don't get out there all that often.

Because of the stuck bus we had to scratch the ferry ride off the itinerary. We got to Zoopa by 7:00 and had a groovy dinner. The kids are now merrily burning some extra energy in the pool. It is a little warmer tonight.

Tomorrow will see our last performance of the Tour and the bus ride home. Don't forget our Smoovies Gig on Saturday. The kids should be sounding REALLY good by then. You might be surprised at how good they sound.

More later....

(Ethan, Isiah, Gary, Benson, Josh, Christian)

Spring Tour - Day 1

Chris has been with Ethan on a steel drum tour in Seattle. They are having a great time. Here is Mr. Leggett's (Ethan's director) email/pictures he sent today:

Hey all,

Here are a few pictures from the day. It was a good, but wet, day. Our performance at Seattle Hill went very well. The Seattle Hill kids loved LF. One of my past students (a special kid that played in my first Kid Calypso steel band at Tapteal in 1995) is now a teacher at Seattle Hill. She was so excited to have us there.

On a sad note. One of our 4th grade girls broke her lower leg/ankle on a piece of playground equipment at Seattle Hill. We were waiting for the gym to clear out before we set up and the kids were playing outside. Very sad, her parents will be taking her home.

We had some dinner at Red Robin and then off to the mall to buy stupid stuff, then to the hotel and to the pool. As you can see, it is an OUTDOOR pool. Supposedly it is heated but judging from the short amount of time they were in the pool, the blue pallor and shivering bodies I would say the temperature is only slightly warmer than the air temperature.

Tomorrow we are off to the Olympic Peninsula for another gig. More pics tomorrow....

BJ signing off.....