4th of July week

We had a wonderful 4th of July week--beginning on Tuesday when we got a brand new swingset!!!  Thank you Grandpa!  Jake cannot go to the park...so someone thought it would be a good idea to bring the park to him.    We are also hoping that it will help strengthen his legs somewhat.  Who knows if this will ever actually happen at this point in time--it is starting to get a little discouraging since he is still so weak.  The boys LOVE the swingset and it has already gotten much use.  Crew even loves to swing in the baby swing and will giggle if you push him.  So cute.

This is probably the biggest smile we saw in Jakers the whole week before this.  He had a tough week, but I think he thought it was worth it in the end--Jeff took him to Reno for a small  break.  He and Jeff were on the plane, and he looked over at Jeff and said, "Daddy, I am just so excited I might explode!"  Those few words made the risk totally worth it.  He did not feel very well all week, but had so much fun being catered to hand and foot.  The poor kid has not had much to look forward to the last couple of months.  He had been on steriods for five days (Yesterday, it marked one week since his last dose.)   It was double the dose as before and mixed with another medication he was on, it completely knocked the life out of him.  He could not walk, but this time around he was constantly sick to his stomach, so he could not eat.  There is nothing that sounds good to him.  If he asks for something, he gets it, but most of the time takes a bite and chews for about 10 minutes, swallows and won't touch it.  He currently weighs only 37 pounds.  IF he eats, he throws up, or else it comes out the other end.   We are a little worried about him losing so much weight. 

Lucky me, I got to stay home with some much needed time with Crew and Cole, who needed a little bit extra attention.  Cole has become very clingy to me the last couple of weeks, so it was a good break for everyone when Jeff and Jake left.  We had a wonderful 4th... swimming and eating and fireworks...and oh, did I mention the 2.8 mile hike up AND 2.8 mile hike back with two children?  Yes, that is 5.6 miles total.  We did not realize at the time that it would be that difficult of a hike.  We went up to Lake Blanche in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It was beautiful and very worth it--but let's just say I am grateful for Pa Randy and Jason helping me to carry those two boys!  That hike back down the mountain was LONG.  Both boys did surprisingly great and fell asleep on the trail.