Relay for Life 2011

"Man Talk" (plus Sicily)

Sorry, picture out of order. The day after Relay Lance took us to American Falls to do some boating. I was glad for the kid size life jacket. We found out Sicily has no fear of the water and ran out into it as soon as we put her down. She loved playing in the sand also.

Paxton lounging with Aunt M'Lisa. He was a very good baby during Relay and the remainder of the weekend. He is spoiling me!

2 sleeping kids at Relay for Life. We did a few laps as a family and soon after both kids fell asleep.

Luminaries around the track. The Luminary Ceremony was very special. They lit all the luminaries and then had everyone walk a lap in silence to remember those who have lost the fight.

Dad's luminary

Our Booth & Decorations at Relay For Life

The coolest picture ever! As part of the decorations there was a picture of Cinderella (Brooke's favorite princess) and Brooklyn. I think there is a story behind how Angelie ended up with the picture, we will have to ask her for details!
Angelie made this banner. It really sums up why we did Relay this year.

Our booth won best decorated! Very exciting! We also sold cotton candy for our on-site fundraiser. This was such an awesome event to participate in!

Kids

Brooklyn holding Paxton. She loves him and can even say his name really well! It is so cute. Brooke never has to be reminded what his name is, and she seems to be drawn to babies. This picture was taken right before the 4th of July. You can see a few strands of Brooke's hair in the picture. Her hair had started to fall out in big clumps and so she was wearing a scarf all the time to catch the hair and also cover her head since she looked a little crazy with her hair falling out in patches. Shortly after we took this picture I took Brooke out on the deck and cut the rest of her hair off. She hasn't seemed to mind too much, and Angelie dresses her in the cutest scarves and hats. Derek and Porter have also been wearing their hair shaved off. Angelie said that Brooke wanted to take her Cinderella doll's hair off the other day. So she is aware that her hair is gone, but as long as she has a scarf or hat she isn't too self conscious about it.

Sicily has finally taken an interest in her baby doll. We got it for her last Christmas and she has never been that excited to play with it. Ever since Paxton came along she is constantly taking care of her baby doll. If she is not rocking the baby she is putting it in Paxton's bouncer chair or his swing. It is so cute to see her singing, rocking, and reading stories to her doll.

We have been having a great summer! I got my double jogging stroller shortly after Paxton was born, and we have walked all over Arco! I have really enjoyed taking walks and have even started a little jogging on the cooler days! Both kids enjoy the stroller so that is a plus.

Sicily's hair has started to get a little longer so her pigtails stay in much better.

Sicily loves her brother! She brings him toys, bounces him, "helps" him all the time. I have to watch her really close because she plays a bit rough still. Usually Paxton is fast asleep in his swing or bouncer chair and she is still talking and singing and trying to get him to play. In this picture she had gotten the box of kleenex and was wiping his nose! I can't believe he slept through it all. Needless to say we put Paxton in another room for his nap, and hid the Kleenex box from Sicily!

Relay For Life

Our family appreciates the concern, love and support we have felt from you with regards to our sweet Brooklyn and her ongoing care. Thank you! We have decided to participate in Pocatello's Relay For Life. Relay for Life gives us the opportunity to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

We have the opportunity to raise money for that cause.Our family is selling bracelets as part of our fundraiser. They have been designed with Brooklyn in mind: Gold and Gray, symbolizing pediatric and brain cancer. We are wishing "Success for our Princess"

We are offering two sizes: Child $6.00 and Adult $7.00

Any who is interested in a bracelet may order through their Paypal account by logging onto www.Paypal.com, then click on send money, enter the amount, and send it to Kimaree's email: kimareewalker@gmail.com.

Also please include the description of your order (how many child/adult bracelets you want) in the optional message box before sending your order and we will get them to you soon!

Money donations could be made as well.

Thank you again for your prayers.

Paxton Van Telford

Sicily loves her new brother! She has been very sweet to him and is adjusting very well to all the new changes in her life! (Sicily's new Rapunzel dress-up is on constantly, but only over 1 shoulder!?!)

Mark is very concerned about the pink chair! I told him Paxton will forgive me I'm sure, and as fast as he is growing up... I'm sure he won't be in the pink chair for very much longer. Paxton is 2 weeks old in the "pink chair" pictures.

Pax is a very good sleeper already! This mom has had a lot of R&R the last couple of weeks. Just what the Dr. ordered!

The "hospital shot"

Well better late than never.... an update about our new baby! Paxton was born June 18 at 11:09 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 20 3/4" long. 2 days later we had his first check up and he gained 2 oz and was 22 inches long. My mom has used the analogy of those memory foam mattresses with Pax: "once you take them out of the package they just never fit back in there the same". I was in total shock when he was born about how much bigger he was than Sicily. I know we didn't break any "big baby records" or anything, but he is just so much bigger and more advanced physically than Sicily was at this point.

My labor and delivery went good. 6 hours start to finish and I was sure glad I was in Rexburg when I started having contractions. Mark just about didn't make it... we both thought I was in for another 15 hour labor like I had with Sicily. Needless to say I think he broke the record for the fastest time crossing the Arco desert. He was going to just check all his water and then come over to Rexburg, but we quickly called him and told him to just COME! No time for an epidural or an IV... so all natural. After Pax was born it was discovered that I had a membranous cord insertion. That was an AWFUL experience and I have had a hard time even talking to my mom about it without crying. It would have been nice to at least had an IV or something for the pain. Thank goodness we had a great doctor. Mark and I both thought he was great and really helped me through the whole ordeal. About 1/2 hr to 45 mins. after Pax was born we finally got to see him and hold him, and that made all the pain worth it!

We aren't quite sure who he looks like yet. He does share some similarities with Sicily, but mostly we think he is just his own little person. He has been a blessing to our lives and we just absolutely adore him! I am feeling great and feel lucky to have such a healthy, good natured little boy.

Brooklyn is out of ICU

Brooklyn was moved out of the ICU after her MRI today. She has also been eating a few things and drinking lots of juice. Derek said she even tried eating a cupcake tonight. (She loves cupcakes!) The MRI shows that they were successful in removing the entire tumor. Hopefully we will continue to get good news like this each day until she is released. Derek guesses that if Brooke continues to make good progress tonight and tomorrow, they will be released some time this weekend. Then she will get a 1 week break at home before starting chemotherapy. Let's all hold on to the saying "third time's the charm". This was her 3rd surgery, combine that with the chemo and we'll hope for the best. Good Luck Brookie!

XOXOXO

Brooklyn and PICTURES!

Sicily at the Princess Party

Brooklyn sword fighting at the Hall Reunion

Princess Brookie at the princess party

A true pirate never sheds the outfit. Sicily has much to learn....
Brooklyn and her pirate loot.

The bike brigade (with Port in the background. He is just biding time until he can ride a bike with the girls and show them how it's really done)

Sicily loves to play the piano WITH Brooke. I'm not sure how much Brooklyn enjoys it, but she is nice and sits on the bench with the wild cousin Sis.

One of 2 family BBQ's we had over the weekend complete with Dallin's dutch oven cooking!

Brooke and Sis waiting for Uncle Dallin at the airport coming home from his mission.


My mom came home from the hospital last night. Brooklyn was still in the ICU, and they are going to be doing another MRI today to see how things are going. She is very sore. This time the Dr. went right in the back of the head so Brookie does not want to move around much at all. She did give my mom knucks so that is improvement from the day before! Brooklyn is not wanting to swallow so she has a lot of stuff in the back of her throat which they had to suck out a few times yesterday. It is unclear if the lack of swallowing is from the tube she had down her throat from surgery making her throat sore, or whether it is a negative side effect from the surgery. We are hoping it is a temporary setback. Her recovery is going a bit slower this time around, but we are hoping she will continue to progress and at least be moved out of ICU today. Thank you for all of the texts and calls. We appreciate all your love and support!