Reunion

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away I knew a boy named Jon. He basically lived across the road from us. I went to school with him in Vader. Our 6th grade class consisted of 3 boys and 9 girls for a grand total of 12. Huge class. After 6th grade you choose between Toledo or Winlock School. I chose Toledo along with Jon and a few other "Vaderites." Jon ended up moving to Idaho during 8th grade. I tried to track him down several times but couldn't find him. Not long ago he came through Vader and stopped at my Dad's house. Mom & Dad told me later that he had stopped and that they thought he lived in Portland.
I figured I'd look on Facebook and see if he was on there. I found a Jon Cochran but there wasn't a pic. I figured I'd at least send a message to see if it was him and it was. We were able to talk for the first time a few weeks ago after forever. We have been keeping in touch and decided for everyone to meet.

After almost 19 years we finally got to have a little reunion. Jason, the girls, and I went to Portland last night and ended up at their house. Jon, his girlfriend, and her little girl have an awesome house. Jon loves cooking and made us an incredible dinner. It was very good. We were able to eat and catch up for a few hours before we had to head back home. It was a great evening. It was nice to see Jon again. I look forward to hopefully hanging out again.

Father/Daughter Dance

Tonight was the Father/Daughter Dance at the Chehalis Middle School. I think it's Kindergarten-8th Grade. This is the 3rd year that Jason and Makenna have gone. I have to say that the dance is cooler than any high school dance that I've ever gone to. Pretty cool for little girls and their daddy's.

I can't believe how grown up Makenna looks.



Last year Makenna noticed other girls with wrist corsages. This year I went and ordered one for Jason to surprise her with. She loved it.

Makinley & I dropped them off and ran a few errands. Then we came back at the end to crash the party.

Jason & Makenna towards the end of the night.

Makenna & her friend, Natalie.


It was so cute watching everyone dance. It was a fun night.

Good News

Today was Makinley's Seattle Children's Hospital appointment. She had to have her fourth VCUG and a follow-up with her urologist, Dr. Joyner. The point of all of this was to see if all the procedures and surgeries that Makinley has gone through for her kidney/bladder reflux issue worked. Her main surgery was 3 months ago on November 24th.

We got back to a room where they took her BP and temperature. Everything was perfect there. They also weighed and measured her. She is 42 pounds and 3'10" tall. We had to wait awhile but they had a T.V. with cartoons on so she really didn't mind.


For all of her VCUG's she has had some sedation. Basically they have to put a catheter in, empty her bladder completely, insert a liquid dye up through the catheter that slowly fills her bladder, fill her bladder until she freaks out, pull out the catheter, and then she has to pee while laying there. The whole time they are taking x-ray pictures of the whole process. The want to make sure fluid isn't going back up her ureters into her kidneys while her bladder is filling or while it's coming out. Needless to say Kinley does not approve of the catheter, the cleaning process before hand, or the pressure of an extremely full bladder. She was very happy when it was over and so was I.

Before they take her back for the procedure she is given her "happy" meds. At first you can't tell but then she starts to get silly.

And she gets sillier.

And then she is pretty much delirious and giggles over everything. I wish it worked like this through the actual procedure.

After she is done she is cleaned up and wheeled back to her room where she gets apple juice and animal crackers. She is obviously still under the influence here. Some of the things she says are hilarious.

About 4 hours later we are waiting for our appointment with Dr. Joyner. She passes the time with some coloring.

When we finally get into a room she then proceeds to decorate the dry erase board. Dr. Joyner was impressed. He also shared with us the news that we had been waiting for.....NO MORE REFLUX!!!!!!! I am so happy and relieved. It has been a long two years dealing with this. She has to take her meds every other day for two more weeks and then she is done hopefully forever. That will be nice. Makinley is very excited about that part. So unless we have some major issue happen between now and then we won't bring her back until January 2010. Almost a year break. At that appointment she will get her kidneys x-rayed so we can see if they are growing again. She had one kidney that had actually started to shrink so hopefully now that the reflux is fixed it will be able to grow and be healthy again. So it look like no more VCUG's too. Thank goodness.

After a very long day with horrible traffic and weather we had to stop on the way home to eat. Besides the juice and crackers Kinley hadn't eaten since last night. She said she was starving to death. Since we got such good news we stopped at Mongolian Grill on the way back so she could have some noodles and rice. She ate a ton. Then it was back on the nightmare freeway and finally home. I'm so glad that we made it and got good news. I feel very happy right now.

Help Bring Rahel Home

A family that is very dear to me is in the process of adopting their 6th child. I consider Barbara to be a mother to me. She is even more special since losing my own mom. Barbara and her family lived in Toledo from 1994-1995. She is such an amazing wife and mother. The following is the e-mail I received from her today. I want to do everything I can to help spread the word to possibly get them some help to make bringing Rahel home easier.

Barbaras son, Shawn, who is training to be a doctor, is in the process of training for his fundraising marathons. The links to Mahel's blog and the fundraising webpage are included in the letter. Barbaras blog can also be viewed at mom2many.blogspot.com.

Thanks so much~Stacie

Barbara & Brian with their adopted girls and grandchildren.



Brian and I are in the process of bringing home our 6th adopted child from Africa. And we need your help.
Rahel is 15.

She lives in Ethiopia.

She has waited a very long time.

She has seen her friends come into the children's home, stay for a period of time, and then leave for their new home. She wishes them well, and smiles for them, and then cries because she has been left behind one more time. Rahel has gone through this scenario many many times. She longs for a family. She needs a family, and as Dave Thomas says, every child deserves a family. She asks the families who come for other children, "Nobody has picked me, will you come back?"

Rahel's parents are dead. As with many children in Ethiopia she has been orphaned by the affects of aids and HIV related diseases that have caused the death of her parents. She has been alone for 5 years. Her uncle took her to the children's home and left her there. Probably one of the reasons she has waited so long is that she was already considered an older child when she arrived. Younger children find homes more easily than the older children.

Please help us bring Rahel home. Most of the work is done and most of the expense has been covered, but we still need to pay for the expense of traveling to Ethiopia to do the final paperwork and also pay for her ticket home. Time is running short for Rahel.

To help us Shawn is running a four STATE 45 mile marathon to bring attention to Rahel's situation. If it is possible, any size donation will make a difference. Your help is appreciated. We have learned through our experiences with the children we have brought home so far that adoption changes the world for these kids. They are grateful, helpful, and anxious to see their friends and others helped. All of them talk about becoming doctors like Shawn to go back to Africa and "help the children".

Please visit Shawn's blog to see his progress training for his 45 mile run. www.rahel.humanrunnerproject.com

You will find a link there to make a donation to sponsor Shawn's run to bring Rahel home. Or if you prefer you can mail a donation to
Hansen Adoption Fund
9201 Old Country Way
Evansville, IN 47720

You can also visit Rahel's blog at www.ahomeforrahel.blogspot.com

Thank you for your time. Thank you for helping if you can.

Barbara & Brian Hansen

Matchmaker 5K Run

I convinced Jason to run a race with me. Between the weather and floods I have not been able to get to Thorbecke's to work out like I have wanted or needed to since the snow started in December. Stress and the death of my treadmill have not helped matters. I am back on the road to training though so it can only get better from here.

Today was the Matchmaker 5K Run/Walk. You could participate in pairs or as a single. Jason & I ran as a pair. It was pretty chilly out so Makenna decided to sit and watch in the truck with Papa Mike, Grandma Brenda, & Great-Grandma Heitzmann. Makinley was able to ride the course. Rob & Theresa Myers did the walk and pushed her in a jogging stroller. They said that she talked the whole way :)


Makenna ran to the finish with us and then ran back and forth with Jason while we waited for Kinley.



Makinley and her buddy, Rob.

February Snow

I couldn't believe it when I got up this morning that is was snowing....again. And it kept on snowing here until about 2pm. Crazy weather. The one good thing about the snow is that is covers the mud. I was thankful to look out and see something bright and beautiful. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get the car out of the driveway to go pick Makenna up off the bus but we made it, barely.

Makinley and I went out in the garage to take pictures. She loves the snow.

For Aunt Amber & Brice

Aunt Amber is marrying Brice in August at South Lake Tahoe in California. The girls are very excited to get to go on a real vacation. We found these shirts with Lake Tahoe on them and they wanted me to take some pictures to surprise Amber & Brice.