Hawaiian Farewll Song

We attended sacrament meeting with Sherry and Ryan on Sunday morning.  I was excited to find out that it was their ward's Primary Program-- the most anticipated sacrament meeting of the year, in my opinion.  Add to that that the opening song was Because I Have Been Given Much and you have one emotional tourist!  It was fun reading (and trying to pronounce) the Hawaiian names of the children, hearing them belt out each and every memorized song (not one prompt picture!), and see 90% of the kids recite their parts from memory-- even the Sunbeams.  I loved that they used their names in their talks, proclaiming their own fervent testimonies about reading their scriptures, or being an example at school, or feeling the spirit as they read church text to an ailing non-member grandparent, who in turn asked them to read it again.  It was a powerful meeting.  But one of the most amazing experiences of my whole life happened directly after the meeting-- one that I will never forget as long as I live.

The Bishop asked the members to stay after the prayer, to sing goodbye to a member that was moving with her two sons to the mainland.  After the prayer, the congregation stood in unison as the pianist started to play.  Many did not need the words they had glued to the back cover of the hymn books, and as it turns out, neither did I.  As the woman tearfully walked to the front and grabbed her sons that were still sitting on the stand, the ward started to sing the Hawaiian Farewell song, and I lost it for the second time in one hour.  The spirit in that room was breathtaking, and tender, and beautiful.  As I looked around, choking back sobs because of the feeling, I saw many crying openly as they said goodbye to their friend and Sister.  It was beautiful to witness so much love and caring displayed in such a tender way.  Mine were not the only tears, but they were the only ones shed because of the love shown, instead of actual love for this Sister and her sons.  As everyone else decided whether to stay for the other two hours, or continue our Hawaiian vacation, I watched as friends surrounded this woman, covering her with multiple leis and floral crowns and hugs and kisses.  She was overcome with love and tearful sorrow, I was overcome with gratitude to witness the beautiful display.  My heart was so full realizing that we've had our own moments where love and kindness were beautifully displayed, moments where those that witnessed its glorious beauty could not hold back the tears.  Compassion is glorious to behold.

The kids were not interested in staying for the remainder of church.  And, since we were on a limited-time vacation, we decided to head back to the beach to relax.  This time, we took sand castle stuff as well as the snorkeling gear and body boards.

 You can see Keilie in the picture above.  I'm telling you, she spent more time than all of us combined with her face in the water.  She found turtles, fish, sea cucumbers, crab, and starfish.  For a girl that is always looking at the ground, snorkeling is just the thing for her.

And, because Sunday is usually a day of absolute rest, I'll post a few pictures of nature that I captured throughout our week in paradise.

 I'm not sure what these trees are called, but they looked SO fake.  We called them the Plastic Trees.  We all decided that they looked more like Lego trees than real ones.  It is hard to really see it in the picture, but they looked completely fake in the real.

 We love these "Serengeti" trees!  Our favorite tress on the whole island.

 (In the BATHROOM of the Polynesian Cultural Center!)

I have about a million more tree, mountain, and ocean pictures, but most of them will be added to the other days.  These are just the vegetation ones that I found stunning.  Randy laughed and joked with the kids, "Hey, guys, there's another shade of pink flowers.  Let's wait over here while mom gets a picture."  Psh, please, it's not like they had to wait that long!  I swear, I could spend an entire week simply capturing pictures of flowers and I still would not be able to capture all of the beauty of that one island.  There is SO MUCH BEAUTY ALL AROUND!!!  Each drive gave us more and more to look at.  60 MPH was the fastest speed we saw on the island, but I almost wish it could have been 40.  Sometimes it felt like we were speeding too fast to really see what was around us.  One day, I'll take as many pictures as I would like!

As we lay down that night, words from the opening song came to my mind, causing silent tears to fall into my hair.

Because I have been given much, I too must give; because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live.  I shall divide my gifts from thee, with every brother that I see who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care, I cannot see another's lack and I not share.  My glowing fire, my loaf of bread, my roof's safe shelter overhead, that he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord, I'll share that love again, according to they word.  I shall give love to those in need; I'll show that love by word and deed: Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

Thank you so much, Sherry and Ryan, for the charity you freely gave so that we could have our week in Paradise.  Your home is a beautiful safe haven for which we are supremely grateful.

Landing to RUN!

 Portland Airport for our 7:00am flight, after waking at 5:00am.

 Honolulu Airport after arriving 30 minute ahead of schedule, after our 5 hour flight.

 My man, waiting for our one checked bag.

We made it to Sherry and Ryan's home, immediately changed into our suits and headed to a local's secret beach.  Even if I could remember the name of the beach, I still wouldn't post it-- it's that secret!  This view met us approximately an hour after we arrived on the island.  And it got better and better each second.

We tried for a good family picture, but the sun was too bright, the wind was too swift, my hair was too wild, the kids were too restless, the water was too enticing.  What a wonderful problem to have.  This is the best we could come up with. 

You can't tell in this picture, but Caden and Randy are swimming among EIGHT sea turtles right now.  All within an hour of our arrival.  The wheels of the plane touched down and we took off running.

 *It should be noted that I wanted to get a picture of all of our kids buried in the sand, but the girls rarely were seen out of the water.  Keilie used the snorkeling gear more than any of us, combined.

According to Sherry and Ryan, this was the busiest they'd seen this beach in the four months they have lived on the island.  The sand was perfect, the water was perfect, the wind kept us from feeling too hot, and the company was perfect.  Because of this, we came back to this beach two other days.  Our beach time was my favorite activity in O'ahu.

After our beach time, we changed, had dinner at a local BBQ place, went souvenir shopping, and came back to relax for the night.  It's funny, but on this one night in my life, going to bed at 7:00pm was WAY TOO LATE! As we prayed as a family around their front room, air mattresses and pillows scattered around us because of the generosity of Sherry and Ryan, my heart burned white-hot in my chest:

We made it!  

We swam with turtles!!  

We.were.in.Hawaii!!!

HAWAII

Soon after we heard that our fight was over, Brennon contacted me, offering us three tickets.  After our meeting on Tuesday, feeling shocked and scared and more beaten than we have ever felt, Randy asked Caden (without really talking to me about it first, which came as a fun, unexpected surprise), "So, ya wanna go to Hawaii?"  And our crazy idea started its race to our reality.  Randy found flights that could work for his own collected points, allowing us to get as close to four tickets as possible to add to Brennon's three.  Once that was figured out, I sent the information to Brennon, hoping that it could work.  Brennon started what we now know was a near-impossible task.

We didn't hear from him on Wednesday.  Thursday morning, he sent word that the airline wouldn't do it. 

8:01am- "Hey Steph, I'm sorry it has taken so long but I have been waiting for Alaska to get back to me.  Unfortunately they said no.  I'm sorry, I wish I could have helped.  The tickets were only good for the continental US.  I told them the story but they still said no.  Jerks."

Upon hearing this, Caden said, "Well, what about a beach in California?"  So we tried one more time.  While I was at the gym, Randy went on to find flights to San Diego.  Because it was closer, we were able to get all four tickets with Randy's points, hoping that Alaska would allow us to go to California with Brennon's credit.  Again, I got the information to Brennon.  Again, he started to work for us to be able to go.

10:56am- "I'll call today and see what they say."
11:27am- "OK no getting hopes up but if they could still do the flight to Hawaii, would you prefer that?  Not saying it's for sure, but I got someone good.  There would be a small fee per person though.  Let me know."

We asked Caden.  He wanted Hawaii.
11:29am- "Hawaii"
11:42am- "The fee is a little more per ticket.  Would this price be alright?"

We again talked about it.  San Diego would have been free flights, but not free hotel (we would have used all of Randy's hotel points and then some) and not free activities.  The price difference would come out about even for both vacations.  Again, Caden said he really wanted Hawaii.

11:45am-  "Let's do it!"
11:58am-  "OK it looks like I was able to get it done for you.  I'm on hold while they switch the tickets."
12:11pm- "95% there.  She is just changing the names and seats now."
12:11pm- "Payment just went through."
12:16pm- "Even better news: they upgraded the tickets to MVP for the trip there and the trip back."

And just like that, seven tickets were purchased to Hawaii-- the dream destination that had been a "no" just 4.5 hours before!

 We got the kids a box of Hawaiian themed items and had them open them together.  SURPRISE!!!

WE ARE GOING TO HAWAII!!!!!

Chillin

Knowing that Caden needed some time to just chill on Sunday after Homecoming 007, Randy decided to pull out one of our favorite relaxation tools: His Authentic Brazilian Hammock!

 What would make a hammock more relaxing?  Your trusty dog, of course.  Look at those smiles!

 Love that Randy captured all of the kids in this one.  See Brennon in the background?  Love it.  Also, notice the grape vines, leaves, and bunches?  This spot in our backyard smells divine right now!!

Monday morning, Randy found Mira in the hammock, totally just chillin while the kids were at school-- Caden included.  Apparently you don't need a boy in there with you to relax.

However, she does look a bit less happy than her Sunday relax sesh though, huh.  Caden makes things better.

Not to spoil the surprise, but we are in the tentative works of throwing together a beach vacation.  Tuesday sucked, so we're running away for a bit.  At this point, if flights don't work out (my generous cousin is trying to get Alaskan Airlines to switch flight credits in his name to actual flights in ours), I'm prepared to run my son to the beach!  Fingers crossed that we get a "YES!!"

UPDATE:

It's official!!

WE ARE GOING TO HAWAII!!!!!!

With my cousin Brennon's credits and Randy's flight points saved up the past few years that we haven't been able to travel, we only had to pay 1/4 of the ticket costs for a family of 7!  We're staying with Randy's sister and brother-in-law!  And our To-Do list is topped with an activity that requires official, capital letters: BEACH!  And get this-- we found out at 12:30pm that we are leaving tomorrow after school!!!  The excitement that is sizzling through our home and hearts could power the plane, no stops!  Thank you, Brennon and Leah Gomm, for your generous gift!!! 

Oahu, here.we.come!

WE ARE GOING TO HAWAII!!!!!

Simple Question

All it took was one simple question to turn yesterday's Hospice appointment from "needed necessary evil," to "stuff that nightmares are made of."  We met with the new Hospice people after the recommendation came from Sue that she had a certain nurse that she really liked.  They came out for a regular visit to kind of give us information about their company and see if we would like to move forward.  We told them that anything Sue suggested, we'd do.  Sherry was scheduled for 9:00am Tuesday.  Since it was the induction meeting, we knew it would be the longest meeting we would ever have with them, we just didn't realize it would be so hard.  We were unprepared for the unfiltered honesty about what to expect at "the end."  And if it was hard (understatement of the century) for me to hear, I cannot imagine what it was like for Caden! 

There were the routine questions about Caden, Randy and I, and our family life.  Then questions about Caden's medical history where she wanted to hear more of Caden's side of things, since she has access to his medical files.  Sometimes you just need to know how the patient felt about something, rather than the cold, hard facts of the chemo or surgery notes on the page.  Then she kind of went through what we should expect from and of them.  She asked Caden how many times he felt he wanted her to come-- "Once a week."  She asked us how we felt about having Hospice in our home-- Caden: "I don't really want you here."  Me: "I know you are our necessary evil."  to which both Sherry and Greg (the social worker that we found out will come with Sherry every two weeks) both bowed their heads and said they understood.  They asked if we had any questions.  Randy did.  And I wish beyond wish that we wouldn't have asked any at all.

"Do you do fluids in the home, or do we go to the hospital if he becomes dehydrated."

Looking directly at Caden: "Well, when you are at end of life care, there will be things that you have done in the past that will not be the best thing to do now.  Our bodies are a miraculous machine, telling us what we need and do not need.  When your organs start to shut down, sometimes it is harder to break down and process certain things, which will cause you more pain than good.  At the "end" it will not be the best course to have you drink that water, to have you have that broth, to have you take that vitamin.  Your body will just begin to shut down, little by little, until you just do not need anything.  That is ok.  That is normal.  That is to be expected.

Think about a baby.  They cannot tell you when they are full, but they can show you: they turn their head away, they clamp their lips.  Our bodies are the same way, you will not need or want food or water; your body will know what it does and does not need.

Oh, and there will come a time that your throat will begin to close up.  It is almost like your brain will not remember how to swallow.  You'll notice it in stages, that drinking light drinks like water will be very difficult, yet drinking a milk shake is easier.  You'll start to notice that you'll cough after drinking, because your muscles aren't what they used to be, so the water will get stuck going down and your natural reflexes will make you cough it out.  This is normal.  This is expected.  This happens at the end of life cancer.  You will not need to eat or drink, because you'll stop swallowing all together."  Remember: all of this was said while she was looking directly at my 16 year old son.

As the words were coming out of her mouth like uncontrolled vomit, her eyes never leaving Caden's face, I felt my own throat closing up, my own panic at even the prospect of not being able to swallow literally swallowing me up in that moment.  I wanted to run.  I wanted to tackle and punch and punch and punch her.  I wanted to scream.  I wanted to cover Caden's ears.  I wanted to ask her to leave.  I wanted a place to hide us away from this truth, where cancer could not find us or hurt us or touch us ever again.  I wanted to rage and cry.  I wanted to take his place.  I wanted him already gone, so that this "expected" crap could no longer threaten or hurt him again.  I wanted to die.

I stopped her right there, wishing the arm that I put out could actually reach the distance to her mouth, to literally cover it from saying another word.  Placing my hand on Caden's knee, I asked him if he wanted to hear any of this, since he'd always had us hear the hard stuff and tell him about it later.  In a very wooden, emotionless voice, he said, "I'm fine."  Sherry thanked me for stopping her, saying she was happy to see that we were comfortable making sure that she did what "we" wanted her to do, that they were there for us, that we were in charge, that she would never have "hurt feelings" if we did or did not want her to say or do something, blah, blah, blah.  On and on and on she was talking, but I didn't want to hear another word.  Already, it was too much.  I had no idea this would come up today, I was not prepared mentally or emotionally for this-- it was supposed to just be an initial check up for Caden and contract signing for me.  My son is going to get to a point where he cannot swallow.  We ended this one hard portion of conversation with, "We always find that it is hardest for those watching.  The cancer patient isn't in as much pain as the caregiver at this point."  And at that very minute, I worried our home would suddenly explode, and that I was the bomb.

Sherry did the exam on Caden, telling him that "this is what most visits would be like, that today's appointment was the longest, hardest appointment we would ever have."  She did the usual things: temperature, height, weight, feeling of his abdomen, listening to his lungs, things like that.  And when she pulled out her measuring tape, my stomach fell.  She measured his arms to compare weight and muscle loss for later.  Instead of just memory and pictures to remember his wasting away, we will now have measurements to record it.  I usually love exact numbers, but cancer has changed even that for me now.  I don't want proof that he's wasting away.  I already know.

As soon as he was done, he told us he wasn't going to go to his recently changed 4th and 5th period, that he was only going to go to Seminary.  He walked upstairs and shut the door to his room.  I am not sure how I did it, but I didn't allow myself to cry as I watched him walk away, or even while these devils with friendly smiles were here.  And the hardest part was coming, I just didn't realize it-- I had just had the hardest conversation of my life.  Or so I thought.

"Have you ever seen one of these?"  It was a green paper that did not look familiar to me in the least.  "It is a paper that medical professionals will always look for at 'the end.'  It is your wishes for you son."  And then she started talking and talking and talking about what we were deciding at that very minute.  Things like medications that we choose to give him that could either extend his life during suffering times, or medications to simply keep him comfortable.  Or whether we want to bring him back to life after his heart stops, or if we want him to just.... I forget all four decisions that needed to be made, because those were the two that stabbed me in the heart with a hot, blunt knife, then twisted and dug that knife around and around and around, finally pulling it from my chest and filling in those four boxes that we had to place the x's.  We choose to give medications only for comfort and to let him just die when it happens.  And I wish beyond wish that I could just go with him.  That our family of seven could just go at that time.  If anyone ever wonders what hell is like, tell them it is the induction appointment with Hospice and the weeks where Death stalks and murders your child.

Subconscious

Randy woke from a nap on Sunday, saying we should look up what claustrophobia dreams mean-- he'd had more than one for a few weeks now, and the one he just awakened from was the weirdest, most intense of them all.  So we did.

"Dreaming of claustrophobia may be a sign that you feel a problem in your life is impossible to escape from or becoming too limiting to bear."

Hmmm.... wonder what that could be...

****************************

This is complete conjecture, but I think Mira can really sense that something is wrong with Caden.  For months now, we've seen a gradual change in her.  She isn't becoming naughty, not that kind of change, but she's more skittish and on edge about everything.  She sees a new toy the kids purchased at the dollar store, and she's pressing herself into a corner, eyes turned away while her snout is up in the air, eventually hiding her whole face behind the pillow basket next to the couch, refusing all comfort.  When we tried to calm her down by calling her to any of us, she looked like a rabbit caught in a pen.  We just left her alone, not touching or calling to her, for more than an hour.  For a dog that loves to be in the thick of it all, this was very weird and sad behavior.  It was the most pathetic she's ever been in her Mira nervousness.  Being nervous around cardboard boxes and paper bags is cute and endearing; being terrified to even sit next to us on the couch broke our hearts.

Because of some Kohl's Cash and an incredible sale, I was able to get a nice Instant Pot for a really great price-- 70% off, plus I got more Kohl's Cash back!  We opened up that box of joy, plugged it in in anticipation of our first go at this faster way to cook fad, heard the little beep it makes upon powering on... and watched as Mira ran behind our couches and hid under our side table, shaking.  She was basically catatonic when it beeped 10 times at the end of the pressure cooking time, running in circles under the table that measures 3'x3'.  It happens every single time she hears that beep.

Caden's pain since Saturday night has unfortunately been intensifying.  Where he'd either feel pain in his back (the new, large tumor near his right kidney) or a pain at his belt line (the new, semi-large tumor in his pelvis), alternating and mostly at a four, it is now his entire "trunk," at a solid five, intensifying to a six at any tumor location at times.  Last night, around 10:00pm, Caden woke, asking for pain medication.  He still refuses to take stronger stuff (can you imagine the reality that will be for him to admit that it is time for Morphine?!), so Randy took him three Ibuprofen.  When Randy walked in and saw Caden kind of doubled-over, he also noticed a scent Mira gives off when she is extremely scared/startled/nervous-- it smells strongly of dead, rotting fish!  The light was on, so it couldn't have been that she saw a silhouette in the darkened doorway that scared her.  The home was quiet, since all the kids were in bed and our show was paused.  The only thing I can think is that she could smell Caden's cancer, or feel his pain and anxiety.  Either way, she stank and Randy could smell the scent even as he walked down the stairs with Caden's door closed.

I've read and heard many stories about dogs being able to smell cancer.  I've read where dogs fixate on their owners mole or side or wherever it is, alerting them to a potential problem.  But, with Caden's cancer filling his whole abdomen, growing fast and unhindered, I don't think Mira knows what to do with the "knowledge" she has that something is seriously wrong with Caden.  And it rips my heart out every time she frantically panic-barks for no reason, or runs up the stairs as if she's being chased to lay on her bed, or hides instead of being with us.  If we thought she was a nervous dog before, it's nothing compared to what she is now.  She is a mess.  Like me.

Dreams Come True

 Our day started with suit prep.  We made sure to launder and starch the shirt, press and steam the suit and tie, and polish the shoes to mirror shine.  I did one last tie-matching session with Jennifer and Rebecca at noon, to make sure that one of the six ties we purchased would match her outfit.  Or run out to another store, should none of them work.  Jennifer has two dresses coming from China, so she didn't wear her true Homecoming dress, but we still wanted them to match.  The sixth tie that we found was the one!  We'll do the same thing when her real dress is chosen.

 While Jennifer took her time doing her nails, waxing her eye brows, getting her hair and makeup perfected on her beautiful face, and generally doing all the fun stuff that girls love to do, Caden took three seconds to put on his suit and add gel to his hair.  Such is the easy, pain free life of a male!

 I quickly grabbed a few pictures before The Six showed up to begin their night.  I am supremely proud of myself for holding in the tears.  I'm sure this night would have been special had it simply been just "Homecoming," that I would think my son looked incredibly handsome in his suit, but to know what lay in store for him, because of him and those that love him, it made me look just a bit longer and adore him just a bit more.  My son is freaking handsome!!  I am one lucky mother!

 Rebecca wanted the boys to add one more element to impress their dates, so she asked me to pick up roses for them to present to their Beauties.  Taking it just one step further, I wrapped a silk ribbon around them-- Bachelor style!  I almost coached them to say, "Will you accept this rose?" but stopped myself.  I'm already the creepy, mamarazzi, cry baby mother-- no need to embarrass him further.

 Caden, Zachary Bagley, Connor McShane, Nathan Haggard, Zachary Graves, Jacob Kreutz

Wishing Spencer Hammond, Logan Powell, Mason McShane, and Bailey Stafford were 16!

 The only other surprise of the night for their Beauties was the rental of this Party Bus/Limo.  The girls were told to be ready between 4:30-6:00pm, and that they were caravaning to pick them up.  Little did they know that they were to arrive in such grand style!

 All of these guys are total studs, but my heart melted seeing my son's smile.  He is SO handsome, and SOOOOOOOO excited!  I don't think there was room in his body for nerves, only excitement could be felt.

 While they were driving around to pick up the girls, we rushed over to drop off a batch of fresh baked cookies for the dance party.  This is the scene we walked in to, knowing that Caden and Jennifer would be soon behind.  They were finishing up the final touches, yet it already looked like something out of a romantic movie.  Hollywood could not have done a better job!

They thought of everything!

They literally lassoed the moon for this night!

 Mike Stafford spent all night, literally, putting this backdrop together for them.  There is a platform to sit on, so that the couples could sit on the moon for their pictures.  And, who should be there photographer for the night?  None other than my good friend and personal photographer, Sunny Wright.  My goodness, so many people came together for us!

The dance floor, missing only 250 invited kids!  The entire Richland High School LDS Seminary was invited!  And, not wanting to spoil too much too soon, but almost all of them came!

And, because I can't help myself, we quickly drove back and waited across the street from Jennifer's home, all stalker-happy and giddy.  I contemplated buying us wigs and disguises, but I forgot last minute, so we just played it totally cool and watched Caden's face symbol driving from home to home on Find My Friends (a tracking app that we totally love), not creepy or weird at all!  I may have squealed as we saw the limo coming up behind us!

ALL THE HEART EYES!!!!!

 Once they picked up all of the girls, the limo driver was told to drive around, getting them back to the Ritchie's home at exactly 6:00pm.  Caden said it was fun, that they made music videos and sang, and just had a great time.  What a fun, just-getting-started time, the-best-is-yet-to-come time!

 We only stayed for just a minute or two to get a few pictures of them at the table, we didn't stay to see them even serve up the amazing dinner.  After all, this is a real date-- who wants their mother all up in their business, shoving a camera in their face as they take a bite?!

 As we were leaving, the DJ was just arriving.  My heart did just one more leap as I thought of all the fun yet to come in his night!

 While Caden was on his date with The Six, Keilie and I did a little shopping of our own.  And let me just say, I could shop for cute dresses with this girl all.day.long!  I could have purchased every single one she tried on, too.  Man, this girl is stunning.  She had her bestie, Rachel, come over and help her do her hair and makeup.  I remember that always being such a fun part of getting ready-- the excitement with friends.  One of my most memorable dance times was with Ashlee in our upstairs bathroom.  My hair was not coming together for Junior Prom, and it will come as no surprise that I had a bit of a temper tantrum and bashed my head a few times with my brush.  And then we laughed and laughed.  And my hair behaved, because of the bashing--I sure taught it!  Rachel had more success with Keilie's hair, and made it look 100 times better than mine turned out that night-- no bashing required.

 We dropped her off at 7:30pm-- the official start time of the Night Under a Thousand Stars Dance Party.  We grabbed Caden for a quick picture, giggling that we unexpectedly made them match for the night.  My goodness, these two are so cute together!  I love their relationship!

 We also took the younger three to see the event for a few minutes.  After all, this was all for Caden.  We wanted them to remember the opulence and grandeur that was pulled together in just six days, because of the love and generosity of so many, for their older brother.  It may not be as wondrous in their young minds as it is for everyone else, but they will never forget the feelings they felt on this perfect night of all nights.  It was a PERFECT night.

Randy and I came home and watched a movie with the younger three until their bedtime.  Once they were tucked in, we headed back for our last look-see of the night.  It was fun to stand back and watch our kids have fun with their friends.  The night was a bit chilly, but only to those that stood on the outside looking in.  Once on the floor, the sheer number of moving bodies made for a rather perfect temperature.  Like I said, it was a perfect night.

 It was about 9:00pm when we noticed a difference in Caden.  We could clearly see that he was in pain.  It's not as if he was super obvious about it, but when you've been watching him as closely as we have for the past few years, you can almost feel it yourself.  We took him aside and assessed the situation.  His pain was a six, he was really hurting.  When we suggested that he take advantage of the tables set out for those that needed a rest, his answer was an immediate, "NO!"  He didn't want to tell Jennifer, to do anything that would bring attention to himself and take her away from the fun.  While Randy was getting him pain medicine, I was recruiting his friends from the dance, telling them that they could join Caden in the house if they wanted.  And to the everlasting love of my mother heart, The Six joined him immediately.

Seeing Caden's brave face and continued radiant smile, the Ritchie's suggested that they choose a movie and gather downstairs in their theater room.  These amazing, wonderful, generous, thoughtful people spent hours and hours decorating out back, yet happily offered him a solution that wouldn't make Caden's pain the elephant in the room (or on the dance floor), yet kept the night alive for them all.

It was at this time that we left for the last time.  My Keilie was on the dance floor, along with approximately 200 kids (they had a guest book to sign in, but we know that not all signed in.  Last count was 186 at 10:00pm, so we all think it really is closer to the 250 count we had initially expected), shining and gorgeous as she accepted invitations to dance, while my Caden was surrounded by friends that knew he was suffering but not once brought it up-- they know and support him so well.  Keilie, please remember: It was not your beautiful hair and makeup, nor your perfect dress and matching shoes that compliment your skin tone so well, it was not even your gorgeous face that made you sparkle last night-- it was your bubbly, giddy, effervescent personality that drew your friends to your side.  You are gorgeous inside and out, my Keilie-girl.  Man, I love you so much.

Keilie left the party promptly at 11:30pm, while The Six finished their movie after midnight.  Caden said it was not awkward at all at the door, that it was a "GOOD" night.  As always, I'm glad I have a son, but I wish he was more like a girl in his story-recounts.  I want details, son, details!  He arrived home at 12:21am, falling asleep at 12:21:56 I'm sure.  Now that it has come and gone, I think we can safely change the name from Night Under a Thousand Stars to:

Night of One Hundred Thousand Dreams Come True!