Soccer, 1st grade, and finding her sense of humor

As cancer appointments have gotten fewer and further between (and taking Graf with us is a huge bonus when we do have to go), Izzy has shown that what she learned in perseverance has paid off. She has overcome some major deficits in school this year--going from an inability to write and read (due to predicted deficits post-cancer) to 100's on spelling tests and beginning chapter books. It hasn't been easy playing catch up at home or at school, but she has worked her booty off. (I have to mentioned: We owe a huge thanks to constant one-on-one help from teachers at school). Meanwhile, she has become! (I was going to list all those things she has become, but I think that pretty much sums it up :)

(Oct conference in SLC on temple square)

Kickin the crud out of a Boosterthon Fun Run...she ran 41 laps when 35 was the most they counted. No walking in over a half hour!

With some visual-spacial challenges, soccer wasn't the easiest sport to learn. She ended up scoring twice and was always the one that never quit trying. One of her goals I can still see vividly in my mind: She got a bit of a break away from about half field. When she got to the goal and gave it that last kick, it hit the side post and bounced back at her. She stopped, looked at it, slumped her shoulders very noticeably for all to see as if to say "you gotta be kiddin' me" and then kicked it on in. GOAL!! Then you should have seen her strut with her hands on her hips looking down at her cool Junebugs jersey back to center field. Man, she loves that jersey!
Happy Birthday...wow 7 years old! Pizza party on the trampoline with good friends...what more could you want!

Mrs. Hawkins should win best teacher in the universe award. She hardly refers to Izzy with her name. It is always "sweet baby girl." Her husband passed away from cancer and she has taken Izzy in with as much tenderness as a teacher could have. Here she's proud of Izzy for singing her heart out at a school concert.


GOOF BALL:

#1
Onions...the smell of onions....the thought of onions...let alone cutting them for cheese soup make Izzy tear up. Had to get a picture of it :)
#2
So sappy sweet for her Bo-Peep shot
#3
Always giving somebody bunny ears

and the winner is... #4
A snowflake pose she came up with all on her own in a dress-up outfit not allowed out of the house...lol!

Always livin' and lovin'

I love to post for Izzy! Always conquering a new feat and living it up!


Even something as simple as dalmation day at school.
As for Leukemia...we continue to check her blood monthly and everything is still looking great! She has skipped over 5T clothing sizes and passed up the 6 months she was most likely to relapse! Counting blessings.

Jack-O-Lantern...Boo!

Kindergarten!!

Izzy started kindergarten, learned to ride a bike, and lost her first tooth!!



So we are 6 weeks past due on this post.

Kindergarten Story: Izzy's brain and body have awaken! Since chemotherapy ended she has lost a pound and gained an inch. She has also had the energy to go a full day at school (8 to 3) and come home wanting to do more school work! Mrs. Hodges has been a total blessing--Izzy loves her! She told me she wishes all her students were as eager to learn and content to sit, listen, and smile as Izzy.

Bike Story: We started with a tiny bike--the one that Lorin learned on and then noticed Izzy and Lorin are different! (like opposites!) Lorin can peddle 150 cycles a minute...Izzy prefers a stroll. So we got her on a bit bigger bike and she caught on quickly--great to see some physical coordination come around. Now she rides to school with Lorin in the mornings and can't get enough! (pic coming soon)

Tooth Story: A week ago Izzy came to me pumped to say she found a loose tooth. This is something she's been wishing for since Lorin lost her first. I thought it would hang in there a while, but she came home from school yesterday tooth in hand--she had wiggled it out on her own during class! The tooth fairy took care of a very happy girl that night :)

Izzy's Journey (video link)

http://picasaweb.google.com/cory.costley/IzzySVideoTreatment?feat=email#5353297774305690898

Here we are--4 days away from the end of chemotherapy and the beginning of a new season for Izzy. Her journey has epitomized Heavenly Father's love for our family and the plan of happiness that he has for each of us. He has placed amazing people along the path to lift us up and carry us through--we love you. Thank you all so much. Enjoy the video :)

(Don't forget to click on "view HQ video" above the top right corner of the video.)

Isadore had her very last spinal tap, her second to last round of steroids and vincristine, and started her last month of Methotrexate, 6-MP, and Bactrim. Due to low blood counts (not sure why), she has been on 1/2 dosage of chemo this last week and WOW the energy! We can't wait to see her completely done. July 10th here we come!

Izzy is a Texas fish!! She is swimming like a pro and is determined now to master the art of diving for sinker toys--working against the fact that her body naturally wants to float. We'll blame it on the steroids :)

Just a couple of cute shots of my girl, Izzy. Every day we are amazed at her strength and spunk and can't wait for these last couple of chemo months to fly by! Watch out Kindergarten, here she comes!