20 shops to support this Small Business Saturday

Via Sweet Peach Kids

No doubt you all know the best of the Black Friday deals going down this weekend…(We’re even loading up our online carts in advance!) So, today we’d like to focus on giving a shoutout to our fellow small businesses in honor of Small Business Saturday.

We are part of an incredible community of small business owners — many of them moms like ourselves, who hustle and follow their passions, resulting in beautiful products and companies we are proud to support! Among all the Black Friday madness, don’t forget to shop small for unique Christmas gifts. Here are some of our favorites (including several we are partnering with for a giveaway on Small Business Saturday!)

1. Care Crates
2. Sweet Peach Kids
3. Little Sapling Toys
4. Hello Maypole
5. Covered Goods
6. Caravan Shoppe
7. Kortni Jeane
8. Bloomies Handmade
9. Gigi Pip
10. Tubby Todd
11. Mon Petit Shoes
12. Mae Woven
13. Gathre
14. Made By Mary
15. Hazel Village
16. Raising Wild
17. Lorena Canals
18. Briar Handmade
19. Piper Finn
20. Fawn Design

Genius tips for a truly stress-free Thanksgiving

Via Country Living

Hosting Thanksgiving this year? We salute you! No matter how much of a crafty supermom you are, we assume you have a desire for a stress-free holiday this year, right? Here are a few tips we've rounded up to make that happen.

• Delegate responsibilities. Most people have the sense to delegate out menu items, but we say don't stop there. Why not delegate table centerpieces, activities for the kids and even pre-dinner tidying jobs?
• Simplify the menu. This one comes from Ina Garten, and we think it's genius: After you make your initial menu list, cross off any items that have too long of an ingredient list and replace it with something simpler. No need to over-complicate things!
• Clear the fridge. Everyone knows the best part of Thanksgiving is the left-overs. Make sure you have the space to save all those heavenly dishes by doing an overhaul on the fridge a few nights before the big day. Two-year expired ketchup, your time is up!
• Do the Turkey Trot (even if you walk). Getting your body moving before the biggest indulgence of the year does wonders for your mood. Even if you're not up for running, join the local Turkey Trot once you get the turkey in the oven.
• Shower before starting the food prep. Every year it goes down the same way: we want to get "a few small things" done first thing in the morning before getting ready for the day, and the next thing we know the guests are arriving and we are still in our pajamas. You too? Put the kibosh on the habit this year and start the day showered and looking glam. Now you'll have a reason to wear that cute Williams Sonoma apron! 
• Pull out the conversation starters. Whether you use a homemade jar of questions on paper strips or have your own game of Table Topics, it's nice to have some ice breaker questions on hand while all the random extended family members get reacquainted.
• Eat out the night before. Heaven knows you need to muster all the cooking strength you've got for this kitchen marathon. Eat out before you tackle the job...or even better yet, order in!
• Set the table the night before. The less things you have to worry about on the actual holiday, the better.
• Make two grocery trips: Buy non-perishables well before Thanksgiving, then get the perishables a few days before. When you've got an overflowing cart and more grocery bags than your trunk can handle, it's time to break up the tip. Since non-perishables can be bought well in advance and usually come from the same section of the grocery store, get that task done on a separate grocery trip the week before.
• Make some recipes that don't require an oven. If you're one of those lucky gals with double ovens...well, we are very jealous. If you're like the average woman pining for such a kitchen, do yourself a favorite and stick with several recipes that don't require an oven. (See the next point for one idea.)
• Make slow-cooker mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes taste best right after being made, but who wants to worry about whipping up the perfect clump-free potatoes when there are a million other things going on at the last minute? Go with this recipe and you'll be ever so grateful!
• Prep in advance. You may be busy in the days leading up to the holiday, but you'll never regret taking a few minutes to bang out a few of the menu items well in advance. Execute one recipe a day and it'll be like it ain't no thang. Ideas:
• Cranberry sauce
• Freezer rolls
• Pumpkin pie
• Gravy
• Appetizers
• Stuffing

Ideas for using up Halloween candy

With Halloween candy accumulation extending to Trick or Treating, school parties, friend parties, retail stores giving it out, etc, Halloween has gone from a one-night celebration to a full-week frenzy.

We've heard some genius ideas parents have come up with to get rid of it:

• using it for Christmas gingerbread houses
• trading it in to the Halloween fairy in exchange for a toy
• donating it to troops over seas
• trading it in at the dentist or Jamba Juice

But we also like the idea of turning it into a kid-friendly activity that gets them involved and provides a service opportunity. Hence, this year we will be doing a little baking with our Halloween candy, then taking it to the local nursing home or homeless shelter to spread some cheer.(While these folks may get Halloween candy, a freshly baked good adds a little more warmth to the season!)

Here are some of our favorite recipes for creatively using candy in a baked good:

1. Trick or Treat Pocky sticks (use pretzel rods for an easier take)
2. Leftover Halloween Candy Blondies
3. White Chocolate Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats
4. Monster Cookie Granola
5. Halloween Oreo Candy Bark
6. Harvest Hash
7. Peanut Butter Candy Bar Fudge 
8. Crispy Butterfinger Cookies
9. DIY Caramel Apple Bar
10. Harvest Caramel Corn

10 FREE educational apps for little kids

When you need to entertain your kids but don't want to have them sit in front of a screen with their brains seemingly turning to mush, educational apps are a major lifesaver.

But there's nothing worse than paying for an app, only to find that your kid is totally not into it and your money has gone down the drain.

Hence, we've come up with a list of free educational apps for you to download just in time for holiday travel season. Test them out with your kids, and if they don't love them — no sweat! Delete them and try some others on our list:

1. First Words Sampler: An awesome app that engages kids in flashcards to learn to spell words and associate them with cute coordinating images.
2. Tiny Tiger and Friends: The cute graphics on this game haven stolen our hearts. Kids learn about getting dressed with this fun little app.
3. PBS Kids Video: If kids are going to watch TV shows, PBS is your best bet. All of the shows teach lessons and minimally annoying.
4. LEGO DUPLO Trains: For your train-obsessed tots, this app teaches about logistics and will keep them entertained for about as long as you'll allow!
5. LEGO DUPLO Food: Another fun one from LEGO that is great for either gender. We love how it teaches kids about business basics and emphasizes cleaning up at the end of the fun.
6. Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds: Who needs immersion schools when you have this fun app? (Kidding, kind of!) This app teaches foreign language skills through fun games and images.
7. Little Stars Toddler Games: Parents and teachers love this app that covers 10 different educational topics like numbers, shapes, colors and more. Bonus points for being super easy to customize!
8. Animal Memory Match: With three levels of difficulty, this classic game is perfect for toddlers and older kids alike.
9. Toca Kitchen Monster: Toca has tons of great apps for kids, but this is the only free version and it provides lots of fun for kids as they learn about cooking and cause/effect.
10. Breathe, Think and Do with Sesame: We love that this one covers a unique topic for kids and teaches complex principles of self-control, planning and persistence in social settings.

Dollar store toys your toddler will love

If there's one thing Christmas and birthdays with kids has taught us, it is this: No matter how many toys you buy, 90% of the time, they are going to lose the magic fast.

We have spent all too much time mourning the forgotten, hand-carved, wooden blocks we spent a fortune on. And though we've seen some success in putting toys away for a season and then reintroducing them, we really love this budget-friendly, #lazymom idea.

Next time you go to The Dollar Tree (a.k.a the place we always wonder how the heck our receipt total racked up so high) spend $5 or less on a few new toys for your kids. They will be thrilled. Ecstatic. Entertained...for about three days.

And when the excitement wears off? No problem! Toss or donate the toys, then pick up some new ones a few weeks later. They're so inexpensive, they're pretty much disposable. The ingenuity still amazes us!! Here are some of our toddler-approved favorites:

• Party balloons. Blow up the whole bag and throw them in the air, practice tossing them, stomp on them and let them pop, etc)
• Playdough. Our Dollar Tree has a 3-pack for $1. Perfect for a one-time Playdough sesh...then throw it away before it gets in the carpet!
• Bubbles. Bubbles are super fun for an afternoon when your lungs are feeling strong. They are not fun when your toddler requests that you blow them every single day until you want to pass out. Enjoy them for awhile and then be done with it!
• Halloween costumes. Stock the dress up box with cheap costume accessories during Halloween season and pull them out for rainy day fun.
• Stickers. Stickers are perfect around the 5 o'clock hour when your kids are pestering you and you need to get dinner on the table. Let them stick the whole pack on a dollar store coloring book and you're golden!
• Coloring book and crayons. We all know how fast a toddler can destroy a pack of Crayons. Hence, we like to stock up on several boxes and toss them as soon as the majority are broken.
• Sidewalk chalk. There's nothing more blissful than some peaceful time on the porch while your kids quietly play. Sidewalk chalk can save a long afternoon in a snap! (Use it to draw states, shapes and hopscotch for extra fun!)
• Paper goods. Pinterest is an endless source of inspiration for the easy crafts that can be made with paper plates, cups and bags. Search for a few minutes and head to the dollar store to load up on supplies! 
• Candy (for bribing). Even the best of moms must do it. Spend $1 on a bag of lollipops and pull them out in a moment of desperation. You'll never regret the forethought!
• Whatever other random crap they want. If you really want to make your kids' day, take them to the dollar store and tell them they can pick out whatever they want! After the shock wears off, they'll be the happiest kid in all the land — for at least one afternoon.

Top 10 costumes for Halloween 2016

According to our highly unscientific survey, hot costumes this year are all about current events, i.e. Trump, Clinton, Pokemon Go, David Bowie and Prince. But there are more official releases about costumes, so we'll turn to them for the facts.

What are the takeaways from the National Retail Federation's (NRF) Halloween Consumer Top Costumes Survey? For one, princesses are taking a (tiny) step down. For the first time in 11 years, action and superheroes nudge princess costumes out of the top spot for kids! Hashtag girlpower! (But Frozen characters are still in the top 10!)

Actually, superheroes score many top spots for Halloween costumes of all age groups — not that it's a huge surprise! Movies like Star Wars are guaranteed to be some of the other most-seen costumes on the streets. And for adults over the age of 35, classics like witches and pirates reign, along with political costumes. Read on for the official list for all ages (and pets!)

MOST POPULAR CHILDREN’S COSTUMES:
1. Action/Superhero
2. Princess
3. Animal (Cat, Dog, Lion, Monkey, etc.)
4. Batman Character
5. Star Wars Character
6. Tie: Witch and DC Superhero (excluding Batman)
7. Frozen Character (Anna, Elsa, Olaf)
8. Marvel Superhero (excluding Spiderman)
9. Zombie
10. Spiderman

MOST POPULAR ADULT COSTUMES (18 to 34 years old):
1. Batman Character (Batman, Harley Quinn, The Joker, etc.)
2. Witch
3. Animal (Cat, Dog, Bunny, etc.)
4. Tie: Marvel Superhero (Deadpool, Spiderman, etc.) and DC Superhero (Wonder Woman, Superman, excluding Batman)
5. Vampire
6. Video Game Character
7. Slasher Movie Villain (Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, etc.)
8. Pirate
9. Star Wars Character
10. Zombie

MOST POPULAR COSTUMES FOR ADULTS 35+:
1. Witch
2. Pirate
3. Political (Trump, Clinton, etc.)
4. Vampire
5. Batman Character (Batman, Catwoman, etc.)
6. Animal (Cat, Dog, Bunny, etc.)
7. Tie: DC Superhero (Superman, Wonder Woman, excluding Batman) and Star Wars Character
8. Tie: Ghost and Zombie
9. Scary Costume/Mask
10. Marvel Superhero (Iron Man, Hulk, Spiderman, etc.)

MOST POPULAR PETS COSTUMES:
1. Pumpkin
2. Hot Dog
3. Bumble Bee
4. Tie: Lion and Star Wars Character
5. Devil
6. Batman Character
7. Witch
8. Superman
9. Action/Superhero
10. Cat

10 Trader Joe's items for busy moms

We know we don't have to convince you of the magic of Trader Joe's. The chocolate-covered anything, the gourmet cheese, the irresistible snacks...they've had us at "hello." But as we've become busy moms, Trader Joe's has taken on even greater meaning for us. The amount of convenience health foods they have is simply unmatched. Here are our favorites!

1. Balsamic glaze. Add it to salads, pizza, sandwiches or pasta to take things to the next level!

2. Butternut squash zig zags. Fun enough to convince your kids to eat their veggies.

3. Chicken apple sausage. For nights when you have no idea what you're going to cook.

4. Tomato basil marinara. Because boiling a little pasta and topping it with this stuff is the easiest meal of the week.

5. Chile lime chicken burgers. These burgers are amazingly delicious, made of totally clean ingredients and so much easier than making your own.

6. Spinach and kale Greek yogurt dip. How else will you get your kids gobbling spinach and kale?

7. Organic brown rice. It's in the frozen section and ready to save you in the times when you forget to turn on the rice cooker (ie, every time)

8. Instant oatmeal. Yummy and ready to be heated in the microwave, without the sugar of Quaker packets.

9. Mirepoix mix. A life-saver for soups and pastas. So worth the money when you can save a solid 10 minutes of chopping time!

10. Chicken cilantro mini wontons. Another easy meal when paired with rice — or the mirepoix mix for the fastest wonton soup of your life!

How much do you pay a babysitter?

Via

Before we became parents, we never knew how much debate could be caused over the question of how much to pay a babysitter. But now we know better. It seems everyone has a strong opinion about how much a babysitter should be paid, and those opinions range from $2 to $25 an hour.

Enter, the babysitting conundrum: if babysitters are in high demand and you would rather pay on the low end of the scale, you risk having the competition take away your go-to, trusted sitter. But if you're paying on the high end while your neighbors are paying much less, you'll feel frustrated every time you for out the cash for date night/girls lunch/momma alone time/dentist appointments.

What's a parent to do with a quandary like this? The absolute best advice we've heard is to consider these questions, set a rate and then communicate that rate to your sitter before they accept the job. That way, expectations are matched for both parties, no one leaves disappointed, and you'll know if really need to be paying more (if the babysitter doesn't accept the job.)

Via

Another great theory we've heard is to pay an hourly rate equivalent to the price of a movie ticket in your area. And if you're stumped on what to pay when you have only one child...or maybe a LOT of kids, try the $5 per child, per hour rule. (So if you have two kids you'll be paying $10 per hour, three kids and you'll pay $15, etc.)

Still thinking through how much you should pay? Here are some other points to consider when setting your rate:

• Will your babysitter be driving to you or are you picking them up? Pay more for the convenience of a sitter who can drive.
• Will your babysitter be expected to tidy the house, bathe your kids, make dinner or do any other jobs that can be tough to tackle? Pay more if so, and tip them if they go above and beyond.
• Will your babysitter simply be keeping the kids alive — a.k.a. sitting with them while they watch a movie? Or do you want them to engage in more meaningful activities? Consider this when setting your rate.
• How old is your babysitter? Pay less for younger, less experienced sitters and more for older, more experienced ones.

Luckily, the babysitting dilemma seems to get easier the more experience you have with it. You'll learn what babysitters expect, what other parents are paying and what you think is fair. Still, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject in the comments below! 

7 new trends to try this fall

Perusing fashion blogs, pinning away on Pinterest, managing a billion online returns and trying on clothes at the mall — all while wrangling kiddos — can be a real buzz kill to our inner fashionista spirits. We need somebody to give us a report on the hottest trends in a simple, digestible list so we can get to tackling our wardrobe shopping for fall.

Hence, we've done all the research for you and now present the best of fall trends! These trends are new, fresh and ready to revive your closet. Read on for our favorites of 2016!

1. Bell sleeve tops. Like you're living in the movie "Ever After" — but it's real life! We are obsessing over the flowy, romantic tops we're seeing this fall. Give us all the voluminous sleeves and peplums!

2. Oversized vests. Vests are a unique layering option for fall and a great way to add interest to an outfit. We've seen some amazing long vests in black, camel and olive that will really pump up your maxi dresses or simple jeans and tee look.

3. Adidas fashion sneakers. Lifestyle tennies have been a trend for a few years now, but Adidas is the latest brand to take the fashion blogger land by storm. Stock up on your favorite pair in fall colors, and praise the heavens that footwear trends are so darn practical!

4. Wide-leg, cropped jeans. After a decade of skin-tight skinnies, denim is naturally reverting to the opposite end of the spectrum with wide-leg silhouettes for fall. We love this funky nod to the 70s and are scurrying to find the perfect pair!

5. Jumpsuits. Like denim, jumpsuits have taken a turn in the wide-leg direction. We love that jumpsuits make getting ready super simple (one piece to put on!) but aren't as fussy as a dress.

6. Statement calf booties. We've seen super short ankle booties around for the past few years. While those are still in style, the hottest new bootie is calf length, and comes in crazy patterns perfect for adding a dash of fun to your outfit.

7. Culottes. One more item to add to the wide-leg pants trend: culottes! They may remind you of your grandma in the 50s, and that's precisely what makes them so glorious. They're retro, fun and funky all at once. 

September Mighty Hero Cohen

Meet Cohen our Mighty hero for September. Did you know that September is Childhood cancer awareness month? Did you know that worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer every 2 minutes? Childhood cancer is the NUMBER1 cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15 in the United States. Lets come together and GO GOLD for this handsome fighter Cohen and all others fighting this! You can donate to Cohen and his family here www.psiadoreyou.com Every penny of your donation will go to Cohen. Stay Stong buddy. We love you!

Cohen was born on March 2, 2015.  He has an older sister and an older brother who adore him! Cohen has a smile that can light up a room! He is a happy baby who is adored by everyone he meets! 

On Monday,  February 1, 2016 Cohen's parents rushed him to Primary Children's Hospital due to a terrible tummy ache. After some tests, Cohen was sent home with the thought of maybe it was just a bad case of gas. On Friday, February 5, 2016  Cohen was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. 

Cohen has a huge road to recovery ahead of him. He will be in and out of the hospital He has many test and procedures ahead of him. Countless amounts of medicines. Time off of  work plus driving back and forth to the hospital. 

Let's all pull together and show Cohen and his family how much we love them! Financial burdens should be the last of their thoughts at this time. 

10 delicious cheap eats in Salt Lake City

As many of you know, our company is based out of the Salt Lake City area, and though we have customers all over the country, a lot of them live in Utah like us!

Hence, we decided to put together a list of restaurants our inner foodies simply can't do without. They're all ridiculously delicious and affordable enough that the whole family can grab a bite without breaking the bank. So whether you're a local or find yourself in town for a layover someday, bookmark this post and then get to chowing!

1. Bruges. Waffles will never be the same once you've tasted a liege waffle from Bruges. These authentic Belgian waffles are made with an overnight yeast dough dotted with pearl sugar pockets...it'll be making you say, "OMG" for days.

3. Spitz. The doner kebabs ubiquotous all over Europe now have a home in SLC, thanks to Spitz! The mixed meat Zesty Feta Doner wrap and the loaded sweet potato Street Cart Fries are a flavor explosion in your mouth — and the salad is seriously the best we've had at any restaurant, like, ever!

4. Chungas. We like to call this one of the best little secrets of the SLC area. This westside spot is totally unassuming and totally amazing. They are THE spot to go for authentic Mexican eats.

5. Even Stevens. Even Stevens has taken the Wasatch Front by storm in the past few years, and for good reason. Every sandwich is on point, the sugar cookies are amazing, AND they donate one sandwich to someone in need for every sandwich purchased.

6. Pizzeria Limone. Pizza is our "stranded on a desert island" food, and we say Pizzeria Limone makes some of the best. It's fast, cheap, tasty thin crust you'll have to try for yourself to see how real the addiction is!

7. Bocata. Who knew mall food courts could be so gourmet? Owned by Settebello Pizzeria, this sandwich shop has unique and high-quality ingredients to fuel your City Creek shopping escapades.

8. Cubby's. Oh Cubby's, how we love thee so. Though the original location is in Provo, Cubby's opened up shop in Sugarhouse last year and we are oh so grateful! Their steak salad, tri-tip sandwiches and burgers are all incredible.

9. The Park Cafe. The first time we ate here, we couldn't believe the affordable price point and can't-go-wrong menu. The vibe is fun, the location is great and the hearty breakfast food is a smash hit.

10. RubySnap. This list wouldn't be complete without a bakery! RubySnap churns out the most divine cookies in all the land. We're talkin' flavors like dark chocolate mango, molten spicy chocolate and Lemonhead lemon sugar cookie. Be warned, it's dangerous territory!

The busy mom's guide to school lunch 2016

Packing school lunches is one of the things we dread most about back to school season. Don't get us wrong, we have plenty to look forward to (like grocery shopping alone!) but our kid's lunches seem to go from creative to schlepping the scraps in less time than it takes a toddler to inhale a Gogurt packet. (Approx. 15 seconds, if your kids are anything like ours)

Hence, we hope this guide to school lunch can save the day and keep the mundane from creeping in for at least another month or two! Read on for a lunch box buying guide for any age, followed by a roundup of our favorite non-sandwich meal ideas.

1. For your older kids who appreciate a little irony. (No, they won't be getting French fries in their from-home lunch anytime soon!) $7.99 at Target.

2. A clip-in Bento to keep our slightly-OCD selves in pure merriment. $7.92, Amazon.

3. A cute lunch box that's out of this world. $12.59 at Target.

4. We love the external bottle holder on this one. $22 at Land of Nod.

5. Perfect for any age and can hold a ton. $12.80, Amazon.

6. Skip Hop has an adorable selection perfect for the pre-schoolers. $14.99, Amazon.

7. Eco-friendly and comes in bulk. The best of both worlds. $13.95, Amazon.

8. The Cadillac of Bento boxes, with endless ways to fill each cute little nook! $55 at Planet Box.

MEAL IDEAS

1. Hummus veggie wraps

2. Baked veggie taquitos

3. Deconstructed salad

4. English muffin pizzas

5. Build-your-own tacos

6. Hardboiled eggs and cheese

7. Banana peanut butter roll-ups

8. Fondue

9. Asian pasta salad

10. Quesadillas

HEALTHY SNACK IDEAS

1. String cheese

2. Apple sauce packets

3. Babybel cheese

4. Trail mix packets

5. Clementines

6. Grapes

7. Raisins

8. Dried mangoes

9. Turkey or ham roll-ups

10. Cashews

11. Skinny Pop popcorn

12. Clif Z-bars for kids

13. Homemade granola

14. Chobani yogurt

15. Baked chickpeas

16. Carrot sticks and Ranch dip

17. Cucumbers and cherry tomatoes

18. Hardboiled eggs

19. Apple slices and peanut butter

20. Homemade protein bites

5 Cute back to school traditions for your family

No doubt about it, August is in full swing! We're mixed with feelings of sorrow about glorious summer days ending and joy at getting back to a routine.

Though time feels like it's racing at warp speed as we squeeze in a few more trips and get the kids ready for school, we can't help but get excited about planning some new back to school family traditions. Check out the list below for inspiration running the gamut from simple and fun to all-out Pinterest Mom perfection.

1. Back to school feast. Recalling Stephanie Nielson's annual "back to school feast" idea gave us the inspiration for this post, so we figured it had to be listed first. Stephanie prepares a dinner, presents a family theme for the year and gives her kids homemade crowns and small gifts to send them into the new school year. The whole shebang is absolutely swoon-worthy and darling!

2. The backpack fairy. Parents magazine offered up the idea of "the backpack fairy" to get your kids excited for their first day of school. Kids put their backpack at the foot of the bed when they go to sleep the night before school, and they awake to it full of fun surprises like a lunch treat, new item of clothing, backpack accessory or extra fun school supplies.

3. Bedroom door decorations. Although this idea was originally for a holiday or birthday, we love the idea of decorating your kids' bedroom doors to really pump them up first thing in the morning. It's an easy and fun way to boost their confidence!

4. Back to school interviews. Back to school photos are definitely nothing new, but we love the idea of making the moment even more meaningful by including a chalkboard of answers from your child's "back to school interview." Make the chalkboard with chalkboard paint and chalkboard pens, then wipe clean and save it for next year!

5. Back to school bash party. Poca Cosa blog wins the creativity award for her "back to school bash" idea. If you really want to go all out, check her post to see how she created an entire party filled with school subject-themed activities, cafeteria-themed food and more. So adorable!

Mighty Hero Max

                                               Meet our handsome Mighty Hero Max!

On February 20, 2016 Max went to Primary Children's Hospital because of persistent vomiting and headaches. The MRI revealed that our perfectly healthy 4 1/2 year old boy was anything but healthy and had a golf ball size brain tumor. The tumor was removed the next day in surgery. Max was diagnosed with High Risk Medulloblastoma Cancer. High Risk because the tumor had spread in his brain as well as down his spine

 Max was in the hospital for 14 days & now faces 9 months of intense radiation and chemotherapy. Without treatment Maxs life expectancy would be 6-12 months. Max also has to participate in Physical & Occupational therapy to help his body recover from the surgery. 

After being home for only about a week we had to take him back to the ER (March 14, 2016) bc of vomiting & headaches again & found out he got meningitis from the surgery & also contracted RSV while at the hospital. Max had a permanent shunt implanted in his head during this stay & was released this second time on March 28, 2016 making it another 14 day stay in the hospital. During the 6 weeks of Radiation treatments, Max contracted C-Diff from the multiple antibiotics given to him in the hospital for the meningitis. Because of this Max lost a lot of weight which resulted in him needing a feeding tube. Radiation caused multiple burns all over his upper body. The last of the 31 treatments of Radiation was on Friday, May 13th. On June 7th/8th 2016 was the next MRI & Lumbar Puncture to see how the cancer was looking. Luckily those scans came back really good showing that the cancer has decreased a lot. Also on June 8th he had another surgery to insert a G-Tube to help with feeding him since he kept vomiting up the NG-Tube. Our first of six inpatient chemo treatments was on June 29th.

Radiation was super difficult but Chemo is a whole other difficult. For two full weeks he would randomly vomit which was hard on him but this also resulted in him not being able to get much nutrition. Besides the vomiting there has been a lot of headaches & stomach aches that we can't figure out how to make go away. Next round of chemo (number 2 of 6) is scheduled for August 10th, 2016. Please keep Max in your prayers, thank you!

Every penny of your donations will go to Max and his family. Click here to donate www.psiadoreyou.com  Any amount is appreciated. Max you are so brave and strong. You have a army behind you fighting! All our love and prayers are with you daily. You got this! Stay strong! We love you!