Monday, May 30, 2005

Monday, May 30, 2005 9:21 AM CDT

Hello - sorry it has been so long since I updated.

We went to Arizona last week and had a great time. The kids are so good on long car rides that the drive was no big deal at all. The drive was about 12 hours plus stops. We picked up Luke's brother, Josh, halfway there - in Albuquerque and proceeded to the Phoenix area. We spent the weekend hanging out with good friends and their kids. All the kids LOVED the pool and since it was 115 outside - that was a good thing! Nathan and Julia because very comfortable in the water and were swimming around the pool in their "floaties".

On Monday morning we left Phoenix and drove to Tuscon to visit my aunt and uncle. Luke caught a flight home that evening and the kids and I left on Wednesday morning. Nathan and Julia loved learning about the plants and cacti in the desert. My aunt took them on several walks around her property looking at all the plant and wildlife.

We drove home in two days, stopping in Albuquerque for the night. Once again, Nathan and Julia were very good on the ride.

So - we've been home since Thursday. The trip really tired me out. I had very bad allergies to something in Phoenix and am recovering from that. I am still somewhat nauseous and have an almost constant headache. So - that is my excuse for not updating!

Today, Luke is working despite the holiday and the kids and I will go to a friend's house later for a cookout.

Tomorrow, Nathan has appointments at the ear doctor and the oncologist. These are routine checkups. At the oncologist he will just have a physical exam and we will discuss the timing of the next round of scans.

The kids and I are off to Hilton Head Island next Monday to visit my parents. I am not exactly ready to go on another trip already but I am looking forward to being there!

When we get back we will prepare for Nathan's birthday on the 16th!

So - that's our update. I don't expect to learn anything interesting at the doctor appointments tomorrow, but I will update if I do.

Monday, May 16, 2005

Monday, May 16, 2005 8:56 AM CDT

We have had another good week. It was filled with fairly normal stuff. Nathan had preschool. They had several playdates. I realize I fail to mention what Luke is up to most times. The answer is usually - work as usual. This past week he has been working nonstop and will also be doing some travelling in the next few weeks. I had my 12 week OB appointment on Tuesday. The doctor was having a little trouble getting the heartbeat on the doppler and so took me across the hall for a quick ultrasound. It was fun to see how much the baby had changed from the blob it was at 8 weeks. Anyone interrested in seeing it can look here. It is hard to see for those not used to looking at ultrasounds - but the baby's face is ont he left side - its hand and foot are sticking up.

Nathan's last day of preschool is Wednesday. They are having an ice cream social on the last day. I can't believe it is almost over and Kindergarten is next for him.

I think I may take him into the oncologist's for a check-up at the end of May. We need to figure out when his next scans will be. With our busy summer schedule they will either have to be the 3rd week fo June or the first week of August. We don't really want to even do them - but I suppose we should. We are enjoying this medical free time and it has been nice to be able go along for awhile with a normal life. The thought of finding a relapse terrifies me and it would be even more heartbreaking for it to happen right before he is about to get to go to Kindergarten. However - the prevailing theory is that it is better to find a relapse early so I guess we need to keep scanning.

We are off to Arizona soon. The kids and I are going to take a side trip to visit with my aunt and uncle in Tuscon after we leave Phoenix. It means a long drive home for me (Luke will fly home) but I have decided it is well worth it to make the visit.

Well - that is the update around here. Hope you all are doing well.

Monday, May 9, 2005

Monday, May 9, 2005 9:46 AM CDT

Hello - I hope all you moms out there had a happy Mother's Day.

Remember that slight cold Nathan had? Well - he is over it, but I got it and it was bad for me and I spent the last week sick. So we didn't do much. I managed to do the bare minumum of running the kids around. Unfortunately I have a cough and that doesn't mix well with morning sickness. So - I am afraid I don't have much to write about for last week.

I did have a good Mother's Day. I felt well enough to go to church and sing. After church we went out to lunch. We just relaxed the rest of the day and had dinner and an ice cream cake for dessert. It occurred to me that I have now had more Mother's Day since Nathan's diagnosis than before. Wow! I am so thankful for every day with my children and especially thankful that Nathan is still here with us - seemingly healthy and happy.

Nathan did get his immunizations last week. He did really well - I am so proud of the way he deals with such things. He is now at the point where we will draw blood to check if his immunizations have taken. After that I think he starts getting some different ones. He has been getting 4 at a time.

I go to the doctor tomorrow for my 12 week OB visit. I can't belive the first trimester is almost over. I am now in the unfortunate stage where none of my clothes fit and maternity clothes are too big - so if you see me - please ignore how horribly I am dressed!

The kids, especially Julia, have been telling us here and there what kinds of things we will need to have for a new baby It is very sweet. What we do need to do soon - is get our basement turned into two rooms instead of one big room so that Luke can have is office down there and we can also have a playroom too.

Nathan only has 7 days of preschool left! I goes his usual 4 days this week and then next Wednesday is his last day. I feel sad for him that it is ending - he realy loves it. I really like his teachers and his classmates moms - but the nice thing for me is that Julia will be in the morning class next year with the same teacher and 2 siblings of his classmates.

After preschool ends we are off to Phoenix to celebrate a friend's (Jim Barton) law school graduation and to hang out with several friends for a long weekend. We are renting a big house with a pool and it should be a really fun time.

Thanks for checking in!

Monday, May 2, 2005

Monday, May 2, 2005 6:45 PM CDT

Hello -

There is not too much going on here - which is a good thing! We have been having atrocious weather - cold, snowy and cloudy, and have been mostly staying inside.

On the medical front - Nathan has some immunizations on Wednesday. I don't know when we will do scans next. I also don't really care to know right now - so it is fine with me!

Nathan has a little cold, but other than that seems really good. Julia seems to have bounced back from everything and is doing well too. Nathan went to a birthday party on Saturday at a place with large inflatable jumping things. I was happy to find that his hip did not bother him afterwards. So - hopefully that is on the mend.

We have some happy news to share. We are expecting a new baby in November! I am due on Thanksgiving Day. We just told Nathan and Julia about it this weekend and Nathan seemed interrested and Julia was very excited and happy. Nathan immediately started asking techinal questions like "what does the baby do while you are eating dinner?". I have been feeling fairly sick the last week or so. Nothing too awful - but I am trying to take it easy when I don't have to be running around doing things. I have had a sonogram and seen the little bean with its beating heard and that was so wonderful to see.

So - that is what is going on with our family right now. I hope all is well with all of you.