How slack have I been???

Here is our life in pictures for the past month. The knight costume wasn't for Halloween, Eli wanted one for his birthday and insisted on wearing it all day long. The one picture of him sleeping is from our procedure day...I find that I haven't taken many pics of us as we go through all of this, so whenever I think of it now Itry to take my camera. Jacob was chosen to be in the "art walk" at school, where they frame and post the artwork of chosen students and we have a walk to take a look at all of it. Finally, there is the boys with Santa...today we went to a Christmas party for Happy Days, an organization for kids with cancer. WE really had a great time.

Eli has had a cough for a while. The onc put him on an antibiotic last week at clinic just in case it decided to turn into something ugly. We have had no fevers...which is great. No hospitalizations...yea.

I cannot believe that Christmas is so close. Sallie and I went shopping on Friday and had a great time. We were at Toys R Us at 4:30am....crazy.

Things here have been going so well I sometimes get scared...but we will take it..

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for my family and that Eli's health has been so good this year...

What a day we had yesterday! Let me start by saying everything went well, no problems whatsoever. Now, on to the day.

It started with me getting the older boys off to school while trying to keep Eli upstairs. John had to go out of town, so I was on my own. Usually on procedure days I stay upstairs with Eli and get him completely ready so he doesn't have to go anywhere near the kitchen since he cannot eat or drink. Well, I had gotten the boys started on breakfast downstairs and Eli went right in front of me to go down and get going. Well, I had forgotten Eli's pillow and blanket (a must for long clinic days), so I went back up to get them. And I hear a scream and crying.....I race downstairs to see Eli standing at the kitchen table bawling and Jacob yelling at the top of his voice, "You can't eat...You can't eat!!" Then I saw the grape in Eli's mouth....I sternly told him to spit it out in my hand...and he did as he cried and cried. If it hadn't been so funny I think it would have broken my heart.

After that I had the grumpiest Eli I have seen in a long while. All he could talk about was how very hungry and drinky he was...he screamed the entire time Wendy accessed his port and continued to just be very difficult. It was not a fun morning. Everything got ready for us to have the procedure at 11:30 or so, so after that we were able to eat and drink. He was still grumpy for a little while, but then things normalized. Thanks for the prayers regarding the procedure and my worry. I did feel much better once I woke up and realized that in the scheme of things this was not a big deal and we would be fine regardless of what happpened.

I was able to go see the movie The Secret Life of Bees last night with Robin and Jennifer. It was a tear jerker, but a good movie.

Thanks for checking in. I will post pictures as soon as I get them off of my camera...

Maria

I am thankful for the help I have gotten over the past couple of years.

Boy is it nice not to have anything to write about in here!!

The elections finally being over left me not wanting to watch the news or get on the computer for a while. Although my guy didn't win, I cannot help but be excited by our election of an African American as a president. Go America!! I just hope that he has the experience to lead us out of these hard times. I say now that all is said and done, let's get behind him!!

Things here have been very "normal" Yea!! I went to a weekend (really Friday night for me) at a beach house with a group of moms at the Isle of Palms by Courageous Kidz, a group here for kids with cancer. Debby, the founder, was able to get us an amazing house on the front beach...how relaxing. It was really a great experience. I also went for one night last year...but it was different. As I have said, I think I am beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. It was great to talk to these women about their children, swap funny hospital stories, and overall feel like there are other folks going through what I (we) are. Sometimes there is a great feeling of being alone in all of this, especially last year when we were homebound so much.

We go to the clinic on Thursday for our procedure. Please pray for me to have peace. I don't know whether it is just that things have gone so well so far this year or what, but I have become more and more anxious about this appointment. Eli, of course, will just be himself and be happy go lucky the entire time. As long as I have his "picnic" for him when he wakes up!!

Thanks for checking in.

Maria

I am thankful for us being to November 12, 2008 with NO hospital stays this year....WOW