what a relief...

I have only good news to report today! So I breathe a sigh of relief until the next round of tests...
I'll begin with yesterday's events. We arrived for the hearing test, and were told we didn't have an appointment!! It quite honestly did not surprise me. I don't know if in our history at Children's we've ever had an uneventful, stress-free experience. At least they were quick to figure out where the problem was. The secretary fromm oncology never sent the order for the appointment. Lucky for us, there was an audiologist on hand with no scheduled appointments so she took us back within 20 minutes or so. The hearing test went as well as could be expected. The results were virtually the same as her last one. Her high pitch hearing has suffered from the large doses of chemo she had. I could hear the high pitch beeps long before she could, and she had head phones on that were giving the beeps. But she doesn't need any aid for it at this time. Next her pulmonary function test went fine. Lastly for yesterday she had an echocardiogram. On first look, the cardiologist said everything looked good. But Tuesday's tests weren't what I was particularly worried about...

So onto today. We arrived bright and early, not having had any breakfast (she was NPO from midnight on). Again, we waited. It was 45 minutes after our scheduled appointment that we were brought back. First she was injected with the contrast for the bone scan. She did not take it well. It was the first time in years she cried to get poked. After that it was on to CT's. She had to drink contrast. And then more waiting. A long time. CT's went well, though she was upset in there, too. After that, bone scan. It went fine, too. She chose to watch "Snow Buddies" during it. After about 20 minutes into it, they turned the machine so it rotated around her body. I was freaking out, because they have never done that before. My insides were shaking!! I was worried the tech saw something that they had to get a better view of. But, we had to wait till our 2pm appointment in clinic to find anything out.

We went for lunch and came back to the hospital. When we arrived really early for our appointment, they called her back right away to get her vitals. We happened to be placed in a room next door to Jack. What a strange feeling; two kids, same diagnosis, two totally different lives right now. I feel so awful for them. WHile I am so happy we are so fortunate to have Kaycey doing so well up to this point, it is so sad that so many others are not doing well. Why does it have to happen to anyone??

Once we were put into the room(1:20ish) , we waited until 3 o'clock for the nurse practitioner to come in. I see nothing has changed around there, though that's the longest we've waited in a long time. I am incredibly inpatient!! Especially when nervous. The waiting was terrible. Mostly because I kept invisioning a team coming in to explain things we wouldn't want to hear. I was hoping we'd see our oncologist, but she was in a meeting. Anyhow, the NP came in and said she only had good news!!! Yea!! They are so pleased with everything, in the next 6-12 months provided nothing comes up before that, they want to place her in "long term survivor care" instead of under the oncology team. This is good news. At the same time, the good news is hard to take...it means fewer visits, fewer tests. For me I think to myself, how would they catch the cancer if it came back?? Their answer is that generally the kids know if they aren't feeling right to the point where it would warrant further tests. As we left, we saw our oncologist and took Kaycey's picture with her.


So while we breathe a sigh of relief, the nervousness is lifted for the time being!! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They certainly helped : )

Withdrawl and Worry

Wow, posting twice in one day...
I don't know what we'll actually do with our Sundays now that football is over. Literally every Sunday during the season, we have football on from noon until night. Not that we necessarily sit and watch every moment, but quite a bit. Maybe I can say I will devote all that football time to doing something more productive. Like cleaning. Or scrapbooking. I like the sound of that. Or laundry (I think I did 12 loads in the past week, and will never be caught up--the laundry room is again overflowing, and I just quietly close the sliding door, and pretend it isn't there sometimes!!)


I changed my blog background, yet again. I think I needed something colorful. I think I have the winter blahs. It's nice the sun was out today (or does that mean a longer winter for the groundhog, I can never keep it straight).

Well, this week is the big week. Kaycey's tests start tomorrow bright and early. Just gotta keep praying and crossing fingers and whatever else it takes for her to still be considered cancer free. I have been a nervous wreck leading up to this. And I was stuck talking about it all day yesterday (I don't know if it was good for me or not) because Kaycey had a birthday party to go to. I took her, and she didn't want me to leave. So I hung out with the other moms who stayed (they are a group of friends). The birthday girl's mom asked me how Kaycey's cancer was doing (I am assuming she heard it from the teacher or maybe the mom I talk to regularly). I explained she was NED status (no evidence of disease) and then she wanted to know the whole story. Ironically her daughter and Kaycey were in ICU at the same time. Her daughter (the birthday girl) had gotten some bad strain of the flu, caught pneumonia, and then something else. She stopped breathing and was taken by flight for life to Children's. Anyhow, how strange we were in ICU during the exact same weeks. I tried to remember seeing her in ICU or walking the halls, but then figured, was I really paying attention to the other people in ICU? Anyhow, then a couple other moms walked up and I had to start over, because they asked why Kaycey was in ICU. I was surprised so many people were unaware of Kaycey's cancer. Mostly because there was a letter sent out last school year that all the parents were to supposed to receive in kindergarten discussing her lack of hair due to cancer treatment and talking to their children about being kind and sensitive, we're all different, etc... because so many kids were bugging her about it. By the end of the year, some kids turned a little mean, and hence the wig. Back to the party--so when we were leaving, birthday girl's mom said, "Good luck this week with your tests, we'll be thinking and praying for you." SO another mom wanted to know what that was all about. Sheesh. Well, I am happy that so many actually know the story now. But I must've sounded like a broken record to some moms. I try hard not to be someone who talks and talks endlessly about any sort of drama especially around people I am just meeting or talking to for the first time. Unless someone asks or I know that they want to hear about it, of course. I don't want people to have to hear a story ten times. But I was kind of center stage yesterday, talking most of the afternoon about something that makes my stomach turn. So I am, of course, really nervous for the next few days. Kaycey has this big bruised area under her ribs which has me worried because it seems to have appeared out of nowhere. It's been there for a couple weeks. Easily it could be from playing or roughhousing, but of course, I will be nervous until I hear it's nothing. So I end on a nervous note...while I try to go get some sleep!

Our Saturday Fun

We ate lunch and after lunch, Mike thought it would be a good time to teach the kids how to throw food in the air and catch it in your mouth. I, the worrier that I am, was nervous about them choking. But they attempted it anyways. So there was a bag of oyster crackers out and everyone was eager to learn. Afterwards, there was alot of clean up to do with oyster crackers all over the floor. After the kids fought about who would vac them up, Mike took charge and was then catching the crackers with the vacuum.

We had great mild weather for the first time in a while (mid 30's). So for the first time this winter, we went sledding. We didn't know of any hills around here, so we drove to Whitnall Park (which really isn't that far anyways). We had a great time!! Except that since we moved, a box of my "fall/winter" shoes are missing, which includes my winter boots. I wore my tennies, but it wasn't too bad, though. The kids had a great time, Mike had a great time, and even I had fun! (I'm really not that much of a winter outdoors person...)

Not the most attractive picture of me, but hey, at least I am IN a picture!!

goals...

The kids have goal reading calendars for school in which they are supposed to read so many minutes a month and at the end of the school year they earn carnival tickets from the minutes they've read throughout the year. Last year they both exceeded the minimum minutes required, and this year is no different. Kaycey has become a bookwork practically overnight. At the beginning of the year she really struggled with words and spelling. All of a sudden she can read almost anything you put in front of her!! Cal's teacher would like to have him tested to be put in a gifted reading group. The homework he brought home today brought back memories from one of my favorites about grade school--reading a few chapters from a book and having to answer questions on those chapters. I remember I was always done with the book in a day or two, even though we had a week or two to do it. Once in high school my AP World History teacher gave us a book report assignment and while we could choose the book (from a specific list), he challenged us to read "Pillars of the Earth". I was the only one who took on that challenge, and I read the book in a few days (it was 1000 pages long). I really miss reading the way I used to. I'd love to start reading avidly again. Anyone with good book recommendations?? Anyhow, Cal is supposed to be on chapter 4 for tomorrow; he is on 8. Perhaps he'll be alot like me!!

Onto my project goals....I think I've decided to use Fancy Pants' "Daily Grind" collection for my carousel. Not that I am going to stick with just that; but I wanted something to start with. I love this collection so much!! Office looking, yet colorful; I think it will be easy to work with since I'll be able to use B/W photos as well as color photos, and it'll all flow nicely. I'm excited to start this project. I haven't been doing half as much as I used to. It seems ever since we moved out to the "boonies" I don't scrap as much; mostly I'm guessing because it just isn't as convenient to go to the scrap. store whenever. I have so many projects I want to do!! A small book from when we went to Mackinac Isl, an NKOTB concert book for my cousins, sister, and myself (laugh if you want--but I have the perfect paper and embellishments for this minibook!), and at least 4 other 8x8 books or smaller that have been started but not finished. The more I scrap the happier I am. I really should bring the stuff out more often. I don't know what I'd be doing if I hadn't started working at the store. I don't know what I'd do without my scrap friends, either. I'd be so bored : ) If it weren't for my scrap friends, I wouldn't cry as much (to the point of laughter, that is!!)

Daily grind paper collection:

party pooper

So we went to Chicago on Saturday night for an engagement party. On the way we did stop at Gurnee Mills so I could stop at Archivers. I found some more stuff for my photo carousel, now I just have to decide what pictures and what paper to use.

The party was for a very good friend Mike used to work with. They are also the 2 who came to Frank Caliendo with us. Mike is standing up in their wedding in August, which is taking place in Michigan at a restored barn (that will make for GREAT pictures!!)

We got to the party right around 8pm. I didn't eat a whole lot for supper, and was already hungry by the time we got to the party. That was foolish on my part; I usually make a point to eat a lot before we go to a party, because I never expect there to be vegetarian things for me to eat (there wasn't!). I hadn't felt great late Friday night, and alot of Saturday. Anyhow, I didn't drink anything but cranberry juice because I was a bit tired, too, and I knew if I had a glass of wine while hungry, I'd be toast (and I'm not big on wine)! We saw people we hadn't seen in a while, too, so that was really nice. The couple-to-be make such a wonderful couple; they are just so perfect for each other.

Some people at the party began discussing the bachelor party (not a conversation I particularly want to be part of!) And the guys found out Mike doesn't have a passport. Apparently a passport will be needed for the bachelor party. I don't think so. I hate to be the rain on their parade, but when Mike gets a passport, it's going to be for us to take a trip somewhere. Am I being to harsh? I think not. I don't think Mike thinks I'm being too harsh, either. I would have no problem with a guys weekend for Mike--fishing, rock climbing, camping, whatever...but leaving the country???? Anyhow, initially we planned on staying the night, but since I had nothing to drink we decided it would be best if we just drove home. We got home very late, but it was nice to have all of Sunday to ourselves. It's not like me to be the wallflower and drinking nothing but water or cranberry juice. But I only knew a couple of people, and I guess I just wasn't in the mood. So anyways, I was kind of a party pooper this weekend.