I feel like I haven't blogged in a long time, but it really hasn't been that long. Christmas was very nice. I am really going to work this year on making Christmas less stressful for our family next year. Hannah had to run all over the place, so did my sister. It's ridiculous. Elijah and I didn't go to Britt's parents because Elijah ended up in the hospital. I missed it but was thankful that I didn't go there and overeat like I normally do.
My birthday is coming up. 39. wow. After my birthday is mine and Britt's 10th wedding anniversary. I wish we could do something special.
I am growing tired of working every weekend, but I still know that it's for the best with Elijah's treatment. I make no money and I would just like to do stuff on weekends.. go camping, see a movie, just hang out at home. I am having some pity party moments these days and really missing my mom to boot. I don't know that it would be any better if I worked MOnday through Friday from 8 to 5. It would probably be worse. I just miss making decent money. I really need to rethink the way I do a lot of things. I seem to always say that, don't I? I guess I should listen to myself once and for all.
Blogging
Next Christmas
I think next Christmas I will not buy presents for anyone but my children. We cut things down this year - not doing a gift exchange with adults on Britt's side. I am just tired of stressing over what to get folks. Now I have everyone else taken care of, but my own kids!!! How crazy is that?
I want the kids to know more about Christmas rather than just wonder what they are going to get that's wrapped under the tree. I wish that one year we could go away and stay in a cabin - just the family.. Or enjoy the day at the beach. Seeing the true beauty of this world that God has created for us.
My birthday is coming up next month. I would like to have a dinner party for my birthday. Potluck, lots of friends, no presents. Donations to my favorite charities instead of gifts.
We are kitty sitting this weekend. Our sweet little friend Helen is getting some kittens for Christmas and Santa asked if they could stay at our house until it's time for them to be delivered. I guess it's too cold for kitties in the North Pole right now. :) They are really sweet. Our older cat has no interest in them, Dude, Elijah's cat, is following them everywhere. They are so playful! Elijah is enjoying having them here.
Tomorrow I go back to work. I have enjoyed being off even though we have been so very busy.
My friend Susan tried to sum up the past year in 30 words.. I don't know that I could do the same, but I will try.
2008
Hannah Sweet 16!, New hope for Elijah, new job, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Friends, missing old ones, Britt loves his job, read good books, lots of sorrow and joy, facebook addiction.
ha!
Home Sweet Home
I really like Philadelphia. I love being in the city, riding the train, seeing all the sites and different people walking about. I love all the history in Philadelphia - being in places where the foundation of our country was formed. We went to the most wonderful cafe last night. Naked Chocolate Cafe. Wow. Britt and I both had "sipping chocolate".. It was in a tiny teacup and served with whipped cream on the side. It was LOVELY. It was right next to our hotel that we stayed in after Elijah was discharged. We love our friends that live there and so enjoyed getting to spend time with them.
I like a lot of things about the city - but for everything I like, there are things that I do not like. I do not like the smell - it smells of urine and exhaust all over the place. I do not like the trash. For some reason people dump their trash along the train tracks and they are lined with garbage. It looks nasty. It's not a very safe place to be either.
I am glad we are home. I miss our pets and our bed. I missed our friends and our family. I have been excited to get home and get our Christmas decorations up and get Holiday shopping done. It's hard to come home and realize that you have to get back to the normal day to day business of life - but it still feels great to be here.
Suckish
I was sitting here thinking to myself while my lips are burning how suckish chapped lips are, but then I got to think about it in the whole grand scheme of things and decided that I will take chapped lips any day over some of the things that we have been dealing with over the past several years. Elijah's lips have been so chapped before that they molted, cracked and bled. Yuck. My chapped lips are nothing.
We receive the best news today. Elijah had an MIBG scan and it came back NORMAL.
We haven't heard that with regard to a scan since he was in Kindergarten before he relapsed. It was almost surreal, to tell the truth. It was like a sort of validation. What we are doing is working. The treatment we have researched and chosen for him really was the best thing. I prayed and prayed before his scan. I asked God to please let him have improved or stable disease so he could continue with his treatment. To have no disease show up on this scan was nothing short of God's Miracle in my opinion. Don't get me wrong.. He is far from out of the woods and truth be told he will be dealing with this disease for the rest of his life unless they come up with a cure. It's just a huge gigantic step in the right direction - the direction of keeping him healthy and with us for many years. Sigh.. Can you hear the relief in my typing?
Hannah passed her drivers test. It's more frightening than I can describe - to know that she will be out driving by herself very soon.
We leave on Sunday. I am hoping that it won't be as hard on Elijah as it was before. I am looking forward to being back in Philadelphia and seeing our friends again. Hannah will be with us this time and it will be a good opportunity for she and I to spend some time together. Much of the time in Philly Britt or I were alone because the other had to be with Elijah. Now Hannah will be there to keep us company. I think it will be good.
I guess I need to go to bed. Tomorrow will prove to be another busy day - this week has been crazy busy but I would go through tons more just like it to get the news we got today. I am grateful.
I am a Mom
I have been a mom for almost 16 years now. It's crazy. 8 years ago today, I held my baby boy in my arms for the first time. 16 years ago next Monday it was my baby girl. I am so blessed. We have had a million challenges together over the years but never once did I ever wish that I didn't have my children. I love them both so much and am so proud of them. They are both incredibly strong, brave, beautiful kids. The birthdays of my children is a special day for me too.