C gets a brief snow outing...

We unhooked C from the I.V. for a half hour or so to check out the snow...

 Hi Frosty!

 Thanks Lonnie for the hat, it is so warm and cozy!  :)

 What I see when I carry C around, he always rewards me with a smile or cuddle when I look down...  :)

 <3

H finds a more efficient way to get back up the hill after sledding down...

Let it snow...

Toward the end of Scott and Cindy's stay the Northern weather finally caught up to them, and snow began to fall, and fall, and fall...

It began on Wednesday, didn't think much of it, slushy snow / rain mix mostly.  We had decided to actually GO OUT together (very unusual these days) after triumphantly returning from the clinic earlier that morning where we learned that C was on the way up in his white blood cell counts, somehow sailing through this round.  We figured with as close to a normal immune system response as he'll ever have, may as well enjoy it right?  So, what to do...  We went to see the planes at Udvar Hazy!  We had the place to ourselves due to the weather and it really was a fun trip.

Upon leaving the museum, it was just starting to turn to snow, that was around 3:30...  We finally arrived home, just before 6!  Yep, 2.5 hours to go 5 miles, it was some ride in two cars...  Luckily the kids were sleeping for the most part, and the adults were amused by things like watching mail delivery trucks driving up hills sideways, watching snow accumulate in the branches next to us as we sat still on the road, and the occasional expedition uncle Scott made to help push a stranded motorist up a hill or out of the road.  And we all made it home in time for dinner, even daddy, thanks again Scott for shoveling everything out, and even moving bagel vans out of the way!  ;)

We even managed to make room for a stranded last minute guest from B's work, whom H promptly drafted as a new play mate.  The happy consequence of our full house was that we were lucky to have 3 men around on Thursday morning to help with the shoveling and they made quick work of it.

And we also managed to enjoy sledding yesterday before uncle Scott and aunt Cindy left, and again this morning along with snowman assembly.  Hot cocoa always follows our snow escapades, which is as it should be.  Luckily I have managed to keep our pantry stocked with it.  :)

And finally, I found a couple of cute shots on the new camera from our last hospital stay, so here are some gratuitous cute chemo pics, so nice to see him smiling his way through it... 

Belated Christmas post...

So I meant to post this long ago, on Christmas day itself actually, but by the evening we were off to the E.R. again to start what would be our longest hospital stint yet (23 out of 24 days inpatient, between 2 hospitals...).  So finally, here is the tree built by the unexpectedly overflowing kindness of others:

The tree itself, as well as the overwhelming majority of the lovely gifts beneath it, were funded or gifted directly to us by a great many kind folks, co-workers, neighbors, family and friends, and even some strangers through charitable organizations such as Growing Hope and some groups who provided gifts to the kids in the hospital around the holidays.

Some of these gifts brought tears to our eyes, most brought smiles to the faces of our children, and all helped to make this a wonderful Christmas morning for our family to share together, without the stress of trying to pull it all together from the hospital.  The real gift was a great memory that we will always hold close of this first Christmas that we were able to share as a family.  We hope you know how dear of a gift you gave to us by including us in your holiday shopping and keeping us in your thoughts.  :)

P.S.  Jessie and Lonnie, I still owe you pics of those adorable little hats, so cute, also to the Young family for Casey's wonderful hospital jammies, so warm and comfy, we reach for them first always and get endless compliments on them!  Here are a couple to start off...

Happy 9 months!

So not the normal interval to reflect upon, and no pictures as it is hard to manage photo postings in the hospital, but I felt the need to wish our little C congrats on an amazing 9 months, today. As of today you've been out in our world for as long as I carried you within me, at least in your present general configuration (I know you've really always been a part of me in some form). You have been through so much in this short time, and taught us so much, and touched so many. You are still stunning us with your contagious smiles, and reminding us to appreciate the good that we have in these moments we are living right now. Thank you, C, we are so blessed to have made your acquaintance, feel free to stay as long as you'd like. :)