This morning I woke Georgia up to get ready for her clinic appointment, first question, "I get a poke?" She said, "ok" after I told her yes, and we were out the door a few minutes later. She always becomes shy upon checking in at the Hem/Onc desk but was willing to smile at a few familiar faces. We made our way over to the lab and her name was called shortly after. I appreciate that Children's is a teaching hospital but am always annoyed by this whenever we have a newbie doing her labs, they just aren't as quick and painless. Unfortunately we had a newbie today and although she did a decent job, Georgia was in tears over the whole event. I asked her how many stickers she wanted for being so brave, "three" she answered, I said great, as far as I'm concerned she could have the whole basket if she wanted.
We made our way back to the car to have a little breakfast before our clinic visit and hour later. We played around and laughed before it was time to head back in. We stopped by the clinic bathroom before returning, I heard a mom talking to her son, who I would guess to be around six or seven. "Don't touch that, wait, come over here, let me open the door, wait, don't touch that either" she said. I smiled at her as we met at the sinks, I said, "you sound like me, we're two years into this and I still say all of those things." she said, "we're two weeks in." My heart sank, we both have beautiful children with full heads of hair but we are in such drastically different places.
Back in clinic we were shown to our room after Georgia's height and weight were taken, our room was right across from a large bulletin board full of pictures. After vital signs, our nurse left and I glanced out the open door, there was Mia staring back at me, her picture stood out against all the rest. We went out in the hall poured over the pictures, we pointed out faces of kids we know and commented on so many darling faces. Georgia asked why someone was crying down the hall, I knew it was because a child was in the "sleepy room" about to be sedated but told her it was because that kiddo was having a rough day.
Our doctor rounded the corner minutes later and before we were back in our room she said, "her labs look great!" We talked about her skin and the mild improvement I've seen and the rest of the appointment was mostly chatting about things like finding a dentist and what we are doing for the holidays. She said that the SCCA will see us in January for a two year work up and that she will put in for us to see her again in APRIL! One more appointment then maybe, just maybe we will graduate to the "three month visit" mark.
As we left today, after a very successful appointment I couldn't shake one thing--- I had looked around at the faces in the waiting room, some familiar, some new, there were feeding tubes, wheelchairs, bald heads, hearing aids and sick looking children. I was reminded how absolutely abnormal our norm has been for so long. I was reminded how tiny Georgia was when all of this began and how cruel the process has been to get us here to today. I am so grateful for the distance between appointments and that our lives are not 100% focused on cancer, treatment and finding our cure. I look at Georgia and thank God that she is here to hug and love, I am thankful for the moments where I get frustrated like normal parents because that means things are just that, normal.
Take some time to be thankful for the precious gifts we take for granted every day.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Port Angeles
On Saturday we decided to get out of town for the night, something we haven't been able or comfortable doing for a long time. We hit the road and stayed the night in Port Angeles, the weather was calling for good surf and my crazy husband was chomping at the bit! I can't say Port Angeles is exactly what I had in mind but Brian has been wanting all three of us to go out there for ages. We ended staying in a great hotel which was decorated for Christmas, Georgia went swimming in the pool, and we all had a good time despite the fact that the surf died out and Brian didn't even get in the water.
Today we checked out Olympic National Park then headed home. Georgia did awesome on the 3+ hour car ride, opting for no nap and chatting the whole way. Our freedom felt good and was a nice distraction for the clinic appointment we have tomorrow!
Today we checked out Olympic National Park then headed home. Georgia did awesome on the 3+ hour car ride, opting for no nap and chatting the whole way. Our freedom felt good and was a nice distraction for the clinic appointment we have tomorrow!
Heading out on the ferry
pool time!
They had just put up a big tree downtown
Olympic National Park
Thankful
Thankful doesn't even begin to describe how I feel toward a lot of things right now. I remember last year feeling thankful but also having to nudge myself to remember all that I was, and still am thankful for. Last year at this time Georgia had a feeding tube which was far harder than any of us anticipated and last Thanksgiving it malfunctioned and we had to pull it out, only to go in to have it replaced the next day.
Fast forward one year and I am overflowing with all things thankful, no nudging necessary. We spent Thanksgiving with my parents and my sisters family, all of whom Georgia was giddy to see but none more than her cousins Blake & Lauren.
We had a great day from start to finish, the kids ran around, played, laughed, ate and played some more, nothing makes me happier. We stayed far past Georgia's bedtime, she fell asleep in the car, and as I carried her upstairs to bed she said, "Mama, I had a really good time." I couldn't ask for more.
Throughout the day I certainly reflected on all that I have to be thankful for--- the support and generosity of so many friends, family and strangers throughout this journey, every card, email, text, blog comment, care package, hug and prayer have helped us to get where we are today, I am so grateful. I am thankful for Georgia's doctors and nurses, we may have gotten off to a rough start but now I couldn't be more thankful for each one that has been on our team.
Most of all though, I am eternally thankful for a someone whom I've never met and know very little about, there is a young man in Germany who will never know the magnitude of the gift he gave. I hope that he will be willing to communicate with us when we reach the two year mark, but in the meantime, for the third year running he was a part of our Thanksgiving toast, wherever you are, "Mr. Germany" we are so incredibly thankful for you.
Fast forward one year and I am overflowing with all things thankful, no nudging necessary. We spent Thanksgiving with my parents and my sisters family, all of whom Georgia was giddy to see but none more than her cousins Blake & Lauren.
We had a great day from start to finish, the kids ran around, played, laughed, ate and played some more, nothing makes me happier. We stayed far past Georgia's bedtime, she fell asleep in the car, and as I carried her upstairs to bed she said, "Mama, I had a really good time." I couldn't ask for more.
Throughout the day I certainly reflected on all that I have to be thankful for--- the support and generosity of so many friends, family and strangers throughout this journey, every card, email, text, blog comment, care package, hug and prayer have helped us to get where we are today, I am so grateful. I am thankful for Georgia's doctors and nurses, we may have gotten off to a rough start but now I couldn't be more thankful for each one that has been on our team.
Most of all though, I am eternally thankful for a someone whom I've never met and know very little about, there is a young man in Germany who will never know the magnitude of the gift he gave. I hope that he will be willing to communicate with us when we reach the two year mark, but in the meantime, for the third year running he was a part of our Thanksgiving toast, wherever you are, "Mr. Germany" we are so incredibly thankful for you.
Three little turkeys
Cheers!
Olives up!
Still going way past their bedtime
Monday, November 19, 2012
Three
Part of me can't believe you're already three Georgia, the other part can't believe that three years and one day ago I didn't know you. It feels as though time is moving faster these days and you are soaking everything in. You're growing and changing but are still the same girl who knows what she wants and loves to snuggle - two traits a nurse told me you had the night you were born.
Today we celebrated you turning three just the three of us - this is your last birthday as an only child! When you woke up you we all went out to the living room where you found your new dollhouse, something you'd seen several months ago and would ask to look at each time we went to Costco. You were thrilled and spent most of today playing with it. We did take a break to go out to breakfast where you had a candle in you pancakes. We ended the day with dinner, you requested spaghetti, zuccinni and yams - still my healthy eater. We did two rounds of happy birthday and you wanted each of us to blow out the candle.
At three years old here is what I can tell you about you...
Your favorite color is orange but you wear pink most often.
You tell me about a dozen times a day "Mama, I love you so much in the whole world!" I never get tired of hearing it and am trying to "bank" in for when you hit your teen years.
You're funny, and you know it. One of your favorite "games" is to shake hands and say, "nice to meet you, what's your name?" Each time we pick different names of friends, objects, animals, whatever, and each time you throw your head back laughing that I didn't say my name is mama.
You've taken to calling myself and daddy by our first names, if you don't get a response the first time using mama or daddy you will call, "hey, Alison?" or "Brian... hey, Bri..." We think it's hilarious.
You love your baby dolls, you carry them around, wrap them up and talk to them... you're going to be a fantastic big sister.
Clothes, shoes and all things girly are still your favorite, our friend and neighbor gave you a plaid blue and white shirt for your birthday, your first comment, "this is for a boy!" I guess we need to expand your wardrobe colors a bit.
When I ask you if you're a kid or a baby, you say, "no mama, I'm a little girl!" And a little girl you are, you certainly have a sense of maturity to you but when you're around other kids you join right in.
You have good manners and use them... you love to help unload groceries and often as you pull things out of a bag you'll gasp and say, "oh thank you so much!" The irony isn't lost on me, I use to work so hard to get you to eat and now you're thanking me for food.
We love you so much and are so proud of the person you're becoming. You have certainly encountered more challenges than most adults I know but you're happy, just a happy little girl who loves life. You're my little force to be reckoned with all wrapped up in a beautiful package. Happy third birthday my girl, and happy 22 months post transplant.
Today we celebrated you turning three just the three of us - this is your last birthday as an only child! When you woke up you we all went out to the living room where you found your new dollhouse, something you'd seen several months ago and would ask to look at each time we went to Costco. You were thrilled and spent most of today playing with it. We did take a break to go out to breakfast where you had a candle in you pancakes. We ended the day with dinner, you requested spaghetti, zuccinni and yams - still my healthy eater. We did two rounds of happy birthday and you wanted each of us to blow out the candle.
At three years old here is what I can tell you about you...
Your favorite color is orange but you wear pink most often.
You tell me about a dozen times a day "Mama, I love you so much in the whole world!" I never get tired of hearing it and am trying to "bank" in for when you hit your teen years.
You're funny, and you know it. One of your favorite "games" is to shake hands and say, "nice to meet you, what's your name?" Each time we pick different names of friends, objects, animals, whatever, and each time you throw your head back laughing that I didn't say my name is mama.
You've taken to calling myself and daddy by our first names, if you don't get a response the first time using mama or daddy you will call, "hey, Alison?" or "Brian... hey, Bri..." We think it's hilarious.
You love your baby dolls, you carry them around, wrap them up and talk to them... you're going to be a fantastic big sister.
Clothes, shoes and all things girly are still your favorite, our friend and neighbor gave you a plaid blue and white shirt for your birthday, your first comment, "this is for a boy!" I guess we need to expand your wardrobe colors a bit.
When I ask you if you're a kid or a baby, you say, "no mama, I'm a little girl!" And a little girl you are, you certainly have a sense of maturity to you but when you're around other kids you join right in.
You have good manners and use them... you love to help unload groceries and often as you pull things out of a bag you'll gasp and say, "oh thank you so much!" The irony isn't lost on me, I use to work so hard to get you to eat and now you're thanking me for food.
We love you so much and are so proud of the person you're becoming. You have certainly encountered more challenges than most adults I know but you're happy, just a happy little girl who loves life. You're my little force to be reckoned with all wrapped up in a beautiful package. Happy third birthday my girl, and happy 22 months post transplant.
First thing this morning, checking out your new dollhouse.
I think it was a hit!
Birthday pancakes
Still going
Happy to be three!
One last round
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Party Time!
Today we had a birthday party for Georgia, throughout the week the guest list kept getting shorter and shorter due to sick kids. Despite a smaller crowd, I am happy to report we had a successful party - I know this because as Georgia went down for a nap this afternoon she said, "I had a fun time at my party!" What more could I have asked for?
We had a sort of photo booth with props that everyone got a kick out of, Georgia had cake and presents, I saw a little dancing and a lot of smiles.
Thank you to all of our family and friends who helped us celebrate! Also, thank you to our family and friends who are always so vigilant about keeping Georgia healthy - we look forward to keeping the celebration going with you soon!
We had a sort of photo booth with props that everyone got a kick out of, Georgia had cake and presents, I saw a little dancing and a lot of smiles.
Thank you to all of our family and friends who helped us celebrate! Also, thank you to our family and friends who are always so vigilant about keeping Georgia healthy - we look forward to keeping the celebration going with you soon!
Sadie, Georgia & Nevaeh
the little stud, Ryker
Georgia with Grandpa & Grammy
Georgia with Nana & Bawdy
The Deckons
Miss Sadie
the girls working hard on their picture frames
Sadie was sick on her birthday a few weeks ago so we thought another round of happy birthday and a candle was called for!
Nev reminded us that she too had just had a birthday, everyone was happy to do another round!
We love you Georgia girl!
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