Christmas...was a month ago

For journaling purposes I am still going to post some Christmas pics even though it feels like forever ago. We had a really fun December. After our good news and trip to Utah we brought Aunt Katy home and stayed at my parents house for two weeks.  We ate, shopped, and played constantly. Lucy loved the attention from Aunt Katy and Danny felt well enough to start playing too.

Exercise is really good for Danny right now-not only will it help him get some strength and energy back but studies show exercise decreases your chance of cancer recurrence.  We started walking in Lafayette for a change of scenery. Lucy loves the "Princess Park" at the end of the loop.

Lucy was old enough this year to really get into Santa. We wrote him a letter and she was sure he would bring her some princess presents. 

Here she is on Christmas morning. I woke up before she did, but Danny wouldn't let me wake her up. Fortunately she woke up soon thereafter and excitedly started calling for me.

 Lucky for her she had been a good girl and Santa brought her a cool Princess castle. She was incredibly spoiled by her grandparents and received MANY more princess gifts as well. All of her presents were wrapped in princess wrapping paper, which was handy because she knew exactly what was for her.

 

 

 

Lucy and I were both really bumbed Christmas is over.  Valentines day just doesn't seem as exciting somehow. Fortunately Santa brought our family a trip to Disneyland in February-so we have something new to look forward to.  Lucy wants to talk about it every day and can't wait to go "where the princesses live".  I can't either-it's where all your dreams come true!

Beach Trip

It has been awhile. We got an awesome new camera from Santa and I immediately took 500 pictures-but the new camera memory card is messed up so they are not on my computer.  I think I can get them back but until then, no Christmas pics, no new pics. But in good news-we are fully on our way to recovery! This week we met with Danny's oncologist where we got the official word that we wouldn't be needing any radiation.  He told us a little more about what to expect in these next months which was exciting as well.  While he has been feeling a little better every day the acute affects of the chemo have only been "out of his system" for about a week.  In a month the Dr. says he'll be feeling pretty good and maybe normal by March.  When I think back on what things were like only a month ago I am astounded at the incredible difference.  The steroids are leaving him at last so his face is much less puffy and with some new hair growth he is looking more like his old self.  He has started shaving again (which is one downside!) and looks so cute with his new soft downy hair.

"Recovery" isn't a very specific job title, but we are filling our days well enough. (Frankly I am loving having Danny home with me every day. Not many wives get to have their best friend on all their errands, walks and activities:) We go on walks every day, do errands and relax during nap times.  Danny just joined the gym with me and swims (in a wetsuit it's so cold!).  Once a week we go on an excursion somewhere.  Last week we went to Pacifica and played at the beach. Lucy LOVED it so we may make each trip to a beach in the future.

Without cancer and chemo as our immediate fears, all the other fears for the unknown future seem to have cropped up again.  I have always been a planner and have liked having a general plan for our lives with some subtle changes here and there. Cancer just put a gigantic hole in our life plan-and it isn't something we can really leave behind us.  I'll have to get used to not knowing what is in store for a little while.  In the meantime when I look in the moment, everything is great and I can appreciate our incredible blessings.

Welcome 2010

Hello New Year!
We celebrated the New Year with a special ceremony where we ripped down all of our drug charts/food restriction lists/ and chemo calendar. That entire corner of the kitchen looks clean and empty now.  We threw away all the drugs we will never need again (and saved some of the pain killers that will come in handy if we break an arm or something) and put Danny's weekly pill holders in the recycling.
Goodbye 2009!
(and good riddance.)