Friday, January 22, 2010

Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, Life goes on....


Currently I am in the middle of my sixth of twelve cycles of maintenance chemo. At the completion of cycle six I will be evaluated to see how well we are progressing toward complete remission (PET scan, MRI, Biopsy, etc.). I am scheduled for testing on February 11th and my appointment with the Doctor is on the 16th. I will post the results of the tests as soon as I know them. In the meantime life goes on and I plan to make the most of it.

Last year Lynn and I spent the holidays in isolation and so the plan was for the family to get together for Christmas this year at Kelly and Tyler’s in Wisconsin. Lynn and I traveled by air from Salt Lake City and Jennifer, Gary and family by car from Cincinnati. As Christmas approached the weather looked like a potential problem for both of us, but the storms held off and we were all able to get in within a few hours of each other on the 23rd of December.

Fourteen of us at Kelly & Tyler’s was quite a houseful so Gary and Jennifer got a hotel room while Lynn and I stayed up the street at Tyler and Kelly’s friends house who were in Chicago for the holidays ( thanks Jason and April). We all spent the days at T & K’s but spread out for sleeping in the evening.

The rest of the holiday was spent as it should be. All of the family together, new pajamas for the kids and the Christmas story acted out on Christmas Eve, ebelskivers on Christmas morning, hats and scarves made by Grandma for all the girls, a Christmas movie, swimming at the hotel pool where Jenn and Gary were staying, playing with the new Wii where each of the grandkids took turns kicking Grandpa’s trash, and food, food, and more food. Thanks to the Kings for hosting the crew – not an easy task – well done!

However, I would have to say that the big hit for the Holidays had to be Ozzie the cat. With all the kids competing for his attention I am surprised he survived the week.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I will quit typing and let Lynn post some pictures of the visit.

In the background - Jaxon and Ethan
Foreground - Lia and Annie

Grandpa Steve and Maggie - high five - again!


Dinner out
Left to right , Gary, Jenn, Lauren, Tyler, Maggie, Kelly
Steve and Lynn
No Christmas Eve is complete without the story of Jesus' birth.
Tanner hearing the good news from the angels.


So sweet - listening intently as Grandpa reads the story from the Bible.

What a great looking group of grandkids!!
Top row - Audrey, Tanner, Lauren
Girls in pink, Annie, Lia, Maggie
Boys in red, Ethan, Jaxon
Maggie- sporting her new hat.
Frosting cookies for Santa


Tanner with Ozzie - what an interesting cat - he loves people


This sums up the end of the Christmas Day!