So... it has been awhile since I've posted (as many of you have been reminding me). I apologize for the lack of updates here. It's definitely not because there hasn't been anything to tell you (in fact, I'll have several posts just to catch you all up), but rather it has just been really BUSY. It's strange how different things are for us compared to last year. This past year was busy too but in a totally different way and much of that busy-ness included a lot of waiting and sitting (appointments and hospital stays) which proved helpful for updating the blog on my laptop. This newer busy-ness is more about running around and doing things like working, cooking, cleaning, helping with homework and projects, various appointments and practices - just the general, every-day busy-ness of LIFE. It's weird how all that time we gained being out of the hospital and having fewer appointments just got filled up with other stuff immediately! And of course I still feel like we are "catching up" on a lot of things that got pushed aside last year. I suppose in many ways we are still picking up the pieces and trying to find a new balance to life and all it requires. So first off... a little catch-up on the past two months...
The end of November included celebrating Lauren's 20th birthday, Thanksgiving, enjoying a visit from Michael's sister Pam (from CA), and our 20th Highschool Class Reunion.
December was a busy month that also brought a rush of memories for us. Many 1-year anniversaries - that first fateful dr. appt., Meghan's first MRI and CT, the MRI report, confirmation of cancer, appointments galore (what a whirlwind), biopsy surgery and official diagnosis, port placement surgery and first round of chemo, etc.. Michael and I found ourselves re-living a lot of those first heart-breaking moments and also reflecting a lot on all the blessings God provided and His amazing love and care for us over the past year. It also brought us each at different moments to tears of gratitude that our precious daughter is still here with us! It hit Michael while we were decorating the Christmas tree together and Meghan climbed up on the stool to put on the finishing touch - the star on top. It hit me when I watched her singing with her 7th grade choir for the holiday concert. I remembered back to last year when I had to watch her concert right after she had been diagnosed and I wondered if it would be the last time I would get to watch her participate in something like that. And December included all sorts of other things as well...
Michael and I learned that we are going to be grandparents! That little cutie on the left is our grandbaby who is currently squirming his/her way around in Lauren's belly (and making her feel miserable). We are excited to meet this new little one sometime in August (due date is August 11, which happens to be Lauren and Eric's 2nd wedding anniversary!). And please feel free to tell us that we are way too young to be grandparents. :)
As a parent, you hope to never see a photo like the next one...
yep... busted and behind bars... (not a very good example for their new niece/nephew)
These photos were taken at the Grand Rapids Correctional Facility Public Museum. We were there on December 2 for the Helen DeVos Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Christmas Party. We had a great night seeing a lot of our "cancer friends" and the doctors, nurses, and staff that we have come to know and love. We got to roam through the museum, ride the carousel, eat snacks, take a picture with Santa, AND the highlight of each year's party... watch a special play written by Dr. Axtell (one of the oncologists) and performed by all the docs, nurses, etc.. This year's play was a spoof on Peter Pan and it was HILARIOUS! We thoroughly enjoyed everyone's great performance and the extra funny stuff custom-tailored for cancer patients and their families.
I'd love to post a bunch of photos from the play but they are probably
more funny to us having seen it than to all of you. Here are just a
few favorites...
Captain Hook (Dr. Dickens) with Aidan
Peter Pan (Dr. Kurt) with Meghan, Rileigh, and Aidan
Dr. Fahner as the Sugar Plum Fairy (apparently Dr. Axtell always
writes in a bit part that includes Dr. Fahner dressing in a pink tutu)
The kid's favorite - Aaron (one of the PA's) as Tinkerbell (or rather,
TANKerbell - "You can call me Tank" - complete in a green tutu,
pointy toed shoes, and glittery wings)
Below (click to enlarge) - Jon and Aaron, Dr. Dickens and Diane, Full Cast Photo
Another party that Michael and I went to was our church's Christmas party which had a "tacky" theme this year. We fully obliged by wearing the following (which incidentally did NOT win the prize for the tackiest!)...
You may remember that green wig and glasses from here. I painted the tshirts and pulled everything else from various items around the house (yes, I actually own hot pink shoes).
December also brought more doctor appointments - but this time for Rileigh. She underwent some extensive allergy testing and after finding out that she has numerous severe allergies as well as asthma, we are pursuing immunotherapy for her which includes taking her to the office weekly for allergy shots. She is a real trooper and was actually excited about having her blood drawn and getting the shots (I suppose that is what happens when you see your older sister have that stuff done on a regular basis). Meghan's oncologist also recommended that the whole family get flu shots this year (Meghan received hers in clinic) so we had a fun family outing one evening for that as well.
Meghan has been continuing her weekly physical therapy and she added a new therapy as well each week - Aqua Therapy. This is time spent in the therapy pool at Spectrum doing various strengthening and stretching exercises. Meghan really enjoyed the time she spent working with Nancy in the pool. We have since decided to discontinue the pool therapy because Meghan is now playing volleyball as well (more on that later).
These photos are from the kids' school holiday concert. 1. Meghan singing in the 7th Grade Choir 2. Rileigh and the rest of the 4th graders playing their recorders 3. Aidan and Noah (the first graders all wore reindeer antlers and Aidan & Noah decided that red noses were a good addition)
Other fun stuff:
• I got to spend a wee bit of time in my studio to make ornaments for a swap I participated in
(more on that here and here).
• We celebrated Michael's 39th Birthday
• We delivered Christmas cards and trays of goodies to the doctors, nurses, and staff of 7 South (Hem/Onc Unit)
• We enjoyed a snow day and a 2 week winter break from school (and Michael got to enjoy a week off work between Christmas and New Years)
• I hosted a "Girls Night" dinner with some of my girlfriends
• We did a lot of this....
Snuggling and reading together (we are currently working our way through the Spiderwick Chronicles). Aidan also coined a new term - chuggling - this refers to combining chatting and snuggling (his favorite thing to do). :)
This photo was taken Christmas morning - what a great looking bunch, eh?
We had the opportunity to catch up with some old friends over the break as well as spend time with both sides of the family.
December and January were also very busy months for me with my job as secretary of our church (I just returned to work part-time in October). Our new church building was completed and we spent a lot of time helping move the offices and setting up the new building. It is always a busy time as well with preparing the Annual Report for the congregation. We are settling in nicely to our new building and are so thankful for the blessing that having our own building has been.
We also made a trip over to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak (near Detroit) for a follow-up appointment with Meghan's surgeon, Dr. Les. (We go for follow-up every three months now.) Dr. Les was hoping that Meghan's arm would be a little further progressed so at this point she is continuing with physical therapy and when we see her again in March she may recommend another surgery to clean out the area more, break up scar tissue, and hopefully give Meghan more flexion in her elbow. She did, however, give Meghan the ok to play volleyball which is something Meghan had really been hoping for.
We had to jump through quite a few hoops (ok from surgeon, ok from oncologist, ok and sports physical from family dr., evaluation of heart function, etc..) but all is good and Meghan was able to try out for the team and I am happy to report that she made the B team! This photo was taken at her first game (January 29). It is definitely challenging her physically and emotionally. She still has not regained all her energy back and she comes home completely exhausted after practices, but she is showing a lot of determination and perserverance. She is also struggling with the limitations of her arm but finding creative ways to compensate.
The other big news from January is that Meghan had her set of scans (x-ray, CT of chest, and full body bone scan) and they all came back clear - PRAISE THE LORD! It is hard not to feel apprehensive each time these roll around. She will have scans every three months for this first year off treatment. The second year it will go to every four months, and then every six months for the third year, etc.. In January we learned of two of our friends' relapses and it is difficult not to consider that possibility for Meghan as well. I hope in time that this aspect of the journey will get easier!
Well - that certainly didn't cover everything, but it did cover a good portion of it and it may have even been more than you wanted to know! As always, we appreciate your continued interest and prayers for our family - may God bless you all richly in this new year!
Phew! You win a PRIZE for having stayed up ALL night (or it seems like it must have taken that long)
to create this informative blog post to bring everyone up to speed on your amazing journey!
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy life to keep us informed and help us know just how to pray for you guys. We are love you so much and thank God for his mercies to you in the past year, and will continue to pray for you
in the days and months ahead....
the HunterFam
Posted by: Kristin Hunter | January 31, 2009 at 01:32 PM