Party On

I might need to keep doing biweekly blogs just to keep my mind straight. Writing definitely helps me feel all zen, even if I'm the only one reading them. Here We Go Chemo Remember the little infographic about my dad? Well he fell here... in the terminal section. That doesn't mean he's going to die tomorrow (thank God!), but he's definitely more likely to die from cancer than old age. So that's not the most exciting news. The good news is there are still treatment options, and he's begun hormone therapy and will start chemo next week. Eli and I are going down to help (Eli is so excited to feed their dog) and enjoy their company in general. Modern medicine is so amazing and moving so quickly and I still feel hope that he will be around to meet my grandkids, but if you pray- pray for him please- and us. That's Hot It's that time of year again, the hot toy list is out! It's filled with robots and Teddy Ruxpin (ha!) and a bunch of seemingly real...

Anias is a year (and a week) old! We had so much fun at his party and I feel so blessed to be his mama. I would generally write a sappy, thoughtful bit here but I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. I hope you enjoy the picture overload regardless! I still have a whole set to do of him in his birthday chair. Eek! Anias: Week 52- 1 year old  Dad calls me the great escape artist because I'm always sneaking out of everything. I like to free fall on the couch and I laugh and laugh even though it terrifies mom. I stand on my rocking chair and shake it back and forth or maneuver it so I can knock down all the toy storage on the top shelf. I like to 'play basketball' by throwing balls into my bucket and I took 4 steps in a row! I had my 1 year checkup and I weighed 19 lbs 12 oz (24th percentile), was 30 inches tall (56th percentile) and my head is 18.5 inches in circumference (76th percentile). I continued the family tradition of being sick...

There's only 1 more week and 1 day until my baby is one! I'm preparing a big Noah's Ark themed birthday party and am so excited to celebrate Anias' first year! Week 50: I had my second ear infection and let everyone know it. I've been standing for longer periods of time, but I get upset when mom or dad tries to get me to walk. I will do it on my own time mom! I say mama, dadda, Anias, hi, this, and Josh. I like to sing and play with blocks. I constantly pull brother's hair and laugh when he says "ouch!". I like to destroy Eli's train tracks. I took my first TWO steps on 8/27. Week 51: I snatched mom's keys and tried to unlock the door to go for a walk. When I realized I was too short I threw a major fit. I also do my very best to open the baby gates on the stairs. I said ba-bye for the first time and will go "ahhhh" on demand and ask mom to go "ahh" too so I can check her teeth. I do my best to type on mom's ...

6am: wake up, snack, and play happily until brother wakes up and comes to see me. Hug brother then go downstairs and play while I wait for breakfast 7: eat eggs and banana bread waffles because it's Saturday! Mom makes pancakes or waffles every Saturday for us 8: nap 9: scavenging for dropped breakfast, getting out some toys, dance party 10: Go for a Target run where my family tests out potential birthday presents; go for a ride in my little red car 11: have lunch at Ricardo's, eat cheesy rice, a tomato, and most of a quesadilla; dance 12-2: nap 2: destroy the house finding the perfect toy, ride my motorcycle and push around some cardboard 3: cry, "help" mom clean out the cabinets 4: play pat a cake & bite mom; fall off my motorcycle and cry- it leaves a big bruise on my face Have a snack that makes me so happy I dance 5: eat dinner (macaroni and cheese, hot dogs, a mighty 4 pouch and a string cheese); go for a walk 6: watc...

Week 48: 11 Months Old I try my darndest to crawl in the tub on any occasion. I like to feed mama even though I'm done with her feeding me. I'm an independent man! I pull on mom's hair to break my fall and I like to putt around on my motorcycle. I turned 11 months old and celebrated by staying up all night long. Eli I say "Question mark, get set, go!" and "There's the cool bus!" instead of school bus. When mom asked me to say yes ma'am, I refuse. I don't know why she wants me to say "man", I keep telling her I'm not a man yet. When mom was laughing at the barista's joke I joined in before saying (between laughs) "I have no idea what you're talking about." I am obsessed with anatomy and literally spent hours having mom read to me about muscles and germs and bones. I ask for a snowman for lunch almost every day and warn Anias not to touch the toilet. I told him, "No Anias! You're going to be...

We found out about 9 weeks ago that my dad has cancer-a very aggressive cancer, the kind that makes your doctors tell you you're "up a creek with half a paddle." I was reluctant to talk about it. It's not my cancer and it feels self centered to talk about how it's affecting me. It's not "mine" to share. It's not burdening me and whatever I feel about it is inconsequential. My dad is a pretty private, conservative person but now the cat's out of the bag, so to speak. I headed to Denver about 2 weeks ago with Anias to help him out post surgery and there's a lot of good that was done! His tumors were completely removed with cancer free margins! He got his catheter out early and is walking almost half marathon distances every day. The cancer was not in his lymph nodes! So much good. In spite of the fact that typically this cancer is super treatable and slow growing and in spite of the fact that he got tested every year-the cancer had spre...