Big Thank You - and weekend update

Hi Everyone,

It seems that there aren't enough hours in the day to properly thank all of you for your wonderful comments, love, and support of our family. We cannot imagine how we would be getting through this without all of you.

Whether you have helped with bringing food, donating gift cards, helping us get the house ready for Alex, giving us homemade cards from your kids, volunteering to watch the kids, donating money for Alex's heath care, or your kind words here on this blog, or to us personally, I cannot express our gratitude enough.

We are almost done with Phase Two of Alex's treatment. Last week, Taylor, Alex's Chemo Pal came with us to the doctor's appointment. She brought her big black duffel bag full of toys and games. Alex and Taylor made an erector set type helicopter with screws and nuts. I sat back and watched the two of them have fun together. Children's Cancer Association is one of the most amazing organizations, and their Chemo Pal program has meant the world to us. They are doing their annual fundraisers right now, and I highly recommend their organization for your donation dollars. http://www.childrenscancerassociation.org/

Saturday, we went to Alex's Birth mothers home for a baby shower. Alex got to play with his birth-cousins, and his birth-brother Ayden, and meet his new birth-brother David. He was "just a regular kid" - no one treated him any different, and the love everyone there has for him is wonderful. It was another day to treasure.

Sunday, Alex and Tessa hung out with Daddy while I worked on getting the house ready for our guests this week (Tessa-Lynn's 1st birthday party is this weekend). Alex was working really hard to make sure he didn't have any potty accidents. He is mostly successful - although at times, his GI tract is just too disrupted from the Chemo to cooperate.

This week, Alex's Chemo appointment will include Vincristine and the PEG Aspariginase. The PEG is two shots given simultaneously in his thighs. Unfortunately, since he doesn't have a Lumbar Puncture which would have him "knocked out" for the PEG, he will be awake and watch the whole thing. They give him some numbing cream on his thigs, which helps reduce the physical pinch of the needles going in, but it doesn't stop him from seeing it. Ugh, Double Ugh. He will either go ballistic, or he will be "Mr. Stoic" - either way, I'm so proud of him - he has been to the doctor more times in the last 3 months, than most kids his age have been their entire life.