Time flies!

I thought about writing on my anniversary.  Thanksgiving day was two years since my diagnosis.  You know how you intend to do things, then suddenly two months have past?  It's the story of my life.

Many great things are happening in our lives.  The kids are growing like weeds and doing well in school.  Maddie is in the 8th grade and continues her piano.  I'm freaking out that in less than a year, I will have a kid with a learners permit!  Isaac is in 5th grade and has taken up percussion (his teacher is in the Orchestra at Temple Square--I'd love to see Isaac there in a few years!).  He continues to amaze us with his vast knowledge of everything under the sun, and reading anything he can get his hands on.  Brooklyn is in 1st grade, an awesome reader, and she loves to play with friends!  McKinley keeps me on my toes, she's two and a half and such a joy!  She wears me out some days, but we love her anyway.  : )

Mat is still at Evergreen Junior High in SLC, and loving it.  Life is busy, they just started rehearsals for the Wizard of Oz, which means long hours.  This is his 15th musical at the school, so we're used to it, and we're grateful when he's around.  I made a tough decision the end of last year to wrap up my business.  Of course, that may change when my phone starts to ring in the spring, it's hard to pass up business.  But I feel like it is time to move on.  My goal for 2012 is to pass the GRE with flying colors.  In 2013, I apply for the Master of Social Work progam through Utah State, which starts up again with a new group in 2014.  By the time I'm 50, I'll be licensed and following my heart as a play therapist.

On the cancer front, all is well!  I've struggled a little bit to get back where I was physically (you know, running marathons and such).  Is it my age and a slowing metabolism?  Is it that I still have a little work to do on the emotional side of things--dealing with everything we've been through?  I don't know.  I did get what I would call bad news this fall.  I had a bone scan done, my OB thought it a good idea, just to get a "baseline".  I have osteopenia, which is the early stages of osteoporosis.  Not exactly what a cancer patient wants to hear, since cancer can easily metasticize to the bones when they aren't hard.  So, I'm taking supplements for the first time in my life to prevent it from getting worse.  That is all I can do.  (Please allow me to vent:  how is it that someone can live a relatively healthy life, exercise regularly, eat pretty much what I should, and NOT get all the nutrients I need and end up with cancer and osteopenia?!)  OK, I'm done.

Please know that we have appreciated so much all the love and support we've received through all of this!  Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, we love you all!