Already January, 2010

Hi everyone,

It is already January and I am so late in my posting. My friend, Margot, called today from DC to make sure I was all right. I don't know where the time goes, but it must go!
Anyway, here I am - finally!

Much has happened -I had a brain scan (MRI) last week and the report came back that my head is clear without cancer! And my body from the neck down is also clear, so right now I am "No Evidence of Disease," although some days I do not feel very well. I have decided to take a little time off from the chemo to go to Henry's birthday (he is 6 years old on the 6th of February - "he's tired of being 5 he says) so I am heading to the snow and cold weather in Oregon, WI.



We had the most wonderful Christmas that any family could ever have with everyone here. It was very special for me. Kathy, my dearest friend, allowed me to take time off from work to be with my family and it was exceptionally important for me. My children are incredible and I loved having Henry and Charlie with me. We went to the Botanical Gardens where Matt had arranged for a photographer to take photos of all of us - we had a party one evening when many of my children's friends and their parents could stop by - we attended the Suns game - saw the Suns beat the Lakers - rode the Light Rail - had a day at the Sanctuary Spa, went to Grimaldi's for pizza, my sister, Joanne, and her family (Jay and Nathan) came to see us, Mark's parents (Joan and Paul) came as well. We had the BEST Christmas dinner here at my place with everyone - David and Lolly and the boys and others went hiking, went swimming and into the hot tub, bicycling, Becky and Anna went paddleboarding and Rob and Liz became engaged on December 30, 2009. New Year's eve was spent here at my house with everyone enjoying each other and their short time together. It never seems like long enough!!!

Currently, Rebecca and Mark are back in New York, (Becky is working on her MBA and Mark is working at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital). David and Lolly (David is working on his asthma project and Lolly is working on her new stories and keeping everyone going) and the boys are back in Wisconsin at their schools. Rob (the Polka Dog bakery man) and Liz (a Chelsea middle school counselor) are back in Boston enjoying being engaged. Matt (Department of Energy) and Anna (also engaged) - Anna is looking forward to attending an exciting program at the UC, Santa Cruz in April - they are both back in Washington, DC. Matt and Anna moved all of their things to DC about a week ago along with Jazz, their dog. Joan and Paul are back in Incline Village, and my sister and her family are back in Rancho Santa Fe.

I am trying to be back to work, taking each day as it comes along. The Christmas time truly was a time to be thankful and I loved every single minute of every single day. Thank you to Lolly and David, Henry and Charlie, Liz and Rob, Rebecca and Mark, and Anna and Matt. You are the dearest ones in the whole world and I love all of you.

Mom