Naughty or nice

This photo was runner up #1 for our Christmas card. Notice when one child is melting the other is basking in the glow of not being in trouble for a change. LOL



xoxo

p.s. Don't worry, I won't let Aunt Megan pinch poor Angelica like that again!

Critters...

Cat in a stocking....





Cat in a tree.... (yes, that is our Christmas tree inside the house....damn cat)

Cat in a hat....

How can you be so blindly smitten. You have US yet you pet that kitten!

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. I cannot imagine having more to be thankful for than I do this year. As always, my life is so full of blessings and I thank God daily. Hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving!

xoxo

Infusion...

I have my infusion today. I am still here. It is taking much longer today than I anticipated. I got here at 8:something a.m. and will be here until 4:something p.m. I have 293 mL left in the bag and it is going in at 175 mL/hour. First one to tell me how much time I have remaining wins a prize. Not sure what the prize will be yet. Maybe a chance at a day in the life of me...3 weeks from now...here. lol Just kidding.

They try to keep things upbeat around here. I appreciate it!

xoxo

Halloween...and Happy birthday, Angelica...and a new family member

Lots to catch up on...thank you for checking in with me. It mean so so so much to me!!

Halloween was terrific! We used our house as a launching point. We had a witch's cauldron of cider for the kids with floating body parts in it, skeletons and spiders and spooky music, and - most important - a bunch of kids having fun...grown ups too. Our neighbors decorated their golf cart with lights and pumpkins so we used that for the little ones. So fun!! I love our neighbors and neighborhood!

Sorry the pictures aren't better. It was mayhem and getting the kids together for photos was like herding cats.




















We also just celebrated my sweet Angelica Maria's 4ht birthday. It was so much fun. Just like Halloween, one of the best parts was that we were with our family! I did have a bit of anxiety thinking about this time last year and getting the call from Dr. Grant. But it was fleeting, which I am so grateful for.

Angelica is getting to be such a big girl! She is so smart and funny and dramatic....and a joy!! Both her and Oscar are so happy to be here in Michigan, which makes my heart sing! She LOVES her aunts and cousins, but she adores her Uncle Marty!

Check out the cake Megan made!! I can't get it rotated in this post for some reason. It was so beautiful...and delicious too!

Fall is my favorite season. It has been BEAUTIFUL here!

Remember how I said I had such great neighbors...well, I have gotten to be good friends with one sweet girl especially. Her name is Annie and she is incredible. She had a fun girl's night a while back. It is so nice to be getting to know such nice people. It helps with my homesickness for my dear, sweet, incredible friends in Dallas. Here are a couple photos from that night. This first photo is of Annie and I.

And finally, I have news. We got a kitten. It has taken me over a month to tell you about this for fear some of you may start organizing an intervention on me. I want to assure you, I am done....this is our last pet. I.am.serious!

Her name is Cinnamon and we got her from a cat rescue.

Now, I am not a cat person. In fact, I never "got it" to be honest with you. I thought they were stinky (they are) and annoying (she is) and I just have always been a dog person (still am). But, oh my gosh, is she awesome! She is to Oddie what Oddie was to Scruffy.....a tormentor. And it is hilarious to watch (see below). I have lots on my plate but this precious little kitty is a joy and makes us all laugh daily!!

xoxo

Yahoooooooo!

I know this will sound like Monday morning quarterbacking........but I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT....!   However, I am so happy to have it confirmed.  :-).  My tests all came back terrific.  The area on my lung is not something to worry about.  I am on cloud 9.  I am so glad I listened to my instincts and did NOT do the lung biopsy...but rather sought out the second, third, fourth, etc opinions.

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes!

xoxo

Snow...ut, ah, well, sorta...

We had frost again this morning. Just a little bit. But my kids went bonkers and ran outside screaming "SNOW!!!!" and licking every white surface. The neighbors are, I am sure, thinking that we are crazy....for more reasons than just that. We go for walks in our jammies. We eat picnics out front on a blanket when it is 45 degrees. We have a rabbit that runs loose in the yard. We have ginormous cockroaches on our front post as decoration (only in October). LOL Life is good. Thank you God...so much!

My friend...

I am SO proud of her and proud to be her friend, although she is a better friend to me than I am to her...always checking on me and staying in touch. She has been one of cancer's best "gifts"...boy, did I despise that term when I was first diagnosed. But now I get it.

Leah is a rock star...

http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=48384@ktvt.dayport.com