Finally

So so sorry for not updating in a while. It has been 2 and a half weeks - and busy weeks they have been!

So I know everyone wants to see the pictures from Make a Wish - here is the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/layergal/MakeAWish# I also included it in the link section on the main blog page as well. We had so much fun - Samantha was so beautiful and handled herself with such class. She was a bit nervous and a little on edge but nothing unexpected. The day after she actually met the boys she was a bit disappointed. I think she wanted more time with them and it was probably a bit like the day after Christmas. But she talked with other girls that had a meet and greet too - they didn't even get to talk with them - no autographs - just a quick picture and move on...

She has a much more realistic view of their lives as well. I think we all thought if we actually met our crush - they would fall in love with us, Samantha understands the reality now but still loves the Jonas Brothers - it is now just tempered.

After we returned to Denver late Wednesday night we all got a quick nights sleep and headed to the hospital for Samantha's scans on Thursday. This was a good and bad day. The good news is that her lungs are still cancer free! They decided against a full bone scan this time. This was a bit concerning to Chris and I until we talked with the doctors. They are worried about the amount of radiation and have changed the routine. For most Osteosarcoma patients they are not going to do the scans unless an area of concern pops up. Now because Sam is not the normal - they don't want to stop altogether - so they decided 2 times a year instead of 4 (unless a site of concern shows up). But the most important site is the lungs and they will continue to do the CT scan every time.

Now for the bad news, Dr Heare began preparing us for the possibility of amputation. Samantha's ankle is taking longer than normal to heal and there is a strong possibility of infection. We have an appointment with the Dr next week. We have a couple options: if the infection is not getting better - Dr Heare believes it may exist on either the plates and screws or the cadaver bone (things that don't have blood flow so that the antibiotics can't fight it). So we can remove the plate and screws which wouldn't be bad because the bones in that area have already fused together. If that doesn't work then we could remove the whole cadaver bone (put in a place marker) and flush with more antibiotics for a couple of months and then start all over with another cadaver bone. If that doesn't work then she would lose at the least the foot and part of her leg just under the knee. This process would included at least 3 more pretty major surgeries and Samantha does not do well with surgeries. Or of course Samantha could opt to not go this route and get a mid calf amputation and start on that road. This would only be one more surgery and she would be walking sooner - but with a prosthetic.

In the whole scheme of things this seems minor - I mean she is alive right? But Samantha is having a hard time with this and I am as well. I will do what ever she wants to do, but it is so hard watching her battle with this decision. We so wanted all of this to be done - go a few times a year to get the clean bill of health and continue on with our normal lives. We fooled ourselves for a while and now the reality of cancer is back on our plate.

We decided to take a break from the heavy news on Thursday and Sam went back to stay at her Dad's house while I was off to Washington and a visit with Dianna. Samantha had her friends over on Saturday to watch all the Jonas Brother's - Chris said it was 6 hours of screaming...

Dianna and I stopped at this really cool store that just screamed DAWN DAWN DAWN on the way home from the airport. You pull up to loads of flowers and pots and beautiful colors then walk into a wonderful wine store. In between the wine displays is a chocolate bar, and olive bar, a cheese bar and fresh fruit and vegetables everywhere. There was also specialty pastas and all natural meats and fish. We had such a fantastic time there - I could have spent my whole month paycheck there if we stayed long enough.

On Saturday I got to watch Sal play in his opening football game in the Seattle' Quest football stadium. Of course his team won - it was pretty cool. Sunday we were off to a resort on the Washington coast - a total girls weekend with the beach, flowers, ocean, bloody marys, wine, great food, a massage and best of all uninterrupted conversation with my best friend. I have already started saving for next year! Here on some pictures - the first is the perfect meal, olives, cheese, chocolate and wine. The next picture is from our hang out spot on the pier and the last is the looking back to the shoreline. We wrapped up the long weekend with a visit to Dianna's favorite nursery and an Italian lunch before taking me to the airport. It was the perfect ending to the crazy weeks prior.

The following weekend was the first ever National Childhood Cancer Awareness day - Sept 13th!

We made it to the park to listen to a couple doctors speak and a representative from Senator Allard's office. One talk really hit home - he started off saying that our turnout (which was relatively small) was about the same size as the first ever breast cancer awareness day. So we have hope that Childhood cancer will get the kind of attention it deserves eventually. He mentioned that a better database management system is needed and of course money to improve the survival rate. But one thing really caught my attention - we are so focused on getting that cancer out of our children's bodies - and once it is gone we forget that they now have a life time of side effects to deal with. There really are no resources in place - no programs to work with the kids once they have survived. I know on caring bridge I mentioned meeting an adult survivor and her battle totally changed her view on life and she is still battling with the fallout. There is emotional and physical considerations that are not address right now and raising awareness will help them deal later on...

I just read where a new clinic opened up for adult survivors of childhood cancer. Just for regular check ups - now they have a place to go where their doctors have knowledge of the side effects from chemo. It is fantastic because most general practitioners wouldn't normally take these into consideration when aches pop up later in life.

Anyway the weekend was great - we hooked up with Jimmy to celebrate his graduation from the young Marines and then off to a benefit concert for Kyle who lost the battle last year.

Sunday was spent cleaning the house (it desperately needed it!) and this past week I tried to get caught up on work. I had Samantha's physical therapy on Wed, teacher's conferences for the big kids and Jeremy flew out to Tennessee to watch Damian race in the 4X4 finals. He was going to sneak out about 3 am Thursday morning to catch the bus to the airport, but he woke up late and I had to drive him instead at 4 am. Friday, the kids and I headed out to the mall to get Isabella her princess dress for the Miracle Party and Ughs(boots) for Samantha. I promised that I would buy them when both feet could wear them. :)

Then today is the MIRACLE PARTY! We have some last minute items to pick up - Daniel is getting his hair cut and Sam needs to pick up a gift for her friends birthday part (also today).

The party is from 5 pm to 10 pm and I think it will be a lot of fun. I didn't get to help as much as I wanted (they hired an event coordinator and decorator) but that is probably for the best. I don't know where I could have squeezed that in over the last month...

Sorry for the long blog. I won't let this much time pass again.
Sam's dr. appt is next Thursday. I will post pictures from the party tomorrow and keep everyone updated on Sam's decision about her ankle.

Love to everyone!!!