We enjoyed the brief few hours of sunshine at the creek today. Alan and Gabriel skipped rocks and Isabel climbed on everything she could.




In this photo you can see Isabel's port scar on her upper chest.

It's been raining here for days and days. Today the kids enjoyed a beautiful, soggy nature walk and played in a running stream (then it was home for a warm bath, footed pajamas and hot cocoa).

Lucky us, we were able to see The Red Panda Acrobats at the library today!

We had the pleasure of witnessing a beautiful rainbow this afternoon in between storms.

Gabriel was invited to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese today. Now that Isabel is 8 years old, she felt that was a little too babyish for her. She stayed behind while Gabriel and I went for a mind numbing 2 hours of over stimulation. My best friend treated Isabel to a 3-D movie and a trip to the toy store for some of her new favorite toys, little animal Japanese erasers. Needless to say, the kids had a great Saturday afternoon!

Isabel's grandmother and aunt came over last night for a special rib dinner celebration. It was a lot of fun and the kids stayed up late enjoying the family party.

After a delicious dinner (I'm so glad Isabel requested ribs!) we had yet more birthday cake!

Isabel enlisted her brother's help to blow out all the candle sparklers.

It's family tradition for Alan to play Happy Birthday on his trumpet. This year Isabel got into it and tried to play a little herself.


Isabel and Gabriel were so tired after all the activity and fell asleep within minutes of getting into bed. Isabel still has party popper string confetti on her pajamas in this photo!

Isabel had a great 8th birthday celebration filled with family and friends. She received so many thoughtful cards and gifts from people in other states and even one from Germany! I was touched by how many people celebrated her good health and happiness.

Happy 8th Birthday, Isabel!

Isabel picked out the candles which threw off sparks when lit. She let them burn for awhile before blowing them out to get the full effect!



I told them to make the weirdest face they could.

Gabriel got his slice of cake served before his cousins. They watched him take his first bite. It was excellent cake.

Isabel will turn eight years old on Thursday! We let her rip into the birthday gifts that have been trickling in from family and friends.

She seems older to me, a clear difference between the ages 7 and 8. She sat on the top of her bunk bed last night, curled up reading Blubber by Judy Blume. She writes in her diary about her feelings, it's not just drawings anymore. She's very much alive and it's wonderful to watch her mature.

Isabel loves her new Madonna cd!

Isabel was invited to a sleepover after school on Friday. It was very exciting news! She was elated to pack her overnight bag and bring her sleeping bag to school the next morning.

Isabel was able to spend the night because she is no longer on chemotherapy and does not need to have a nightly drug administered via oral syringe each night. We exclaimed over that during dinner the night before and it made it sweeter for all of us. I am so, so relived her exam/blood counts went well and I was able to send her off in eager anticipation of a giggly girl sleepover.

Isabel had a fabulous time, her favorite parts being the night time flashlight tag and the karaoke dance party.



Gabriel gets to take care of his classroom stuffed animals, Owen and Mzee, for a week. His kindergarten class learned about the tortoise and hippo's friendship early in the school year and Gabriel had been waiting for his turn to take home the Owen and Mzee backpack (including books and a journal) ever since. We took them on our neighborhood walk and had a great time talking about their unique friendship and snapping photos of them enjoying our neighborhood.

Isabel's blood counts are PERFECT yet again! All my worrying was for nothing, as usual. Hurrah!

Isabel had her ten month off treatment check up and blood draw today. Ten months! I still can't believe she's been off all chemotherapy for so long!

Here we are in the waiting room:

Isabel had an echocardiogram during one of the harshest phases of her chemotherapy treatment before she was given a drug that could negatively affect the function of her heart. Her heart was viewed while she was under anesthesia for a spinal tap and was deemed a strong, healthy heart. She has had no ill effects since that time (in 2007) but of course, it does cross my mind every once in awhile. It certainly was in the forefront of my mind this past week when she complained of a "thumping heart". I was scared and anxious over it. Alan was less so and tried to reassure me it was not anything bad or related to her chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately, Isabel has complained of the thumping heart a couple times this past month. Alan couldn't write it off as an isolated incident and my anxiety rose the second time she told me about the sensation of her heart suddenly beating faster against her chest.

When I mentioned my worry to the pediatrician today (we do not see our regular oncologist until next month) she was very accommodating and took my concern seriously. She ordered an EKG to be done right there which greatly eased my mind. Isabel's heart beat looked great and we'll be positive of the results once the pediatric cardiologist looks it over. Poor Isabel was not expecting this extra test and though it did not hurt, she was disconcerted and teared up while the many wires were being attached to her body (especially when the nurse accidentally clamped her skin instead of the electrode). My poor girl has been traumatized by so many invasive medical procedures and hated having yet another unexpected one happen. She did great and held still, breathed deeply and did what was asked. I stood by her, gently wiping away her tears, grateful that this procedure was nothing compared to what she has endured while on treatment.

After the check up, we headed to the laboratory for the blood draw. Isabel really didn't want to be there as she hates blood draws in general, but really dislikes getting them done at our local lab.

Here is Gabriel in the lab waiting room, wearing a hat made from three blown up rubber gloves:

Initially we were going to drive the half hour away to the better laboratory for her blood draw since last time she got it done here in town was a big fat fail. Last time was torture for her (and us) when the phlebotomist poked and dug in her arm so many times. We decided against the drive as it was already late in the afternoon and we didn't want to get stuck in traffic and literally spend the rest of the afternoon in the hospital and in the car, not getting home until evening.

Luck was with us and the woman got Isabel's vein in one try, the blood flowed smoothly and it was over fast (though not without more tears from Isabel). We do not have the blood results in yet and I hope to hear back from the hospital early tomorrow. Isabel has been looking a little pale to me lately and I'd like to be alleviated of my worries.

Fingers crossed for perfect blood counts, please!

Last day of winter break! We enjoyed every relaxing minute of it.