Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It’s hard to believe 2008 is only days away. This year flew by? Or did it drag on? I can’t quite put my finger on that one…all I know is that it was rather overwhelming.

And that it’s not even January 1? We’ve been playing in the snow for weeks! How wonderful it’s been. It’s been such a diversion for us, and providing us tons of activities right outside our doorstep. The past week has been warmer (40s) and muddy. Almost felt as though Spring was on the way. I started getting cabin fever…first time this year…YIKES, it’s only December!

Thankfully more snow is expected, and we’ll be back to playing outside. Ethan received a snowboard for his birthday, and loves the challenges and fun that poses.

Christmas and Birthday celebrations were wonderful. We bent a few post-transplant rules, but safely bent them. We were able to safely visit with family while sledding outside. They had more snow out in Lunenburg, MA, where we went to visit…perfect sledding in Uncle Nate’s back yard! We celebrated Ethan’s birthday the day after Christimas, at Uncle Nate’s, with a Transformer cake and piñata, and much love and family. “It was the best day of my life”…said Ethan. A common phrase for him, but he deserves every “best day” he receives. (He also appropriately uses “…this was the worst day of my life”…and it breaks my heart, and can only help to agree with him when he says this about he day he was diagnosed with leukemia and entered the hospital, surgery days, etc.)

He’s six now. Our little Ethan is now 6. Some people say he’s looks older. Some people say he’s more serious. Some people say you can see all that he’s been through in his eyes. Some people say this year’s experiences have changed him. How could he not be changed? And yes, he’s lost his little boy look…and of course his baby fat. Now he has a little Lance Armstrong body. But, to us, he’s still the Ethan he was. He has always been serious, still is. He has always been reserved, still is. He’s always been hard to get laughing…tough sense of humor…but when he’s around the people he loves the most, he knows how to have fun. He’s still our Ethan…hasn’t changed in our eyes.

Emma got to ski with her cousins for a few days. It was a nice vacation for her. The boys and I hung out at home and played lots of games, and did lots of laundry. I would love to take Ethan skiing, but if we do it will definitely have to wait until the vacation crowds die down.

I personally look forward to the New Year. I have personal resolutions/goals/changes I’d like to put in place for my own self. I look forward to planning…something we haven’t done for quite some time. Planning day-trips…hiking/biking…something fun. Ethan wants to go on a bike trail come Spring. He has fond memories of the Cape bike trail we did in 2006. I can’t wait to go out to my parent’s in NY. Spending a week at lake in NH, ME or NY is at the top of my list.

Right now our obstacle is learning how to live with cancer in our lives, or let me restate that, having been in our life. Most importantly, Yancy and I are trying to learn to have continuous HOPE. Why is this so hard? Having HOPE? We have HOPE, but we also know how harsh reality is. This weighs on us greatly. We recently found out that Tim, a 9 year old boy who was diagnosed with AML 5 days after Ethan, transplanted 10 days after Ethan, has relapsed. This is reality. Tim and his family need your PRAYERS. They need POWERFUL PRAYERS.

A few Holiday Highlights:

Seeing Eliot in his new Celtics jersey for the 6th day in a row.

Celebrating Ethan’s 6th Birthday!

Emma believing in Santa still.

Having Nana (my grandma) see Ethan snowboard, RELENTLESSLY, over and over again (the last time she say Ethan he was on 6 North with pneumonia and couldn’t even walk).

Receiving a special gift from special friends on Christmas Day (shown below).

We believe in SuperHeroes…