2013 Top 10

Sorry to disappoint you, but this isn't a top 10 list. I just figured the title would get your attention. And now you're still reading, in spite of this awkward introduction. How else to start a blog post when I haven't written in a while?

So last night I decided to go all Arizona and throw on some flip flops for a quick trip to Chipotle. Nothing says Christmas Eve Eve like a steaming bowl of rice and beans. Well, that wasn't the best decision. Flip flops I mean, not Chipotle. It was zero degrees with a -19 wind chill. You know how your forehead aches when briefly out in the harsh, cold wind? That's what my toes felt like. Fortunately it was only for all night long. But no frostbite or gangrene, so we're good to go. I did fall asleep on the couch out of sheer exhaustion, or perhaps it was a coma, but you ain't never seeing that picture that my sweet and beautiful wife took (RIGHT, LIZ?!).

First off, the great news: Liz's markers and blood work and heart tests all are NORMAL! In fact, her numbers improved to all-time record levels this past week. She still has her antibody treatments every three weeks, and we'll keep that going, since it's working. Her hair is growing in nicely (with an awesome waviness in the back...I hope she'll go for a mullet, but I think that's off the table). Nails need a little more length before it's mani/pedi time. We are so grateful.

Next: I'm done with the second progression of school. Wahoo!! Graduation in May, only eight more courses to go. But it's a nice, albeit short, break. Last tuition payment is in. It's go time. I was this close (imagine me pinching my fingers together in front of my face with one eye closed) to quitting the program when Liz was diagnosed in March. But she pushed me to keep going with the program, and amazing classmates and work colleagues helped buoy me through the toughest times.

Finally: I should think about something important to write here, since this writing structure seems so appropriate. Hmm...

The boys are doing great! On Tuesday of the week of Thanksgiving, we took Cohen and Jensen to the surgery center for some fun. Cohen had his adenoids removed and tubes put in his ears. Jensen had his tonsils removed. Cohen recovered quickly...almost too quickly actually. Apparently the fluid in his ears really did prevent him from hearing well -- he asked us to "turn off all of the noise" and he shut himself in his room for most of the first two days. It took Jensen nearly two weeks to fully recover, but he's doing great now. Eli stumbles around and mumbles all of the time (he takes after me). He just got his first haircut last week too. Unfortunately, he keeps getting ear infections, so we have a triple ENT visit scheduled for January: follow up for the big boys and potential ear tube prep for Eli.

We'll write up a "year end review" on this here blog some time in the few weeks. Just have to survive Christmas Eve and Day with some overexcited boys. In the meantime, Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for your love, support, prayers, and help throughout this difficult year. We couldn't have done it all without you.

Go Team Liz!