An Easter Re-Do

Easter 2014

I know that it has been a week since Easter, but things have been busy around here with your sisters off for the entire week.  However, I wanted to make sure that I made the time to blog about Easter 2014 because it was pretty awesome!

Last year we spent Good Friday in the Medicine Hat hospital in total devastation, not knowing what our future was going to be like.  This year we had 22 family members at our house to celebrate.  Not only were we celebrating Easter, we were celebrating being a family, together.  Everyone of your cousins were at the house and you had a great time hanging out with all of them, young and old.  The whole day I just watched as you took part in all the activities and how excited you were to be with everyone.  I wouldn't trade those moments for anything.

Sunday morning we were able to have our "traditional" Easter morning.  Again, last year, Easter Sunday we were at the Children's Hospital, having been transferred the night before and this was the first day your WBC dipped and all signs started to point to Leukemia.  Anyways, this year you were home and followed the egg trail down from your room to your Easter basket.  You and your sisters went on your egg hunt through out the house and you were so excited!  Your dad and I didn't say much but just watched and just knew how good it felt to see you and your sisters doing Easter the way we always do.

I did want to mention that your last blood work (early April) came back and your neutrophils had taken a dip.  Dr. Foulston had your blood work ran again this past week and everything has gone back up.  It was a long 2 weeks for your dad and I as we tried not thinking about the reason why your counts dipped.  You had a nasty cough and I just kept praying this was the reason for the dip and now, with the results back, this was likely the cause.  It is tough thinking that we are always wondering.  I really hope that with time it will get easier and that as you get older you are not burdened with the constant wondering.  At least for now, we can relax knowing your body is healthy.

This past weekend we finally went to see Uncle Chris, Aunty Jena and Corbin in  Acadia Valley.  We haven't been able to visit since your diagnosis as medical services were too far away out there and we didn't want to take the chance being away from a major hospital.  You and your sisters had a blast.  The weather wasn't the greatest but you guys didn't let that stop you.  You spent a lot time outside riding toy tractors, quads, bikes and hot tubing.  It was great taking a trip, just because!!

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom

Here are a few pictures from Easter weekend and the many egg hunts you participated in!!

Cousin Jordan helping you out.

Dyeing Easter Eggs

Easter Morning

Ulmer Cousins

Egg Hunt at Grandpa and Grandma's

Hiebert Cousins

One year on your Journey

April 1st, 2014

One year ago today, your dad and I were told you had Leukemia, it wouldn't be until April 3rd that we had your official diagnosis.  I will never forgot the day.  I can actually still remember the sounds, the room, the way we all sat in your hospital room.  Dr. Anderson had given us an answer to the weeks of unknown symptoms and sickness.  There was a small sense of relief as we finally knew what was attacking your body, we had a protocol to follow and your treatment plan.  I didn't know what to think...will it work?  What would chemo be like?  How in the h*ll were we going to get through this?

Guess what!  We made it!  A year ago we cried in your hospital room as we watched your body suffer with sickness and today I watch you run around our house, full of energy and life.  I will never forget what we have been through this past year, but I know that I need to focus on our future because we are so lucky to have completed your protocol with 100% success.

I have to be honest, these few days have been really tough.  I am always haunted by the low days in the hospital and the beginning of your treatment had to be the absolute lowest.  I have time now, to reflect our time last year and I still don't know how we ever made it through.  I know that we had some amazing family and friends by our sides and could not have done it without them.  But still, how did we really cope?  We were so numb to everything and just went through the emotions.  I still know we are working through some of the bumps and bruises we encountered on our way.  I worry about how some of our choices affected you and your sisters. I guess only time will tell and I try telling myself that it just made it us all stronger in many different ways.

Today, April 1st, 2014, we will celebrate many positive things.  First and foremost, you are 100% cancer free!!!  We are blessed with an amazing family that has only become stronger throughout the year.  We celebrate that our focus this summer is where and when we can go camping or to the cabin, instead of when your next round of chemo starts.  We celebrate that you need a haircut...hooray!  We celebrate that your counts should be recovered enough by May and you can start attending public places, such as school.  Lastly, we celebrate that our family is healthy, all together and thriving and I can't wish for much more than that!!

Here is a picture of you one year ago today.  It was the start to your journey...


  

Here are pictures, a year later.  I wanted to take a picture with your beaded journey, as it is a great visual reminder of your last year.

\Love you more than you will ever know,

Mom