Jackers had his first holiday show last night with school and it was so utterly cute!  Jack’s teacher had all the kids and parents over to her home so the kids could put on a little show for their families and we could all have a little holiday party.  It was such a good time.  Braden and Nikki came with me and it was a nice night all around.  The kids came out and sang 3 songs while doing sign language and it was just too cute for words!  Nikki recorded it so hopefully we will get that uploaded soon so we can share it with you all.  The parents of the children that Jack are in school with are so wonderful too so it was nice to spend some time with them.  I didn’t realize some of them read this blog and it was a good feeling to know that they are supporting us and our mission to raise awareness for Neuroblastoma.

I was just reading through our blog from last year at this time and it is just unreal how much it has changed since then.  Jack was in the hospital at this time going through a very painful round of immunotherapy.  He hit his 100 day post transplant this time last year which was a HUGE accomplishment.  I took both my boys to the grocery store (after he got out of the hospital) for the very first time EVER on December 20, 2010.  I can’t help but get emotional (I know, I am always emotional when it comes to the boys) but it’s true.  I will never really believe that Jack went through all that he did.  We are so very thankful that this Christmas we will be all together again and this time we won’t have to go back to the hospital right after Christmas Day is over with.  This time we get to go to many more places than the grocery store.  I am not nearly as concerned about sanitizing their hands as I used to be.  Of course I still like my kids to be germ free, but I am not a total freak about it anymore because I simply don’t have to be.  The “rules” have gotten a bit more relaxed and so have we.  With each day we are getting a little bit stronger.  Funny that I never realized how low our lives got.  You live in the moment and keep trying to stay strong for the future.  Now that I look back, I still have no idea how Jack got through it.  I have no idea how Zac and I got through it…but whatever the reason, I am thankful.  I am so happy Jack is here and thriving.  I am thrilled Braden is growing at  rapid rate and becoming a very strong and beautiful little boy.  I could go on for hours….but I won’t!  I am just happy right now….

We are still looking for more toys for the kids at PCH, so please let me know if you are interested!  Any donation would be appreciated!!

I cannot believe we are already in June.  Do you realize it has been almost 9 months since Jack’s stem cell transplant??  Hard to believe time has passed by so fast…

Jack woke up this morning, and of course Braden and I were already up since Braden wakes up at the crack of dawn, and when he came to the top of the stairs before he came down he yelled, “Hey!  We are one day closer!!!  My countdown is getting sooooo little!!!” The first thing Jack does when he wakes up in the morning is rip one of the countdown rings off and counts how many days are left before the tubes come out.  We got ready and Nikki came to meet us and Jack, Braden, Nikki, and I took off for the hospital this morning for Jack’s EKG and Echo.  We were able to see Jack’s favorite Child Life buddy, Amanda, right when we got there.  Even though it was a quick visit because she was off to a meeting, it was so nice for him to see her.  He has asked about her since the day we left the hospital and it was great running in to her.

Off we went to the appointment.  I was dreading it a little bit because Jack really does not like getting this done.  An Echo and EKG are the most painless of any of the tests that he has had to go through, but he has hated it since the beginning.  Fortunately, we had a wonderful guy who was performing the tests on Jack.  He cracked jokes with Jack and talked to Braden all to distract Jack and keep him happy.  About 20 minutes later, all was done and we were on our way!  Such a short appointment, but a good one.

We came home and after lunch Braden went down for a nap and Jack and I did some work in some of the school books that we got him.  He is doing really well and I think he will catch up fast when he goes to pre-K.  We also had a delivery today of the new bracelets for Jack and all of his supporters!  We will have them for sale soon on the website, but they are so cool!  We got them in large, medium and small sizes for kids.  Jack has been wanting a green bracelet for so long like mommy and daddy so now we have them for not only him, but all of you!  Hopefully we will have it all up and running by next week.  Get a bracelet, wear it, think of Jack and all he has been through and spread the word.  In fact, get one for you and for a friend!

Anyway, all is good here and we will be heading off to bed soon.  So looking forward to Friday morning!!!