Christmas 2012

We didn't take many photos this Christmas. We both just wanted to enjoy the day without being behind a camera. We had a wonderfully quiet family Christmas and then a goose dinner with friends. I made a Christmas Pudding cheesecake and Andy tackled the roast goose and everything else that went with it. We did get a photo of Eoin with Santa at school. Poor kid was almost too tall to sit on Santa's knee.

All Eoin wanted this Christmas was an exhaust for his bike!

Halloween School Show

 

Favorite birthday present

 

Happy Birds Part 3

Happy Birds Part 2

Happy Birds Video Part 1

V late but Eoin's 5th birthday

Eoin's fifth birthday was back at the end of October but it was quite the event. We had a pinata, bouncy house, pass the parcel, birthday cake of course and a PARROT SHOW!

I will post video of the parrot show but we were so lucky to get The Happy Birds to come and perform at our home. They were the stars of the day. The kids got to interact with the birds and even have them sit on their arms.

Eoin was spoilt rotten with so many presents but the best present was his 360 razor bike.

Once again our garage was the perfect place to hold the party. The kids had space and could get outside to the bouncy castle easily. Before long kids were drawing with chalk on the sidewalks and playing with cars and balls.

A great day!!!

25,000 visits!

Four and a half years and 25,000 visits to our blog. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with us. It always means so much to know that we have a wonderfully supportive cyber/IAC adoptive family out there!

San Francisco Exploratorium

Lots of wonderful fun on a recent visit Eoin and Andy made to the San Francisco Exploratorium.

Four and a half

So lets start of with the stats. Eoin is 53lbs and 47.5 inches (or 3 feet 11.5 inches). Yes he is huge. This is the average height of a seven - eight year old!!! Eoin is still on target to be 6ft 6 by the age of 18.

Eoin continues to be a child with so much love and is very quick to show you his love though he has decided that he is allergic to kisses.

Gross motor skills are amazing. Cycling, swimming, soccer, running, monkey bars etc are things that he can do with much ease. We are however seeing a problem with fine motor skills and some sensory issues.

We are planning on seeking some input on the sensory issues. Eoin will say things like I can't sleep unless your legs are on top of  mine, he has become scared of loud noises, he has started to squeal again and be very physical (which given his size and strength can be very scary).

We are hoping a relaxed summer without any cancer treatments for me and a whole month of vacation for Andy will provide us the family time we need to be together and help Eoin with some of these issues.

School Photos

Worms!

On a recent visit to the forest  Eoin was fascinated by a huge worm. He wanted it to come home with him to play in his garden but we persuaded him that it was better for the worm to stay inthe forest and so Eoin dug a little hole for his new friend and off the worm went.

Arsenal Fan

 

Easter Egg hunt

Eoin vs Jaguar

Thank God for safety glass!

Mask project

So I am about to start an art project using my mask from the external beam radiation treatment I had a few months ago. I have kept many different things that from the journey so far that I want to incorporate into the mask. So here is a before shot of the mask and I'll keep you updated on how I go.

On a health note. I am going to have an MRI on Friday to check my neck and chest out. I have had a double ear infection and pink eye for the last 10 days but can't have antibiotics. And my white cell count is in my boots so I'm officially not allowed to near kids, crowds, public transport etc. unless I wear a sexy mask :-)

Andy has been traveling again this week. It has been a little easier as Eoin got into the swing of things much faster but we are really hoping that this is the end of Andy's work trips for a little while.

Even bigger bike

Christmas 2011

Eoin has finally mastered his big red bike that Santa brought for Christmas. He was getting annoyed that he couldn't keep up with the other kids on the street and so he moved on up from his little 14 inch wheel bike to a 20! He is zooming all over the place now.Oh and on a side note Eoin will proudly tell you that he is now 4 and a third and he wears size 1 shoes and size 6 clothes. This is because he has tall hair which makes him look taller!

New helmet and bike 'exhaust' added Christmas 2012

The face of cancer

I love that when I look back over the last 18 months and my journey so far through cancer most of my photos are of smiles, love and family times!

Happy 35th Mommy

Riding 20'' bike

Yes our four year old is riding a 20 inch bike frame!

Boy's Adventures

Eoin and Andy had a recent trip to Sacramento while Mommy was in isolation following I131 treatment. The highlight of the trip remains the bungee jumping highlighted in a previous post. On the way home the guys stopped in San Francisco and went on a special tour - a vintage fire truck!

 

 

Bungeeeeee!

Spoke a little too soon

Well I think I may have spoken to quickly about the lack of cancer in my lungs. I went back today for the in depth scan. This scan shows far more as I have a dose of I131 on board and so I 'light up' more. Turns out that as well as the cancer that is recurring/left on my thyroid bed I also have a small met of thyroid cancer in my left lung. My right lung is thank God clear. I'm not really sure what the plan is now.

UPDATE: I am heading back to UCSF Oncology hospital on Monday and will have a CT to confirm involvement of lung and/or posterior mediasternum. Also we will discuss weather I need more external radiation.

I see my endocrinologist next week however a few things are on my mind - how the hell did cancer survive in my neck after all that external radiation. I'm not too worried about my lung as people have walked around for years with mets in their lungs but I am worried about my neck. This cancer is so stubborn! From day one we knew it was going to be a tough journey due to the fact that my tumor was huge and it is poorly differentiated.

I continue to stay busy. I have just finished and shipped the wedding invites for my brothers wedding in May. I have rented a cello and I am having so much fun trying to learn that. Finally I am taking the time to catch up on listening to music and finding stuff that is new to me. Again a huge thank you to the families and teachers at Eoin's school for being there as support this week!

I am hoping that with your prayers and my strong will that this latest I131 treatment works. Please pray for my doctors as well as my family.