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New Month, New Sport, New Holiday
By Margot | December 8, 2008
Wouldn’t it be nice if I could add to that title “New Disease”? Something relatively benign for an eight year old…”Hey we’re all finished with neuroblastoma but unfortunately Sam has developed a gambling addiction and he’s betting for extra cookies at lunch.”  Christmas is the time for wishful thinking.Â
Sorry I’ve been so slack in updating. Sam has been feeling great. He’s had a ton of energy and been in a good mood all week.  We’ve barely caught our breath from soccer season and the basketball draft was this past weekend. The boys are in different leagues now since Sam has moved up to the 8-10 league. Andy’s draft was on Friday night and he did very well – made one of his shots and was a fast racer, he raced an older girl and took the turn wide but caught up and won.  Sam’s draft was on Saturday morning and he did well too. His ball handling skills are awesome. He’s shooting on the twelve foot basket now, he can make lay up shots pretty well. Charlie came along and rooted for both. He wants to be doing whatever the boys are doing at all times. Andy is home today with a fever, though he seems to be feeling fine, his fever just spiked again, hoping it won’t last too long and that Sam and Charlie won’t catch it.  Don’t know how though. Charlie is Andy’s shadow anywhere he goes in the house. It’s very funny.  Maybe it’s because Charlie is old enough now to insert himself into all the action but both boys have become very protective of him and are really helpful with him, getting him into his pajamas, putting his shoes on and bringing them with him. I noticed it last week when we went to Legoland with Cathy and her kids. They were all on this huge wooden Legoland playground that you climb up and down go over bridges, go down slides, climb through tunnels -it’s the kind of thing that makes a mother crazy when it’s packed because you can never find your children. However, last Sunday Legoland was virtually empty and both boys helped Charlie climb up everything, waited for him on the slides and made sure that he was following them throught the tunnels. He was in heaven. I heard his little gleeful, “Come on guys” as he was running towards the slides. You would have never guessed with his height and the huge slides he was following his brother’s down that he was only two. It brought to mind our pediatrician’s warning that we are careful to treat him like a two-year old since he’s so big.  His favorite game these days is for us to find him. He hides in the same place every time and doesn’t actually come out of his hiding place after we find him, he justs sends us off to go count again and stays where he is. It’s funny. Andy, is very sweet with him and when he takes time to explain things to him. Sam comes up behind him and puts his arms around him and says “Hey Bay!” he alternates between making him laugh and laughing at him. Don’t get me wrong they both still torment him but it seems not as much so lately.
Charlie and Andy and I dropped off Sam’s urine sample at the hospital this morning for VMA/HVA this morning. Last week’s numbers were
HVA: 19.8 VMA 13.2 down from 21.5 and 18.  Better but still, ick.  I know that NB is the great masquerader, so please don’t take this as naive but Sam has wonderful energy and a great attitude and I’m tired of living from number to number so, I’m trying not to. So, if this week’s numbers are up, it will be bad news but I’m expecting them to be down just because he looks great and he’s quick with a laugh.   My Christmas present to myself is to stop freaking out over each weekly number -unless of course they jump way up and then I’m aloud to freak out.
 Christmas is zooming up fast and we still haven’t decorated or gotten our tree but that will happen this weekend. We have a radiation consult coming up, dentists, holiday show, art show, basketball practices, regular blood checks, etc. etc.  I was talking with my friend Rebecca the other day and we were talking about a slower pace of life – she used to live in Ohio- and I said, “Well isn’t it fast paced everywhere these days?”    Her reply was “Oh Honey.” Which I took to mean we live in the fast lane. Good thing our boys like fast. My mom is coming into town for Christmas so get ready for some stories.
Margot
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Topics: Progress Reports | 2 Comments »
December 10th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Glad to hear Sam is feeling well and full of energy !
What an exciting time for three young boys waiting on Santa !!!
Hugs to all, Colleen, Nick and family
December 16th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
What handsome young men. Thanks for the Christmas card.