Quick update

Just a quick update...

After almost two months of testing and two excisions, I can now report that my carcenoid tumor has been completely removed. I will have screenings every 3-6 months or so, then less frequently if all is well. If it does come back, I will need to have surgery, but will not need chemo or radiation. It is local, treatable, and we caught it early.

I feel great, relieved and SO GRATEFUL.

Also, I really think the undies Kelly made me that said "kiss my @$$, cancer" in puffy paint made all the difference.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, humor and support, I really do appreciate ALL of you.

xoxo Christine

P.S. We sold our house and are moving across town in three weeks to a new home. I'd post more details, but as you can imagine, things are kind of NUTTY around here right now and I have to run!!!

Our friend Tim hosted an AWESOME Harry Potter birthday banquet.

Here we are as Draco, Tonks, and Hedwig... oh, and my original butterbeer recipe tied for first place! Ask and I will share it with you...

Tinks

Don't blog around much anymore...

...and this is why.

This burst of creativity happened during *less than one minute* of not watching her. I couldn't be mad, because this really was my fault. She does not like to be closed in the office with me, so the only reason I'm able to write this right now is that she's taking an uncharacteristically merciful (long) nap today.

As Olivia's mommy would say, she really wears me (and herself) out, but I love her anyway.

More fun with Bops and Grandma

Kathryn LOVES picking tomatoes at Grandma's. We try to do this only when we can stay out for at least 20 minutes or so, because she just cannot get enough!





Here she and Bops are playing with the toys du jour, Barbie and Tink (and shoes!).


Pancakes, pancakes! What is with this girl and butter?
Monkeys (she didn't say it this time, but baby Kayti is the little owl in the tree.)

18 Month Check Up

For those not into the brag-fest stats, skip this one, meant mostly as an update for the grandmas. Kathryn's check up went great. At 23 lbs., 7 oz and 32 1/2" tall, she is in the 45th percentile for weight and the 75th for height. She never ceases to amaze, and is doing things way beyond her 1.5 years. She speaks in sentences when she wants to, knows all of her letters and the sounds they make (big and most little), numbers, colors and shapes, and counts to 15 by herself and 29 with help. She loves to learn, and especially loves books. She is healthy and happy and an absolute kick in the pants.

18 months old... I still can't believe how fast the time goes.

Grandma/Bops

Up for a fun day with the kiddo... she had a blast even though she's been teething molars over the past few weeks...

Bops also came up last week and I got a much-appreciated break. Here she's probably saying "Come on, Bops!!!" Her latest thing is to insistently grab our hands leading us to the toy-du-jour.
I know it's hard to be patient, especially when you're 18 months old. It still makes me laugh though, that Kathryn has this incredible compulsion to knock over blocks. Even if there are only two stacked. Even if you are trying to build a much higher tower for her to demolish. It doesn't matter. The blocks MUST be destroyed.

We really had to distract her to get this one built:
Who, me?



She had a wonderful time both days. Thanks, you guys!!!