I'm back at it, dusting off the old keyboard and updating the blog for the first time in about 8 months. So much has happened in that time, I don't even know where to start. Crazy changes, exciting changes, and if you asked me as I closed out my last post, I never would have predicted how much our lives would have changed in such a short period of time. For starters, we moved to a new, albeit, neighboring town this summer, and into an awesome new house in a great new neighborhood. All five kids started at brand new schools this fall. I cut back at work and am no longer going into the office, only working freelance from home, pretty limited hours, but still teaching ballet one day a week. But the biggest change and definitely most exciting is that the Lily Pad is growing. I'm pregnant and expecting baby number 6, on New Year's Day! We are all beyond excited for the new little blessing to join our family. After my two year check-up with my oncologist yesterday, I am reminded just what a sweet miracle this is, how far we have come, and how fortunate I am to have this new lease on life and new life growing inside me. Walking around the hospital today, moving from waiting room to waiting room, from blood work in the laboratory up to the all too familiar blood cancer floor, where I got reassuring news from my doctor, was just so surreal and emotional. All the anxiety and worry and fear from the six months I spent there came flooding back. This was met with appreciation for the doctors and nurses that treated me and continue to help patients facing ups and downs everyday. My heart ached for all those people in the waiting room who were just starting their treatment and facing so many unknowns. I felt guilt for those who looked at my belly wondering if they would ever get the chance to start their families. I wondered when, if ever, these visits would get easier and what exactly it all means. All this turned to thankfulness for all that has brought me to where to I am today, almost 34 weeks pregnant with my sixth child, wife to my amazing husband, surrounded by friendship, family and most of all hopefulness for what is to come.
Jim and I were invited to a friend's Halloween party (Adults only), and since we had prize worthy costumes last year, knew this year's must be pretty creative too. I decided to work the pregnancy into the costume and made myself into a can of "Prego" Tomato Sauce. Jim, was the Italian chef, of course. I wore red tights and a red long sleeve shirt. I peeled a label off a jar of Prego, brought it to Staples where it was enlarged and printed on poster-board. I used tape to secure around me in the back and held up with red suspenders. Viola! We got Jim an apron and a chef hat then used yellow yarn for spaghetti, and styrofoam balls which painted brown for meatballs. We hot glued these onto his apron and hat to jazz up a bit. Such fun!
