The NIght Before Christmas!

Well, we had gone over to Staceys house, and time got away from us! SO we were on our way home at 10:30 and after doing all I could to keep cole awake (yall know how it goes moms)he crasehd hard in the car! Dan was adament that Cole had to be awake to put out the milk and cookies and reindeer carrots since he is NEVER off for the Christmas experience with yus! Especially since COle "gets it." So we woke him back up and they spread the reindeer carrots, and ate some too, and put out the milk and cookies! We were so tired, but had to "wait him out!" Well, he had a power nap in the car so he finally zonked at midnight! Needless to say, it was 2 am when the elves finished with the gifts!But Dan got to see it all!

OUr First Christmas Eve at Stace and Daves

Dan and I


Me, Aunt Ray, BIg Jude and Stace


Dave, Stacey, Brenna and Madelynn


Everyone being good sports as cole shoots them dead!


The girls and Cole with the train!

After going to church, we went over to my sister in laws house. She and Dave will be getting married in June, and this was her first time having aall of us over and cooking! I haev to admit, for a first time entertainer, the food was great! SHe did an awesome job! AFter dinner, we all had to have a few rounds of sports on WII. It is always funny to watch people for the first time (dans mom)! We stayed way too late for Christmas eve, but we were having such a god time! Cole loved playing with Daves daighters! Thanks Stace and Dave for having us..you may have started a new tradition!

A Very SPecial Gift

Coles new stocking!

Cole and I, before the big tears!

Cole opening Grandma Felcias presents

When we got home from our dinner last night there was a package on our doorstep that the mail lady left. It was from my step mom. Most of you know my father fast away a few years back. My step mom made the most thoughtful gift for COle. It was a stocking made out of a pair of my dads jeans she had kept! Of course I cried like a baby, and just kept holding it! Im so thankful she is so thoughtful! Cole never got to meet his "poppy" so this will be a way for cole to know him each year! Thank you Felicia for the gift! I will cherish it always!

First Christmas!

Dans mom, sister and Katy lighting Menorah

Baby Gabe

Cole and Dominik with play house

Alvi taking a rest from the boys!


Last night we went to Dans cousins house for dinner with his side of extended family! We had a great time! Cole got to play with his cousins Dominik and Gabe and Alvi! DOminik and Coel turned Katys play doll house into a house for power rangers! Hysterical! Since his side of the family is mixed with the Jewish religion and christian religion, we also got to light the Menorah. IT was great seeing everyone and hanging out with family!

The Results Are In

Many of you know we finally got Dan into the Center for Advanced Medicine last week! I convinced Dan to make the switch from the doctor he was seeing for his T Cell Lymphoma-MF was not sitting well with my gut. So, on we went. WOW! What a difference! Talk about thorough! We had a breast cancer survivor meet us at the door and gave us the tour of the cancer center. As usual, we were the youngest people there....but with that said, the healthiest! We met with a new oncologist who did a thorough exam and explained a lot to us. Dan also had 3 blood tests done (which had never been done in 4 years) to check blood counts, lymphoma in the bloodstream, and sezary cells in the blood. The blood counts looked great, we got those back during the visit. Today we called to check the other results. Praise the lord there is NO lymphoma in the bloodstream! The 2nd test for sezary cells was positive in the blood, but less than 5% which is good news as far as treatment goes. If or when he reaches 5% in the bloodstream he will begin IV chemo, so great news is he will continue on with topical chemo until then.....hopefully never with lots of prayers and amazing doctors. We will now begin seeing a dermatologist (next week) and the oncologist both at CAM every 3 months and they will communicate, and watch the blood counts! I feel much better about the level of care he is going to be receiving! Always go with your gut! So, thanks for all the prayers and thoughts....

Been A While!

I am so sorry I have been so behind on here! Well, I guess I will start here instead of backtracking or I might never get caught up!
When I come home from school each day I pass though this tiny little town called Cottleville. They had a banner hanging this week that read, "Christmas in Cottleville." It also advirtized the Christmas parade. SO I asked Cole if he would like to go to the parade and see Santa. Well of course he did! SO on Saturday Dan came home from work that morning and we put all kinds of layers on us because it was freezing cold! As we drove through "downtown" there were like 20 people lining the streets. Dan started in on me about "Oh here we go, another moms adventure!" We proceeded to sit on the curb and wait for the parade! THe funny part was, the parade had well, let me count, the DARE hummer, the police car, the firetuck, the mayor and santa in a wagon, so that would be 5 things! IT was over in about 5 minutes. I said, " ready cole, its over!" He says to me, " mom wheres the parade?" I say, "cole, that was it" and he says, " I think I missed it!" I laughed so hard! But, the picture I got him looking at Santa is priceless!

Yea! A New Doctor

As many of you know, I have never been very comfortable with Dans Dr. that has been treating him for his CTC lymphoma. I have just a a gut feeling that she has not been proactive enough. I kept telling Dan after apt. that I just wanted him to go get another outlook! Unfortunately, Dan has come out of "remission" wtih a very active form right now which has prompted me to get on the ball and get someone new! I am so excited that a Dr. at Siteman Cancer Center has agreed to take Dans "case." We shoudl get to schedule our apt. in a few days, and see her within a week or so! YEA! Eveyone keep your fingers crossed and prayers coming that this is the help we have needed!

Please Get Together!

Today Dan and I went a new route with trying to get pregnant. Most of you know we have been trying for about 15 months. Yes, Cole was a one try baby, so we have been shocked at how long it has taken. We have "tried" so to speak our hardest but have been unsuccessful. Well, today we did our first IUI. It stands for something like inter-uterine insimination, or something like that. Basically, we took the "little phelps" as Barney said on How I Met Your Mother, and put them right into the cervix, so they just have to like bump into the egg! I had a few ultrasounds this week to check the size of the follicle, then a shot to ovulate then the "procedure" today. I feel great! Little crampy still but nothing like this morning! SO, keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers. We should find out the night before Thanksgiving if we have another baby to be thankful for! Thanks for all your good wishes so far! I have wonderful friends and family!

NKOTB

So sad it has come and gone! After 15 years I got to see the NKOTB! I have to say, Monica and I were spoiled last time in Dallas at age 13 getting to get on Joeys bus, and chase the limo as they left, but at age 31...it was still a great time...although Monica wasnt there!
I mean, talk about going back in time! They were so good and there is just something about how freakin good they can dance! They sang all the old stuff and the new also! IT was 2 hours of great old fun! They could still belt out Cover Girl and Please DOnt Go Girl, just like they used too! There were 6 of us with seats together and about 12 more all separated. We got upgraded to awesome seats with a great view! What a great time!

Into trouble

I had forgotten to post this on Sunday. I was exhausted from the weekend and Dan had jsut gotten off of his 24 hour shift, and it was nap time for all....except one! I had laid on the couch, Cole on his pallet and Dan in the bed. I only slept about 20 minutes and I got up to check on Cole. I could hear him singing. I walked in the bathroom to find COle sitting in the sink making a big soapy bubble mess! Thank god I found him before he sudsed up the entire bathroom!

Welcome Back New Kids

Yes, We are dorks and are excited about New kids concert here Monday night! So to celebrate, Kristy had a new kids pre party! A group of girls got together and had dinner and cookie cake...hence the picture...and watched old new kids VHS tapes and got refreshed for the show! Now, as I am very excited...I must say, Its no Poison! Monday is Heathers Birthday and thats what she wanted to do, so Monday night...Its new kids or bust! A crowd of 30 year old moms! ha! It would make it even more real if I could have Monica with me as that is who I went with in 7th grade! Yes.Let us brag, we did get to go on Joeys tour bus!

Happy First Birthday Gabe

Happy Birthday Gabe!


Team Effort!


Floor it Papa!


Strike!


Coles favorite game!

Coles cousin Gabe turned 1, so they had a great party at the Incredible Pizza Buffet. That place is insanely huge! They have tons of different party rooms, a huge buffet and and arcade the size of Dave and Busters with a go kart track, bumper cars and a mini bowling alley! NUTS! Cole had a blast. We took papa with us since gigi was working. He rode the go karts with cole and some simulator games! We had a blast! Thank Gabe and Happy Birthday!

Baby Dean

On Saturday, I had the busiest day! I attended a doctors apt. first thing, then a birthday party for Coles cousin Gabe, then a baby shower for Kim and Baby Payton, then New Kids On the Block pre-party! i was so beat last ngiht! Anyways...Kim is due in about 10 weeks with her first baby! Kim looks awesome! If only I can contain my apetite like her the next time! ha! Anyways, Heather through Kim a fabulous shower and we had a great time! Thanks Heather! In the picture, Kim and Laura are both pregnant in the middle, then Heather and I on the outside. We are old High school buddies!

Marching to the Beat of Our Own Drummer!

I swear we have had more fun this week playing pretend things with Cole than ever before!He loves the Upside Down Show in noggin. So there was a recent episode with a marching band. Well, Cole had to get out his old baby drum that came with all the instruments and assign us all a part. Well, along the way I picked up his train whistle, and Dan joined us with his duck call and it got way out of hand. Cole was drumming to some ruckus, then I started in with the train whistle, and Dan then made up some crazy duck call beat and we marched around the house, and I truly thought I might pee my pants! The best part was I had taught cole how true rockers can twirl their drumsticks, so he was doing it! Dan taught him to say "God bless and goodnight" to end the show! The best is all on video but heres a few pics of little drummer boy!

The Pirate Takes Over St. Johns

In the waiting room at the dr. office!

I had a doctors apt. on saturday morning, so naturally, Cole slept in his pirate gear, woke early ready to play and then, yes...for the first time as a mom, I had to take my chld somewhere dressed up....not on Halloween! But really, he looks so cute I dont even care! There was another boy in the waiting room and cole gave him some of his "getup" and they played together in the waiting room! Its was hysterical!

Better Pirate

Sailing away on his ship!


The real pirate!


Captain Hook!


Slaughtering captain stinky!

SO if you read a couple of blogs ago, you will have seen our pretend play of the pirates. Since then the obsession has increased, and we have moved on to bigger and better pirate things. No longer are we wearing homemade paper eye patches, but now we have a real patch, hat, hook arm, jewels, sword and telescope! HIs imagination gets better everyday and we are becoming professional pirates by the minute! We have been assigned pirate names as well! I am now "pirate bones", the dog is "captain stinky" and dan is "captain toot" (go figure) and cole of course is "captain hook!"

Prayer Warriors

I am asking for your prayers! I have a friend of a friend of a friend, who recently asked for prayers. The email went out explaining that 31 year old Stephanie had been diagnosed with CTC lymphoma, and within 3 months now, has made peace with God, her husband and 2 kids (3 and 8 months, and is waiting for healing or to go be with the lord. A friend of the family has set up a blog for her that they update daily. I have become "addicted" to checking on her daily and praying for her more often than that. She was sent to the MAYO clinic in minnesota due to the rarity of this type of lymphoma called Gamma Delta. Unfortunately, chemo and drug therapy have not helped and she is slipping away. I pray that you will add her to your prayer list or thought each day to give her peace and comfort and to lift up her husband to endure it all! I will try to add her link to my blog so you can read her story.
What has really drawn her to me, is that CTC lymphoma is also what my Dan has. Dan has been blessed that his is slightly different and grows at a much slower speed. Instead of being CTC lymphoma GD, his is CTC lymphoma MF. Hers is a much more aggressive form and is taking her life entirely too soon!

Imagination

Cole has really gotten in to pretend play...which is the coolest thing ever! Pirats are his big thing right now. We talk in pirate voice so much that my throat is actually raw! Tonight, we had our swords and hooks adn made a ship with pillows. Hank the dog was the bad guy trying to take our gold.We had no eye pathces, so we made some and colored them, and used curly ribbon to tie them on our faces. COle is now using terms like "matey", ahoy, walk the plank and his name is captain hook! We had a ball tonight! Here are some pics of us! Excuse my loks...i was in my bedtime gear!

Surprise Cole..Its Thomas!

The Bertinos with Sir Toppem Hat


LEts get washed!


THeres Thomas pulling the train!


The Ghetto!


COle ready for the surprise!

On Saturday, we surprised Cole and took him to see the "real" Thomas the Tank Engine! Cole was super excited when we pulled up to the track and there was Thomas on the rails! They had all kinds of tents set up (not as nice as I'd thought) so the kids could play trains, see Sir Toppem' Hat, get
washed" like a train..etc. The highlight was riding on a train pulled by THomas. For me, the highlight was the tour through the ghetto to get there! I mean...the ghetto of East St. Louis...yes for those not in Missouri, it was ranked #3 most violent citites or something!
Anyways...we had a ball...for those of you who watch John and KAte Plus Eight...they definately had an upgraded tour!