All in one.

Between getting ready for Christmas and getting ready for our next trip to USC on Monday, I have been slacking on this ol' blog. I seriously have so much to talk about because alot has been going on. So, I'm just going to put it all in one post. Thanks to a another fav blog I read, she gave me this great idea. Quick, to the point updates. So here goes..

1) Donnie had to take a last minute trip to USC on Friday. We found out Thursday at 3pm, that they did not have all of his labs needed to procede with the stem cell harvest on Tuesday so he needed to go down there by Friday to get them done. He was literally having to fly all the way to USC to get blood drawn. Such a pain! But then they called me back and told me that since he was already going to be there, they wanted to just do his 2 bags of Chemo. I was able to find decent flight rates but he was going to have to go alone because I had no one for the kids. So he got there on Friday, did his blood, got admitted to the hospital and started his Chemo. He did fine, just bored! They discharged him so late on Saturday that he almost missed his returning flight. We were like planning all the scenarios; if you miss it, you can get a hotel room close {it was the last flight of the night}. I had already checked what hotels were available. Between getting discharged 2 hours before his flight, driving all the way from USC to LAX, the freeway entrance being closed, having to return a rental car, take a shuttle back to LAX, I think it is only a miracle that he made his flight, he even had 15 minutes to spare. Poor guy! Nobody wants to do that alone especially when you just got out of the hospital! Anyway, he arivved safe and sound! He has been feeling the Chemo a little more this time around. He was a lot more sick the few days after then he has been in the past. He still hasn't lost any hair though, it starting to be almost funny. Every time he does a cycle of chemo they  say you will definitely lose you hair and then he never does. Oh well, he's probably one of the only chemo patients with a full beard :) He is having to give himself shots everyday for his white count but other then that he's just chugging along. 

2) Since Donnie was going to USC on Friday and I could't go I decided to head to Cedar for the weekend with the kids. There was a special birthday party I wanted to go to and I wanted to take the kids to play in the snow and hang out with my mom. I haven't been to Cedar since 4th of July so I was a long overdue trip! My bestest, Amie had a 1st birthday party for her son, Max. I was so glad we were able to make it. The kids had a great time playing! This little boy will always have a special place in my heart. I watching him come in to this world and to me, there is nothing more awesome to experience! Mia and him are only 5 months apart so they are already great little playmates. 

We also got some snow time in! Brody hasn't been in the snow in forever and I don't think Mia ever has, so I was glad that Cedar had some while we were there! I had nothing for the kids to wear, in terms of "snow gear". So, we hit up the only place to shop in Cedar, Wal-Mart and got them all good to go! They both looked like little marshmallows. It may have been a little bit of over kill but at least they were warm. They both loved it. 

Me and Austin

While I was in Cedar, my mom was nice enough to watch my kids while my sister, Amie and me went out for some drinks. There is really only one place to go in Cedar but we don't see each other too often so we were up for anything. At the end of the night, we decided to stop by a friends house that I haven't seen in years, literally like 7 years. It was really great to see her because she has been a huge support for me through all of this Cancer stuff. Over the past year we have continually emailed. She went through a similar situation with her grandfather and over the past year we have really become good friend. She is a true pillar of strength! I was so happy to see her that night, even if most of it was spend learning how to dougie ;)

I had a great weekend, it was good for my mental health he he! 

{except for the speeding ticket I got on the way home}

Thanks a lot Utah!!!

3)I forgot to talk about how fab my mother is a couple weeks ago. So ya know when we had to go to USC for just the night so that we could do a little orientation... well, it was a long trip. Making those 24 hour trips are exhausting and by the time I was walking into our house I was beyond drained. I just wanted to relax and hang with the kids. But to my surprise I walking into a beautifully decorated Christmas tree {one that had not been there when we left} Thanks to my mom, she had put our whole tree up while I was gone. Most people would say... I like to put my tree up! And if it were any other year I might say the same thing, but not this year! I was so grateful that I didn't have to spend a whole day, that I didn't have, doing it.  This month has been chaotic so this was totally awesome that! Thanks mom :) We were able to spend the rest of the night playing with the train and just hanging with the kids. It was the best way to end the trip!

4) Tis the season... to give! We recieved a nice little suprise the other night from a mystery family. It was a box full of gifts, one to open each night till christmas! The kids just love it, they can't wait till it's dark to see what the next one is. It goes along with the 12 days of christmas, so each day has a different saying. Its super cute. There is always a little story that goes with each day {but I always wind up reading that to myself because the kids are too busy with the gift}. I think I might have them open the gift after the story?! I might have a better audience if they know they get something afterwards :) So far we have opened socks for both the kids, yummy chocolate turtles, pens for each of the kids and party poppers. I'm pretty sure these people know us because of the stuff we have opened, so I would like to thank them, if they're out there :) It really was so kind and generous. I love Christmas and the spirit of giving!