Some recent pictures of our puppy and our snow. Lots of fun!

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It's official--5 years cancer free post treatment

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I've been looking forward to such a blog title for a long time and here we are.  Yay!  I am happy that this was our outcome, grateful for all the years we've had with Steven and for the many more to come, and humbled when I think of other cancer friends who weren't so lucky. Yesterday we had the appointments.  Steven didn't have a scan as normal, they just took an x-ray of his chest.  They do this because they are less worried about recurrence at this point and it reduces the amount of radiation he is exposed to.  So I don't know if I can officially call these scans, but his blood work was totally normal and his lungs were clear.  We have every reason to hope for Steven to live a long life, cancer free. We will continue these check-ups annually until he is 19 or 20, which will be 10 years out from treatment.  Hopefully we will feel as peaceful about those future check ups as we did yesterday.  It was a good day. And because I don't post so often, ...
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Top 10 lists

Top 10 things I will not miss about the hospital: 10. The cafeteria smells, especially in the morning 9. The parent shower 8. Super frequent packing and unpacking 7. Constant hand sanitizing 6. The parent "bed" 5. Fear of hospital germs 4. Nurse interrupted nights 3. Hearing babies cry down the hall or code blues on the PA system 2. Being apart from the rest of my family 1. Watching Steven feel miserable Top 10 things I will miss about going to the hospital: 10. The beautiful views from the windows 9. Housekeeping! 8. Lots of time to think or read or waste time on the internet 7. Unlimited pebbled ice 6. Room service! 5. Pastry deliveries from my dad 4. Meeting and visiting with parents who are in similar situations 3. Spending time with Steven, a captive audience 2. The feeling we are actively killing cancer cells 1. The wonderful doctors, nurses and staff that have taken care of Steven so well
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A birthday, a check-up and the gift of a year

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You may already know that the American Cancer Society is the "Official Sponsor of Birthdays."  This week, as we celebrated Steven's 16th birthday, I couldn't help but remember a time six years ago during his treatments when I wondered if he'd ever make it to this age.  Along with the birthday celebrations this week, Steven also had his annual check up.  Scans are over, and now the docs just do a chest x-ray and some blood work.  Everything looked great--he is the picture of health.  A perfect birthday present, but more than that, it feels like another year and most likely a whole life.  Is there a better gift?  As we get a little farther out from the experience, I find myself with answers that I couldn't have when we were in the trenches.  The puzzle is only sort of coming together, but this week it felt more clear than ever.  Here are some of the pieces: Steven's pediatrician is retiring.  As we received the invitation to his retirement...
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