A week away

This last week was pretty rough on us as a family.  Being away from each other was hard, but we managed.  When I finally got to the house yesterday I found them on the patio and Avery wasn't facing me.  When I got down in front of her she got the most amazingly beautiful smile on her face and I just crumbled.  In a week, she has actually statrted to get hair.  I could feel it coming in last week, but you couldn't see it.  Now it's so obvious - and blonde as can be! 

She had a great week with Daddy and Grandma, even though they had to sedate her 3 times.  They went to Build a Bear and Ground Zero and spent a lot of time at the park.  The MRI on Friday came back clear - which thrills us to no end.  Keep in mind Avery hasn't had any chemo in almost 2 months.  She was off of the high dose chemo and radiation for 3 months when she relapsed.  Now they didn't do an LP last week, so we don't know whether or not cells are rebuilding in her fluid, but at this point she doesn't have any Tumor growth and that is excellent.  We start the new treatment this week.  She will receive a dose of the IO 3F8 on Tuesday morning and then have a scan 4 hours later, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later.  While we have appts almost each day at the hospital, we are hoping to have some time to explore the city with our friend Alex and Aunt Angie.  We promised to take them to the Ferris Wheel inside Toys R Us in Times Square.  I am excited that she will have someone to play with this week.  She desperately craves kid interaction. 

Jeremy has a tough week ahead of him at home and we will be thinking of him constantly.  He has a few chores to do to in the yard - so he should keep busy!  There is a bird's nest in my wreath that hangs outside the front door and when I got home last week there was 3 blue eggs in it.  By Thursday, they had hatched and are now teeny tiny baby birds.  The year Avery was born, a robin built a nest in the corner of her window and we watched them all spring until they left the nest.  Apparently we are good bird people - trustwhorthy.  Or we are never home - so that helps too. 

Well I see the eyelashes drooping....that's right -- I said eyelashes.  They are about halfway grown out now.  Still waiting on the eyebrows, but they will be blonde anyway.  So I better get the nap underway.  I hope everyone has had a chance to check out the walk information.  We are so very excited for June 4th - it will be a much needed day of celebration.  We have been going and going and going since Dec 29th 2009 - and this will mark the end of treatment - at least for now.  We are so anxious to finally hit that mark and praying so hard that it is the end of treatment for her.  It's been a long road for this 2 year old and she deserves a little break.  I had a dream the other night that we took a picture of the entire crowd at the walk, surrounding Avery.  Right in front with her blue glasses and bling bling gold walker - looking so proud.  One day when she finds out that all those people came to see her, well I just can't wait to see her face.  I hope everyone can make it.  It should be a beautiful day for the Christiansen family. 

Jenn