Echoes...
A good weekend capped with good news.
Movie night!
Saturday saw lily562e, the KG and me hosting a werewulf-like movie gathering (Thanks for the inspiration darlin!). Four sets of friends with kids all gathered to eat snacks, pizza and watch "The Incredibles". I had a really good time and I think our guests all did as well. Since the little ones are all still quite little it started early in the afternoon so that we could get them into their beds at least close to their proper bed-times. It was nice to actually set an event up on short notice (less than a week) and have people actually be able to come. I am almost able to remember what it was like to do something on a whim! ;->
Gotcha Day
On Sunday we gathered together with several of the families we traveled to China with and celebrated the second anniversary of our "Gotcha Days". We also brought Barb, one of our dearest friends with us. This was only proper as she is closest thing to a local aunt or grandmother that Rowan will ever have. I don't mind this, however. She is family to Er and me as well. Wow! It is stunning to think that we've had Rowan for two years now. We reminisced, ate excellent Chinese food at P.F. Chang's ( a great local restaurant) and marveled at how the girls have grown. We also celebrated the newest edition to our adoptive group as one of the couples presented Joseph, a 6 month old from Guatemala. We all commiserated with them at the sleep deprivation they were once again enjoying.
This prompted me to look at some of the early photos and compare. She doesn't look like the same child. Those sad eyes are gone! Instead we've a bundle of energy who is very proud of wearing big girl underwear even if, like last night, she occasionally chooses to ignore the warning signals and winds up loosing control all over upholstery; and also proud of what good manners she has (if she does say so herself ;->).
Oncology Monday
Then Oncology Monday. This is when we head up to the Cleveland Clinic so Er can be once again subjected to numerous tests to check on the status of her cancer. I really hate these days! They bring back to my mind all the terror, and pain that we've already gone through and blend it with rubbing our noses in the knowledge that tiny tumors sit in Er's liver like little Swords of Damocles. The climax of the day comes when we sit with one of her doctors and he tells us if any have gone active and started growing.
Well we moved through our paces like good little patients and spouses (outwardly with good humor and stoicism but whimpering inside) and then sat waiting to hear, like last time, that one of the tumors had grown and that perhaps this time Er would soon need to undergo a laparoscopic procedure to burn it out. Instead, we got different news. Instead of growing, the visible tumor had shrunk on its own (or at least not grown significantly)! While the definitive results will come later this week, it looks like she is doing fine, and will not need to see the doctor for another three months (at the next Oncology Monday). YEA!
Movie night!
Saturday saw lily562e, the KG and me hosting a werewulf-like movie gathering (Thanks for the inspiration darlin!). Four sets of friends with kids all gathered to eat snacks, pizza and watch "The Incredibles". I had a really good time and I think our guests all did as well. Since the little ones are all still quite little it started early in the afternoon so that we could get them into their beds at least close to their proper bed-times. It was nice to actually set an event up on short notice (less than a week) and have people actually be able to come. I am almost able to remember what it was like to do something on a whim! ;->
Gotcha Day
On Sunday we gathered together with several of the families we traveled to China with and celebrated the second anniversary of our "Gotcha Days". We also brought Barb, one of our dearest friends with us. This was only proper as she is closest thing to a local aunt or grandmother that Rowan will ever have. I don't mind this, however. She is family to Er and me as well. Wow! It is stunning to think that we've had Rowan for two years now. We reminisced, ate excellent Chinese food at P.F. Chang's ( a great local restaurant) and marveled at how the girls have grown. We also celebrated the newest edition to our adoptive group as one of the couples presented Joseph, a 6 month old from Guatemala. We all commiserated with them at the sleep deprivation they were once again enjoying.
This prompted me to look at some of the early photos and compare. She doesn't look like the same child. Those sad eyes are gone! Instead we've a bundle of energy who is very proud of wearing big girl underwear even if, like last night, she occasionally chooses to ignore the warning signals and winds up loosing control all over upholstery; and also proud of what good manners she has (if she does say so herself ;->).
Oncology Monday
Then Oncology Monday. This is when we head up to the Cleveland Clinic so Er can be once again subjected to numerous tests to check on the status of her cancer. I really hate these days! They bring back to my mind all the terror, and pain that we've already gone through and blend it with rubbing our noses in the knowledge that tiny tumors sit in Er's liver like little Swords of Damocles. The climax of the day comes when we sit with one of her doctors and he tells us if any have gone active and started growing.
Well we moved through our paces like good little patients and spouses (outwardly with good humor and stoicism but whimpering inside) and then sat waiting to hear, like last time, that one of the tumors had grown and that perhaps this time Er would soon need to undergo a laparoscopic procedure to burn it out. Instead, we got different news. Instead of growing, the visible tumor had shrunk on its own (or at least not grown significantly)! While the definitive results will come later this week, it looks like she is doing fine, and will not need to see the doctor for another three months (at the next Oncology Monday). YEA!