Thanksgiving/MRI Results

Thanksgiving came and went. We had a lovely holiday that I know we will all remember.

Wednesday afternoon Steve, Jenelle and Mr. Mayhem came down to celebrate a Mexigiving. We had a delicious mexican feast washed down with some of Steve's original margaritas.

Mom, Steve,
Jenelle, Bethany and
Mr. Mayhem
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Monica, Tanya, Cheryl
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The day was lovely. Monica flew in to spend Thanksgiving with us and see her mother who has been here for a long time helping to take care of my mother.

Jenelle left later that evening and took Mr. Mayhem to see his other grandparents. Steve stayed down in San Diego and we all headed to Roberta's for a beautiful Thanksgiving there. The weather was amazing, the food was fabulous and we all truly enjoyed being with one another. Roberta's brother Rich joined us and Bobby flew in to spend the holidays at home as well. The McDevitts stopped by for some fine wine and dessert as well.

 Mom got all dressed up and looked amazing. Though the Notre Dame Irish hat didn't match her outfit it was a gift from Bobby that she wanted to wear. It also was a big weekend for the fighting Irish and she had to show her support.

Steve and I on Thanksgiving day.













The Williams Family together.

Roberta's beautiful table!








Shortly after the Holiday was over we got ready for Christmas. Steve and I got most of the boxes out and began to decorate for Christmas. For those of you who are normally at our house during the holidays' you understand that our house typically "throws up Christmas". With my moms 500+ Department 56 homes, our indoor AND outdoor Christmas trees and our larger than life stalkings, our house it quickly transformed into the north pole. This year we maintained both trees. (Jenny Caughey even dried the fruit and got the cinnamon sticks to hang on the outdoor "nature" tree). We only put up 50 of the houses but we still hung the stalkings by the fireplace. The house looks like Christmas. We still have poinsettias all around us. It just wouldn't be Christmas with out my dad represented everywhere. They are beautiful and it makes us miss him even more.

Because we switched to hospice after she finished treatment, the MRI was not an insurance paid/scheduled routine. How could we go without it though? We scheduled it anyways and went in this week. After 6 weeks of INTENSE treatment we have the results. They did 7 days a week of chemo, the chemo drip once a week that knocked her out and 5 days a week of radiation to the head. They pulled out all the bells and whistles. They went in guns blazing...and...they held the tumor off. It didn't grow. In fact, the height of the tumor shrunk from 4. 7 mm to 4.5 mm. The diameter, width and depth of the tumor stayed the same. It''s definitely not a miracle but it's a blessing to us. We got more time. She gave us more time. She fought to let us have the time to say goodbye and we are grateful to her for that. It was rough on her, she was weak and miserable, but she did it because she loves all of us. And we love her for doing it.

We are going to enjoy the holidays together ( I will put up picks) and enjoy every day that we have. The tumor is aggressive and it will continue to grow...but we have been blessed abundantly so far. She is herself again (now that the chemo is out of her system). She wants to enjoy her time and wants to spend it with all of us.

The days are tough...the nights are tough...the emotions are high. Her logic and reasoning is not there and I have to constantly work through her social schedule to correct the things that just don't work..my frustrations are few and the joys are high. She amazes me every day with her strength. She never complains about anything!!!! She truly handles this all with grace.

We are thankful for each day and for all of you who walk this path with us!