Finally, an update!!!!

It’s been so long since my last blog, I had forgotten how to even log in!! My mom and aunt are always asking me when I am going to update the blog and I always say “soon”. I just really forget or don’t make the time or just really don’t feel like sitting at the computer to type. I wish I could say that it is because we were too busy L cubing everyday, but that wasn’t always the case, but we were sure giving it our best shot!!
 We are getting very adjusted to being in the UK, just celebrated 6 months of being here, that is so hard to believe. What a whirlwind 6 months it has been. The girls have settled in so nicely and have some of the sweetest, kindest friends. Their schools are amazing and they are doing quiet well (that’s a Brittish phrase). They love it and actually look forward to going. This term, Netball has entered our lives. What an interesting sport that is. Sort of like basketball, but no dribbling and no backboard..just a pole and a hoop. It’s also a 7 on 7 sport, so there are a ton of kids on the court. Leah has a netball club that she goes to and occasionally has games, Genny has it as her sport this term and plays games every Wednesday and Saturday, and Abbey plays it in PE. Madeline doesn’t do anything like that yet, but her turn will come next year. Right now she is in an afternoon book club and she loves it. That child loves to read.
  Josh loves his job and is busy, but nothing like we have been used to. His work is very flexible and he was really able to be around during my last week of chemo. He is here every morning for breakfast and every evening for dinner. What a nice change of pace for him..and for us. Right now he is skiing with a bunch of work guys for the upcoming week! They call it “winter training”! I know he’s having a great time so far.
 We have had some amazing adventures in our 6 months of being here, despite the whole cancer setback. We have gone to Bath, to Stonehenge, to London, hosted Thanksgiving here with our British friends (and my sister in law, Che, who was here on Chemo duty during that time), gone on hikes, had proper British tea time, and toured places in the Cotswolds. It has been so cool being able to take the girls (and guests) to these places.
   Our latest adventure was our Christmas trip. As soon as the girls were done with school for Christmas break, we loaded the car with Santa gifts, some decorations and our stockings, luggage, the kids and even the dog and headed on a massive roadtrip.
 1st stop: DOVER, yes, where the white cliffs are. They really are a sight to behold. What a beautiful place. We got there well ahead of schedule and went on a hike to one of the tops of the cliffs. The wonderful thing for all of us was to be near the water like that again and THE SUN WAS SHINING!!! That was a gift in itself, seeing that it hasn’t been out much since this summer. After our hike, we got in line to board the ferry headed for France. It was two hours long, and a really cool experience.
 2nd stop: Lille, France: We have long time Army friends that are stationed there so we had a pit stop at their cool apartment. We went into town with them, what a beautiful city Lille is. Spent then night, had a wonderful breakfast with lots of talks and laughs and headed on to our next stop
 3rd stop, Rothenburg, Germany:  That was about a 6 hour drive, and we also made a pit stop in Luxenburg City, Luxenburg for a Christmas market and dinner. That place was beautiful, too. But the real beauty was Rothenburg. That place was magical. I kept saying that over and over again, the girls kept making fun of me for it. It is a well preserved medevil city that is walled completely and seems to be untouched on the inside. Every road is cobblestone and every building is old, but well- kept. There are tons of shops, food, sweets, but it was so quaint and the atmosphere was exactly what you would want. There was a Christmas market, shopping, eating, mulled wine and hot chocolate and a tour with a night watchman where we learned the history of this amazing city. I did not want to leave this place, but after two nights, we were on to our next stop.
 4th stop: Jaun, Switzerland: This town was the smallest place I’ve ever seen. I never really knew what the term, “sleepy town” looked like until we arrived in Jaun (pronounced like yauwn). The swiss alps are everything you would hope they would look like and then some. There was still plenty of snow on the ground, but the temps stayed in the mid 50s and THE SUN WAS ALWAYS SHINING!!!!!! This place was just what the doctor ordered for all of us. We were there 5 days and completely relaxed. We went on walks, went out to eat, played games, sat by the fire and just enjoyed being together. Santa even visited us there, which was really cool for the girls. We toured a swiss chocolate factory with so many samples, we were stuffed for hours. Josh found this amazing hike for us to go on, so we stocked up on food supplies and were going to head up to the top and ride a gondola back down the mountain. Before we got started, we realized it was going to be a bit too much for me, so I road the gondala up to the top and waited for my family at the top. 2 hours later, they emerge out of the woods!! Josh said they did amazing for a 2 hour hike up steep snowy mountains in the Alps. They were filled with stories and funny things that happened and really made me feel like I was there with them. I am amazed by there energy, that was a tough one. Christmas Eve we went to the local church at the bottem of the hill by our house and it was completely in German...everything, the serman, the singing, all of it. But, we picked out the words “Jesus, Mary, Bethlehem”, so we knew what it was all really about. Switzerland was so great for us, and after 5 days, we still didn’t want to leave, but it was on to our next stop.
 5th stop, Bastogne, Belguim: This stop was really for Josh and me, being WWII fanatics, but hopefully the girls got something out of it and when they study the Battle of the Bulge in school, they will be able to say there were at that sight. We stayed there 2 nights and toured the museam which was so amazing and well done. I could of stayed for hours. What an amazing time that was and the museam did a great job at taking you through the time line. After the museam, we went into town and had “mules and frites” or mussels and fries and they were HEAVENLY!!!!!!!!!! That and the great beer was a great ending to a great trip.
 We headed back home after that and still had 5 days here to recoup! My cousin Chris’ wife, Julie and their oldest girls, Macy and Hannah Brooke were in London visiting Julies brother after Christmas. They took the train out here to Cheltenham and spent the night with us. We wish they could of stayed longer, but it was great to have them. It was so nice having that relaxing time at home as well, and that is just what we needed! Once of the best trips of my whole life!
  We are busy planning our next trips and are gearing up for a steady stream of vistitors starting with my mom and Aunt Patsy in February, Josh’s dad and stepmom in March, my dad in April, our neice Maggie in June, Josh’s sister, Mia and kids in August and Josh’s mom and stepdad in late August, then Josh’s sister, Che and family in December.  We are so thankful that our family is going to take the time (and money) to come visit us.
  My health is good, as good as can be expected. Chemo ended December 7th and that was a good day. It took almost 2 weeks to get over that one, but once I did, I felt great. I continue to feel good, have regained a normal appetite and more energy every day. I still have some pain in my lower back, and probably will always, but it hasn’t kept me down. It actually feels better when I move around and go for walks. I will continue to have “treatment” every 3 weeks with the cleopatra trail drugs that I was also recieving when I was getting chemo. They are still delivered with an IV (I’ve gotten so used to those now) but they give me no side effects, which is a relief. It only takes about 2.5 hours to get this treatment and eventually, we will set it up so I can recieve it at home. That will be nice. I also still recieve my bone strengthing shot every 4 weeks. I’m not sure when I will have another scan, probably in the next several months. I’m not really mentally ready for one yet, but I know I will need one soon. My doctor says that my bloodwork continues to be good and the numbers of the tumor markers continue to fall (that’s a good thing). So, between those marker numbers, and my symptoms, and the occasional scan, that is how we will monitor this cancer from now on. It’s pretty tough knowing that it will always be with me, but hopefully with the diet changes I’ve made and the medicine that I will take, it will keep the brakes on it. Who knows what will come out in the next few years that might completely take it away. Beleive me, those are my prayers.
 I hope you know how much Josh and I have appreciated all the prayers, the packages, the cards, the money donations for food, everything that you have done for us. I am so terrible about keeping up with thank you notes and I truly wish I could write each and every one of you a note telling you what you have done for me and for my family during this crazy time. Thanks so much for your love and your support and your prayers. They really do work, I feel stronger every day because of them.