Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy Holidays! (Finally!)


Well it's New Years Eve and I've been meaning to write this post since Christmas! I don't know where the week has gone since Christmas-but I think that it took the whole week for me to recover and at least two days to put it all away! We had a busy, holiday and of course, received the best gift of the season in that Mom was home from rehab. in time for the holiday! She's recovering at home and getting stronger every day-of course not fast enough for her. She says she's never come home from the hospital feeling so exhausted, but then again she's never been sick for so long. She went to the hospital November 9-home December 16-that's a long time. She had a followup doctor's appointment Wednesday and checked out well. The doctor said for each day she was hospitalized it will probably take a week to regain the strength she lost, so she will probably be all winter getting back up to speed, but at least she's on her way! We are all very proud of the strength and grit she's shown! Go Mom!
We had Christmas all together at our house. It was crazy, loud, chaotic and fun! We decided not to try to have a sit down dinner-way to much for my house, so we all made a number of dishes and had a few crock pots, so people could just eat whatever when they were hungry. Tons of food-meat and cheese platters, lasagna, homemade macaroni and cheese, sausage, meatballs, scallops, about a thousand desserts-the list goes on and on! If anyone left hungry-it's their fault! Some pictures of the fun...
























I'm sure that most of you reading this recognize the usual "cast of characters". The last picture is of my daughter-in-law, Erin's parents, Carolyn and Dale Shaw. The very last picture is of Dale Shaw and me. The significance of this picture is to represent survivorship! Dale battled pancreatic cancer this year and of course I continue my fight with ovarian cancer. We both have a lot to celebrate!
With the coming New Year I have been reflecting a lot on 2009. I am ever so grateful to be in continued remission. Tomorrow is the start of a new year, a new beginning for each of us, and it is a time to take stock of our lives and what we would like to see for the future. For me, I am thankful to be alive and in remission, and I am thankful for my wonderful husband, family and friends. This year, I will try to find a way to deal with life's stresses, I will pray more, and I will live my life to the fullest. I will love and laugh freely. I wish for all of you a very happy and healthy New Year, filled with love, laughter, and hope! Nancy

4 comments:

  1. Nancy,
    Loved your post...thanks for trying to keep this blog alive! I read the post earlier but tried really hard not to be the first (only?) one to comment...because I usually am. Not sure if anyone else is reading this now that Facebook has become so popular but I still am and I hope we can keep it going. I like the fact that - unlike Facebook - our posts are saved and become a journal that we can look back on over time.
    Thanks for a great Christmas and I hope all of your New Year's dreams come true...especially the one about everyone staying healthy in 2010!
    Happy New Year!

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  2. Nancy~
    Thanks for the uplifting post! Kit and I are so thankful to have our parents in remission. Don't know why cancer has to happen to such good people, but I do know that God has been right there for us every step of the way --- lots of answered prayers!!!
    Thank you God for taking such good care of our Mom and our Dad this year. We pray for continued healing and strength for Alice and Kristin as they recover, and that you wrap your arms around both of them and give them peace and patience as they work on getting back to life the way it should be! Thank you for our family! May we love and appreciate eachother more than ever this year, and may be grow closer to you every day.
    Amen.
    ~Erin

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  3. I'm still out here!! I'm not a facebook fan...not that I'm good at blog entries either! I'm glad to hear your holidays went well. I am so glad they are over!!! My daughter Meghan had surgery right before the holidays. She's fine, she was the proud owner of a melon size ovarian cyst. My son Austin got his license...I'm sure you all went through this, he had two accidents in 6 days. Nothing we won't get through with a little hair dye and a yanking of the car keys!!! Mom is the same, Dad is hanging in there. Aunt Alice, I'm glad you're home and feeling stronger every day!!

    Love,
    Kathy

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  4. Nice to see so many comments! Is blogger #2 Tomomi...this is way beyond my ability to translate the kanji! Just received a wonderful New Year's note from the Uwasu family...they are happy to hear that Nancy is doing so well. Umeyo's English has gotten really good (can't say the same for my Japanese).
    Erin...your comment is beautiful. I was so glad to see your Dad looking so good at Christmas...and your Mom had a ball! Hope you bought her that Susan Boyle CD so she can "rock on"!!!
    Kathy...got your Dad's holiday letter. So sorry about your Mom... it must be so hard on all of you. You are all in our thoughts, especially Uncle Ed. Wish he could figure out how to read this blog so he'd know he's in our thoughts. Give him a hug for us, OK? Glad Meghan made out well and relieved her cyst was benign, especially with our family history in the female plumbing department! As to Austin's driving...we've all been there...thankfully, this too shall pass.
    Kristen is still wheelchair-bound, but hopefully only for a few more weeks. And "Blue bear" is doing much better too!
    Love to all...let's keep this blog active...I love reading everyone's comments:-)

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