I can't believe Christmas is this week, the year has flown by. Initially I was in the spirit and then last week's hospitalization threw me for a loop. I am back on track, but need to restart the Christmas cheer again. I think it's just me, because both Haley and Emily are really excited about Christmas and Santa's visit. Haley sort of gets Santa, she's 2 and understands that Santa is coming with presents. I'm not sure she really understands what a present is though. She's at that age where every other thing that comes out of her mouth is golden with cuteness. Emily also is still very much into Santa and mystified with how he gets it all done. Tonight at the mall I let it slip that I recently had a meeting with Santa, and her face lit up and she got all excited talking about what he might and might not bring.
I don't want to make the impression that I think Christmas is about the gifts, but I want to explain a delima Tracy and I have this year. When Emily was diagnosed and in the hospital back in March, she recieved a lot of gifts. And they kept pouring in for weeks after we were back home. We were and are so appreciative of everything that was sent, every card, every gift, every well wish. This is no exageration but we had to fill a whole SUV full of toys and part of my sedan when we brought her home after diagnosis. We joked I needed to build another wing of the house to fit all the gifts. So there you are, Emily has pretty much every age appropriate toy you can think of, in some cases we have duplicates. So the problem is I want to give her something special that she will enjoy, she's been through so much, this blog is a testament to that. She also doesn't want much. She wants a computer, which we have decided she is too young for, and she wants two packs of gum. That's pretty much all she asks for. Like I said I know it's not about the gifts, but I am frustruated because I want to give her something special and can't figure what that would be. I'm open to suggestions :-) I still have a couple days.
Tonight Emily and I went to Valley Fair Shopping Center. You could certainly tell we are in a recession, on Dec 22, I should not have been able to find multiple parking spaces on the first floor of the garage, at 6pm, but we did. Emily and I had fun buying Tracy's gift from the girls, and then Emily and I went out to dinner together. I can't tell you how much I LOVE hanging out with that kid. She's so cute and articulate.
Tomorrow Emily will be getting her blood drawn and if her ANC is above 1000 and her platelettes are above 100,000 she can resume treatment. If she resumes, which we expect she will, she will be on a %50 dose for a week, and then if she maintains a certain level will return to a %100 dose. Let's all hope she makes her numbers and gets back on track with treatment.
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3 comments:
I think we all have so much to be grateful for this year Chris....not the least being Emily's successes....I wish I had some good ideas for Christmas gifts...I have (2) six year old grandaughters and my own son and daughter have requested that this year we keep the toys to a minimum....My grandchildren, too are very fortunate in that they have a vast selection of toys and things to play with. Both of my grandaughters love to draw, so I have decided to get them art supplies and my one grandaughter has requested Twister Hop Scotch...I actually went into Michaels the other day and scoured the $1 racks - they had diarys and lots of High School Musical 3 items (note pads, pencil cases, encils, pens, stickers, etc.) which I purchased and put into celophane bags with big red ribbons for each of them. They are both a bit younger then Emily, and we have decided that this year we will tone down our gift-giving and try to lift up the importance of having a loving family and homes and jobs.....We have much to be grateful for. I'm sure that Emily will be happy with whatever presents she gets. I wish you and your family a very special Christmas.
Mrs. Breit
Dear Chris -
Santa Steve and I have wracked our brains and cannot come up with any ideas other than the one we got for Emily ourselves. You'll have to wait until we come down to see if you think it was a good idea. On 2nd thought, maybe you should give her the 2 packs of gum with an I.O.U. attached for a trip to the snow or the Exploratorium or the ocean or anywhere she would really enjoy. Maybe attach some pictures of the place you decide to go and an itinerary of events along the way -- something to look forward to with her parents. Just as you said, she doesn't really need any more toys. She needs special time spent with her parents on something fun instead of all the trips with you to the hospital.
Love you,
Grannie
Grannie has it absolutely right. Experiential gifts are the best ones. Maybe a membership to the Children's Discovery Museum or a coupon good for baking cookies or making brownies, pizza with homemade dough and choice of toppings, etc. If she likes to cook, mixes (even homemade ones layered in jars) with her own pan, bowl, spatula or cookie sheet are good. Art supplies are fun. Have you ever finger painted with chocolate pudding on butcher paper? I know you will come up with something great!
Celia
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