Life has been busy and good to us the past few weeks.  Georgia finished "Delayed Intensification" which was a round of (intense) chemo that lasted for about 2 months.   It was rough, but all in all it could have been much worse! She had 2 blood transfusions, and one hospital stay that luckily was just a few days!  She was neutropenic (which means she didn't have an immune system) for about 3 weeks straight and she NEVER came down with a fever and we never had to go to the hospital during that time.   It was a HUGE blessing and amazing to us as the task of keeping her healthy and out of the hospital seemed impossible to us!  After Delayed Intensification kids generally have to wait 2 or 3 weeks before they can start the next round of chemo because their immune systems are too weak.  Georgia rebounded so quickly and was actually able to start the next round right on time.  That also was amazing to me.    She is in her final round of chemo, which will last about 2 months. After this will come 2 years of "maintenance" which will still consist of chemo treatments once a month, but is supposed to be less harsh.  The last 8 months have been awful, but they have been going by fast and I am so grateful that it is almost over.  I have been trying to be mindful of the fact that while I may want the next two years of treatment to whizz by fast too, this is Georgia's childhood.  I really don't want her childhood whizzing by or wasted, focused only on her illness and treatments and ailments.  These past 8 months Georgia has not looked the same.  She has changed so much physically.  Sometimes I want time to fast forward to when she will look healthy again.  But I will never have her childhood back, and neither will she.  I need to remember this.  And while she may not look like the typical 5 year old girl, a 5 year old girl she is, and will only be for a short time.  We have to make the best of it. 

She has started going back to school.  It took a lot of convicting.  She was very nervous about showing up with no hair.  She still does not like going to the cafeteria.  It is so overwhelming for her to think about being in an environment with all of those kids.  All of those kids who will look at her and might say something! But she has been so brave.  And comes home every day happy.   Tallulah sure had gotten used to her being home with her though, and now every day asks me "where Dada?" (Georgia).

Oh! So Georgia and Cooper have SUPER noses.  Or I should say SUPER sensitive noses. When Cooper was 2, he would not sit by people if they hadn't just brushed their teeth.  Or had any kind of smell he wasn't used to.  Georgia can smell yogurt being opened in the kitchen from the other side of the house.  Same with vinegar or any other food or smell she doesn't like.  Anyway, When they access her port, they have to flush it with saline solution twice.  It is a huge ordeal.  Georgia doesn't mind being poked or having blood drawn but the saline taste is just more than she can bare. She usually throws up and that is after much screaming, crying, and persuading by me and her doctors.  It's a scene. Her nurse told me yesterday that most the kids hate being accessed (that's what they call it) and throw tantrums but that at least Georgia had a legit reason. (I would think just being sick of having needles poked through your chest was a legit reason)  Georgia's saline issues were the worse she had ever seen.   Super noses I tell you. 

Aside from all of Georgia's ordeals, 2 other exciting things have happened recently.  We found out this week we will be having a baby girl end of March!  I think we are all excited to have a beautiful baby in our family.  All excited and a little bit nervous.  I love babies.  But they stress me out.  I am resolving to be normal and relaxed and not tired and full of energy when baby #4 comes.  This time will be different. 

Lastly, ( I think) we are currently in the process of closing on a house.  We found one just south of us.  One street south of us!  In a different neighborhood but still within walking distance from my parents!  Which is a miracle and a must!! I have become very needy!  I pretty much need my moms help every day! I try not to let that depress me.  I used to be independent.  Well I was forced to be independent.  I really have not had any help for the last 8 years.  In fact the nurses watched my children for me when I was giving birth to Tallulah.  That was after I had driven 3 hours to the hospital by myself with my kids on a highway that was on fire, while I was having contractions. 
But without my mother, I could not have survived the last 8 months.  There is just no way I could have done it.  Ok, obviously it would have gotten done, but I am not sure how. Things would be pretty dismal around here. 

Right before she became bald:)

 

Just my handsome brother Kaid. Looking handsome.

The kids got to go to a cousin's Halloween party at the DeGraffenreid's.  I told them to choose whatever costume out of the costume box.  Georgia was a butterfly, Cooper was Indiana Jones, and Tallulah just looks like a hobo.

 

 

 

Cousin Anna made a GORGEOUS quilt for Georgia!!!!

At the cousin's Halloween party!

And I just love baby Georgia's face in this pic!