THE NUTCRACKER

My sister and I took the girls to see the Nutcracker this afternoon. It was wonderful! But no matter how good the girls were (they were perfect), how awesome the seats were (fourth row center), how incredible the orchestra was (it was amazing), how cultured, refined, mature and civilized I think I am, when it comes to the "Waltz of the Flowers" my mind wanders to High school, no, middle school -- make that elementary humor ---

Caddyshack. And the one time a year the caddies at Bushwood CC get to use the pool for 15 minutes. My mind drifts off to Judge Smails, Spalding, Noonan, Ty, and of course Carl Spackler and the infamous Baby Ruth scene. My second thought is of my dad the first time he and my mom took us to the Nutcracker and when that exact same part of the ballet started, he playfully kicked the both of us and tried with all of his might not to break up laughing out loud. My mom gave us all the "church stare" -- don't embarrass me again look.

Ahhh, culture!



Sugarplum fairies


The girls checking out the orchestra



nice rat



Let's ruin our new clothes!

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

YIKES! I'm so not ready!!!


Last Monday was the shoot for the Blood Center. We all had a blast. Johnny is the only person they have ever asked to do two years in a row of commercials -- pretty cool. We got there about 5:30 and didn't get home until almost 10pm. This commercial is different than the others because they had one donor and 12 recipients that represent the amount of people one person can save a year -- TWELVE. The donor (Matt) talks about how giving just once can save 3 lives, twice six lives, three nine lives, and four times a year saves 12 lives. And each time, three more recipients walks into the frame.


Then they taped one spot with Matt and Johnny, and Matt is holding an apple and says something like "this represents the number of people who are eligible to donate, and this is the amount of people that actual do (he takes the tiny stem off the apple that represent the number of donors)". Then he throws the apple to Johnny and Johnny says something like "donate once a quarter and commit for life", and takes a big awkward bite of the apple (I washed it before he bit it).

And scene....


I thought that Johnny was going to kill me after the shoot. He looked so serious, there was a lot of standing around, waiting, and do-overs because someone didn't stand in the correct spot or say the correct line. When the director said "cut", Johnny would shake his body, stretch his arms, legs and neck like he was getting ready to run a marathon or something. Then he'd take a big breath and do his thing.

We get in the car about 9pm, and the first thing out of his mouth is "THAT WAS FUN!". Joey and Sophie both chimed in "yeah, we had fun too!". Well, I guess your kids never stop surprising you...


They all know how important donating is, the other day I overheard Sophie playing dolls and one of them was donating blood. It's so important -- there is no substitute for blood, it's easy, and you can be a hero while you eat cookies, watch tv or read US Magazine.

Merry Christmas and Donate blood!

CLINIC

Sorry we haven't updated -- it's been crazy! We FINALLY closed on our house the week after Thanksgiving, Joey turned 11, and we had to do two science fair projects that took all weekend.

Mike and Joey took off to So Cal to visit PoPo, and also to have a little "Joey" time. When we were in CA this summer it was pretty much a vacation for Johnny, whatever he wanted to do (plus, he didn't feel well due to chemo before we left). We PROMISED Joey a LEGOLAND trip last time but didn't get the chance, so Mike took him this weekend.

Sophie went to pre-school today and luckily I had our friend Carolyn pick her up, because Johnny and I spent all day at the clinic -- but I'm not bitter.

His counts are amazing! Up for the past two visits -- his ANC is 3,140! No, there's not a decimal in front of the three either -- that is the actual number. Crazy, I know. But he's been feeling well, sleeping well, and eating well. Since the T-day break, Johnny has been on an egg kick, lots and lots of eggs, 24/7. Cartons of 'em. So much so that when Anne was here over the break she got tired of making them for him (I was tired of it long before her...), and she showed him how to make them himself. This was so exciting for me, now if she could only show Mike how to do things himself... So Mike and I thought that because of his new craving for eggs, they might be the reason for his counts going so high. One day Johnny ate one dozen eggs (sans the yolks).

I asked Dr. Muscal if that was the reason his counts were so good for so long, and she said most likely not. I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure it had something to do with it. But I guess not. If it did, they would tell all the kids to eat eggs to get their counts up. I still kinda think it has something to do with it, because his diet has been so bad (sodas/chips) that when it finally got some real food, it kicked into high gear.

On the way to the clinic this morning, Johnny barfed. I thought it was because I had the heat on and he was wearing his jacket, but after he had three trips to the bathroom while we were at the clinic today, I think he might have a little bug. Regardless, his counts are still incredible and I'll leave it at that.

I also asked about the hair loss. Even though it has stopped, it is quite thin -- you wouldn't know by looking at it because it's so curly, but if you touch it, it's pretty darn thin. It's because of his oral meds, more specifically the methotrexate. Each time it is increased (he's at 75% dosage right now), it will cause more hair to fall out. Hopefully not all the way. At school some kids in his class found out how easily his hair was falling out and wouldn't leave him alone. I wasn't sure if he was making up the story or exaggerating, or even showed the kids how easily it was coming out, so I waited to mention it to his teachers. Now he can wear a hat in class, and the kids have stopped touching his hair.



And last but not least, you know how in your pediatrician's office they always have "updates" or warnings or helpful hints about kids and toys? Or like when Johnny tweaked his arm last January and the orthopedic doctor said that "he loved skateboards and trampolines", because they put his kids through college? Well trampolines are now off of our list of "fun" things to do:



For obvious reasons.

Other noteworthy info:
Joey and Johnny's school is taking them ice skating next week (I'm going to help out too), and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center asked Johnny to be in another commercial for 2007, taping is on Monday. Deluxe is doing another run of Johnny's board ready for distribution in Jan '07, if you want to check out the website go to dlxsf.com or Adio.com for some clips of the skate jam.

Next clinic visit is 12/27 just for labs, and 1/5/07 for vincristine and LP (lumbar puncture/spinal tap).

I will try and update before then, but just in case:
MERRY CHRISTMAS, hug your loved ones and be thankful for what you have.