"A New Year"

Ok, so before you think I've really lost it due to months of sleep deprivation, I will reassure you I do not think it is January and the start of a new calendar year. Rather my "New Year" title today refers to it being a brand new year for Dane - he turned eight on October 18. You will have to bear with my bit of negativity here, but I will say loud and clear seven was NOT a lucky year for our special son. Rest assured if and when we return to Vegas, we will NEVER bet that number again!

Dane had an awesome birthday celebration. I say celebration versus day because his partying lasted nearly two weeks. He definitely deserved the special attention and here is a run-down of all the festivities ...

- Birthday dinner with grandma & grandpa complete with his new Wii remote (thank goodness or he'd be looking to pilfer from the cancer funds) and some cash to help buy a stand-up basketball net next spring

- A bowling party with several of his school and hockey friends. It was his pick and the two hours was more than enough time for mom & dad

- His breakfast of choice on his actual b-day - chocolate chip pancakes and opening his "loot"

- Saving the best for last, four tickets to the Bomber game on Sunday October 18 where Dane was the "kid" of the game (hence the picture above). He was the centre of attention before the game ... they announced his name, sang him happy b-day over the PA, he ran onto the field out of the inflatable football helmet, he "hung" with Buzz & Boomer and received a Doug Brown bomber jersey. The Bombers played a stinker of a game, but that didn't seem to damper his spirits.

Dane said his birthday was "the best day of his life". That was a real pick me-up for Dirk and I and provided a sense of renewed optimism as we begin year eight. We were more than happy to kick year seven to the curb and start fresh. With all that is happening in his world right now - 8A1 hockey, planning his "Wish" trip to hopefully meet big Joe T. in San Jose and of course, feeling so much better - life is pretty darn good.

I think for the most part Dane doesn't think too much about having leukemia, although it's on his radar every now and again. Take earlier this week for instance when we battled the crowds and went for our H1N1 flu shots. Given Dane's condition we are at the top of the priority list and fortunately they fast tracked us so we only waited a few minutes vs. the over two hours it could have been. Ashley and Dane were real troopers with the needles but rest assured they were NOT happy when I told them we have to go back in three weeks for a booster. Dane has also had the seasonal flu shot so he'll be very relieved when these "pokes" are done.

We were at the Clinic on Tuesday for his twice monthly blood work and all is good. For the first time since he was diagnosed in January, his hemoglobin (gives him energy) is in the normal range. This is great news and bodes well for more speed and stamina on the hockey rink. His neutrophils were 1.57 so we keep going with 100% dosages of the chemo drugs we administer at home on a daily and weekly basis. A reliable source has told us Halloween & X-mas are the two best days at the Clinic so we are making a special trip there tomorrow morning for trick 'r' treating and a pizza lunch. This is a first for us - a visit to the Clinic when we don't have an appointment! His next scheduled IV chemo and steroid boost is November 9 so we have almost two weeks without too many meds.

As a family we are generally busy these days. Ringette for Ashley (first league game is this Sunday) ... hockey for Dane (they made it to the playoffs in the pre-season tourney but lost last night in the semi-finals) ... eating, playing and exploring for Clare (she has learned to roll-over and sit-up pretty much on her own as shown in photo with big sis & bro) ... preparing for the haunted holiday this coming Saturday ... and working on the CancerCare Manitoba Holiday Appeal Campaign.

We hope all is well in your world.

Take care - Janie and Dirk