"Crazy time of year"

Hello everyone,

My apologies for the lengthy delay in posting this update, life has been crazy busy the past few weeks. What a difference a few months makes though, because if I'd gone this long in between blogs earlier this year I would have had many emails asking "is everything ok"? Now folks realize my "tardiness" is due to our activities and not Dane's health.

I've got quite a bit of ground to cover so I'll dive right in ...

Medical "stuff"

The best news, Dane has been feeling great these past few weeks. He takes his meds at home like a trooper and if we ever forget a dose, he reminds us. On Monday he completed cycle 1 of too many cycles to count over the next 2 1/2 years. He started cycle 2 on Wednesday. This is a heavy week for meds as he had his once every three months spinal tap, plus IV chemo and his five day steroid pulse. He looked very tired on Thursday but has since bounced back. His hemoglobin continues to rise - it was up to 129 on Tuesday. This is a far cry from the days when it hovered in the 80/90 range. There is one downside though and I mentioned it to his oncologist. We see a corresponding increase in Dane "bad" attitude the higher his hemoglobin gets. Hhmmm, if only we could solve this dilemma!

CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Holiday Appeal "stuff"

Whether Manitobans like it or not, we Hantschers are everywhere these days. We've been on TV, in the newspaper and in mailboxes. I taped a radio spot this past Monday so starting next week we'll also be on CJOB (Dirk said he can't believe he's going to have to listen to my voice on his peaceful drive to/from work every day). The CancerCare MB Foundation has indicated the response to the campaign has been very positive thus far so that makes it all worthwhile. If you live out of province and can't watch CTV or you just haven't seen it here yet, I've attached the video file for your viewing - just hit play. As I reported a few weeks back, Dane was also the Sports Star of the week in late November. If you missed that piece, log onto CTV Winnipeg, click sports and then sports star. He will be the third story from the top. The piece is excellent - Dirk, Dane and the Sports Director all did a wonderful job.

Sister "stuff"

Dane's big and little sisters are doing pretty well these days. Ashley is skating up a storm at ringette. She netted five goals in our last game and has developed quite the natural skating stride. She's VERY anxious for Christmas and we will all be thankful once the present suspense is over! Clare continues to be a wonderful and happy baby, however these past few days have been pretty challenging because she has a bad cold. She's been pretty clingy (a relative term for Clare) and not sleeping well at all (like her newborn days). I've had three nights of being up every hour or two so I'm whooped. She seems to be feeling a tad better today so I'm hopeful we will all get some much needed rest tonight. She was seven months yesterday and I'll post a few new photos in my next entry. Her weight gain is slowing down, however she has surpassed the twenty pound mark already. She is as big at seven months as Ash & Dane were at a year!

Hockey "stuff"

As I've been typing, Dirk has been phoning me every 20 minutes with updates on Dane's game. They were playing the #1 team today and usually I'd be a loud fan but I didn't want to take Clare out in this brutal weather with her cold. It was a "barn-burner" ... 3-3 after the 1st period; 8-6 for us after 2; and an 11-9 victory for Dane's team when it was all said and done. It was killing me to know I was missing such a great game - yikes, he is only 8, what will I do in a few years? He's playing with a great group of kids and they are well coached. After today they are sporting a 7-1-1 record and are tied for first in their league. He is LOVING hockey this year and that is so very rewarding for all of us.

For next time "stuff"

We are quickly closing in on the one year "anniversary" of Dane's illness and diagnosis. In my next entry I will reflect on how it feels to hit this milestone.

Take care everyone and don't let the December madness get the best of you.

Janie and Dirk