"Busy ... Busy"

So, yet another headline to "excuse" my blog writing delay. Life is truly very busy these days ... such is fall when you have kids playing winter sports. A quick recap of the past month and some cute pics as well ...

Start of another cycle

Dane had his monthly chemo treatment and every three month spinal tap procedure last week. The good news is his neutrophil count rebounded from October so we remain at 100% chemo dosages and don't have to go back to clinic until early December. The bad news is the past five days have been "steroids" and you all know by now that is our least favorite time of the month. He did pretty well this go around ... a couple of down days in the middle but today he seems more like his normal self. We are on the countdown of spinals ... I think he only has six left until he finishes this gig once and for all in May 2012!

Early champions

Both kids were entered in pre-season tourneys and just to be sure neither was outdone, each of their teams won the gold medals/championships. Ashley's team is off to a wonderful start - they are 7-0 and really having a great time. She's skating fantastic and playing solid "d". Dane's team is 8-2 and bonding like crazy. In between many ice times they are finding time for lots of fun activities ... swimming parties, street hockey pancake breakfasts and Moose games. All in all - the season is off to a super start.

18 months

It's hard to believe but our "little" Clare is already 18 months old! She is soooo much fun and in our biased opinions absolutely adorable. She has really found her voice - the talking is taking shape and to our dismay, she has screaming down to a science. Not much of a surprise - her favorite word is "NO" and she says it with conviction. She is officially a rink rat and we are looking forward to trying her out in bob-skates this winter on our backyard ice.

Working for a living

It's two months today that I went back and all is going pretty well. It's definitely a balancing act with three kids but everyone is doing their part to manage the "chaos". Dirk is really enjoying his new job at Hydro and his return to the technical side of engineering.

Looking ahead

The rest of this month and December will be filled with more hockey & ringette. Dane's team is entered in a tourney in Minnesota in a few weeks that should be tons of fun. And of course it's prep time for x-mas ... always a busy, busy time of the year!

Hope life is good - Janie & Dirk