2013 was a full year for our family: introduction to theatre for Al and Samantha, ballet recital, dancing in The Nutcracker as a family, and the lead role in a dinner theatre performance for Al. Then we have the not so good parts: Al laid off for a bit and my hand issues. Thankfully Al's unemployment was short lived. All in all it was a busy year of firsts.

We have decided to make 2014 a quieter year--a year about family. We'll be skipping The Nutcracker for the first time in three years, and after Harvey finishes there will be no auditions for a while.

So we'll celebrate Al's birthday on the 31st and on January 2nd we'll flip a switch as my mom prepares for another transplant. 

I've mixed emotions about this; we all do. She's not sick now, but healthy, which is why this is a good time to do an autologous stem cell transplant. To be sick when you aren't sick won't be fun. We are also trying to prepare the kids for the realization that they are going to see very little of her over the next few months. 

Ten years ago, after the first transplant, my mom had 5 years without a need for any further treatment. We're hoping for the same this time. And thankfully, the transplant will be much easier this time. My mom will not have to endure four to five rounds of chemotherapy. She'll have a short dose on the 2nd and another right before they re-introduce the stem cells back in her body. The whole process from preparing the cells for extraction (apheresis) through the official transplant will likely take only a month. Amazing! 

I'm so thankful for the hospitals and specialists in our area that specialize in Multiple Myeloma and stem cell transplants. If we didn't live near the Bay Area, I can't fathom what her options would be. 

And my mom . . . she's so strong. I'm so proud of her and so thankful that we are and live so close. 

Here's to a healthy, happy, and family-centered 2014! Cheers.

I took vacation this week because the girls have Thanksgiving break. I wasn't prepared for it because I didn't read through the school calendar. It's still hanging on October! Thankfully, I had some vacation left over. It's challenging to work at home when the kids are fighting in the other rooms.

We haven't done much this week, which has been nice, although the kids are often bored. The girls have been helping me prepare some dishes for Thanksgiving and some of our "Harvey meals."

I'm anticipating that there will be quite a few occasions when I'm too tired, exhausted, or emotionally overwhelmed with my partial-week single-parent life. So I've planned to make several meals this week and freeze them. From meatloaf to carnitas to curried veggies and chicken, I'm preparing for more than a few weeks of sanity helpers.

We even put up the Christmas tree and got out the more challenging or time-consuming decorations. I knew that we would be too busy, and I've already stopped feeling guilty about putting it up before Thanksgiving. This year, it was a necessity. I didn't want to feel rushed or overwhelmed.

Next week Al stats a new job and Harvey rehearsals on the same day. We're also trying to get out last appointments in before the end of the year so that they hit this year's deductible. And I finally get to see an Orthopedist in two weeks. I am anxious to determine the next steps--to get me out of this pain funk and on the road to healing. I really miss painting. For now, we'll take this last week--the calm before the storm--and be grateful for the quiet and lazy days together.