Monday 13 July 2015

Sunshine moments

Life has been very potent since the last post.  Lots of very full moments.  Kind of like the weather - lots of sunshine and heat, both in Maui and in Calgary, with a few wicked thunderstorms thrown in every once in a while.

For the sunshine, the boys turned 9 and made their first communion the first week of June - they are growing up so fast.  They also conquered ball hockey over the last couple months, both playing on the same team and setting up some amazing plays I've only seen in the NHL otherwise!  They won their gold medal game - twin power :)

For serious sunshine of course Maui was incredible again - it really can't be otherwise.  Mom, Colleen and I enjoyed the first week with lots of pool and beach time, walking and tasty eats and drinks at happy hours.  We watched (and saved) lots of geckos too! We celebrated my June 12th 3rd transplant date - 7 years leukemia-free (thanks Brandon!) with a delicious meal at Ruth's Chris Wailea (thanks Ellen!) and a toast to life. A few clouds - Dad didn't make it for the last half of the trip and my sinus infection slammed me pretty hard, but the urgent care in Wailea was a rather marvellous health care experience.  Mom and I continued pool/beach time, walking, snorkelling and happy hours, meeting lots of nice and intresting people, and I returned with my feet looking and feeling a lot more normal and my heart in better shape.  So once again the Maui energy moved me forward (thanks Shannon and Laura!)

On the health front, things continue to improve. I did Herceptin treatment just before and after Maui, and my veins seem to be holding up.  I have a cardio MRI next week to see how my heart is holding up but my guess is that it will show no further decline from the last one.  My energy is getting better each day and my neuropathy in my feet has also improved thanks to some laser/light therapy.  I returned to work the end of June and it hasn't been as exhausting as it was during chemo - good to get back to some normal.  And even more visits with friends, family continue to make life lately more familiar than the past number of months.  Even got a golf game in :)

Tomorrow I take posession of my new condo and move in the next day - after doing the walkthrough a couple weeks ago, I'm really excited as it looks fantastic.  Lots of bright light and lovely finishes. Can't wait to get in there.  Also will reap the benefits of my moving spreadsheet when I know which boxes to unpack first! I'll hope to post some pictures next time :)

It's been really hot in Calgary since we returned with a few crazy thunderstorms.  Yesterday I went to watch Tasha's son Talyn play in a gold-medal soccer game, but the lightning forced a 5-man shoot out indoors! (Nice goal T)

While my family unfortunately has had to weather some storms lately, we always try to focus on the sunshine moments, as we have done so many times before.   I saw a card once that sums it up - Life isn't about trying to avoid the storms, it's about learning how to dance in the rain.

Cheers.
Toasting 7 years June 12th

Jack & Davis 1st communion
Cutest gecko
Maui energy