The slacker updates, finally!

Hi!  Remember us?  I'm not really sure why I decided to take a break from blogging, but I did.  There really hasn't been much happening, and now that Riley is finished with her treatments I'm never sure what to actually blog about.  Excuses, excuses!  But, I'm here now and that's all that matters...right?! 

Thankfully everyone has been well and healthy, which is no small feat with this crazy Texas weather.  Riley is still doing great being off-therapy.  It's been 2 months, and it still feels odd to not have our normal nightly pill popping routine...although she's not complaining & neither am I.  The only medicine she still takes is her antibiotic Bactrim, which she has been taking from day 1.  I have thought this whole time she was taking this to help with her compromised immune system, but turns out it was because of her port, a "foreign body", being placed under her skin.  Good to know!  However, that won't be the case for much longer.  Yesterday at Riley's monthly clinic appointment, we were given the green light to schedule the surgery to remove her port...FOREVER!!!  Believe it or not, I'm not sure how I feel about this.  This port, well not this particular port since she had it replaced last year, has been a part of our lives for 2 1/2 years.  It is responsible for saving for our daughter's life.  Not only did it help her receive the various types of chemos needed to kick cancer's booty...but it allowed her to receive blood and platelet transfusions when her bone marrow was too weak to create it's own.  You can see why I'm a little partial to this magic button.  But, then I look at the bright side and realize that we will never need to use it again.  No more chemo and no more blood transfusions...Cancer is no longer a part of our lives!!!! 

A funny story to leave you with - Yesterday evening the kids and I were on our way to church for Ash Wednesday service, and Riley started talking about Lent and how her religion teacher told them they need to "give something up" during that time.  She asked me what I was "giving up", and my answer of sodas must not have been sufficient enough for her, because she broke into lecture about how we are supposed to give up something we REALLY like.  So, want to know what little Miss Sassy-britches is "giving up" for Lent?  Chalk.  That's right...Riley is giving up chalk for Lent.  The girl cracks me up...I asked her if she eats the chalk, or what was the big deal with chalk?  She informed that is just what she had decided on, and it was obvious there was no changing her mind.  So, the conversation then moves on to Riley asking Hayden what he was going to "give up" for Lent.  I forget what his first answer was, something like moo cows or horsies or whatever, which obviously was not good enough for little Miss Sassy-britches.  Riley then informs Hayden that he is going to give up erasers for Lent.  Erasers.  Erasers?  Riley, in her sweetest big sister voice, informs Hayden that he will not be able to play with, touch, or even look at an eraser during the entire Lenten season...and she knows it will be hard for him, but she knows how it feels because she won't be able to play with, touch, or even look at chalk.  Where does she come up with this stuff?  I guess if you are looking for something to buy my kids for Easter - Hayden would like an eraser, and Riley would like some chalk.  Crazy kids.

We are still needing donations for our Relay For Life team, here is the link if you would like to donate.  Every little bit helps and is very much appreciated!!! 

Have a great weekend!!  I still owe you all a bunch of pictures, but my computer has fallen ill with a virus (thank you very much, facebook) so you will have to take a rain check until it returns from the doctor.