Last week was week 19, the week that has been circled and starred on the calendar since we started this whole ordeal. Yet we weren't quite doing our happy dance with elation the way I had anticipated. A big part of that is because she still has her port, her immune system is still not up to par, and because having the last dose of chemo still came with the unpleasant side effects (she got sick at least 15 times Wed night, not keeping any antiemetics down). In 3 weeks they check for recurrence and if all looks good her port will come out. After that we'll breath easier, although never quite as easy as we did before.
Ella getting her last dose of chemo!
In other news, Greg is in Haiti. He had planned to head down on Tuesday with a medical team from Mercy Works but on our way home from Seattle on Wed he got an e-mail saying that they were desperate for anesthesiologist. He wrote back saying he could go asap. On Thursday he started a 24 hr shift and then got an e-mail asking if he could be ready to fly out Fri. morning. That's when things kicked into high gear around here! My in-laws arrived to watch the kids and I began running errands to gather things for Greg's trip. Greg's co-workers stepped up and took over his Thursday shift so he was able to come home to pack and spend time with the kids (they also covered his work so he can be gone for 2 weeks.) Greg had talked to some people at the two hospitals where he works about donating supplies and they certainly did! We couldn't even see out the back window of our car when they were done. A surgical center donated some great medications and wound care supplies and one of our good friends got the hospital where he works to donate $1,000 worth of antibiotics and local anesthetics.
Another friend graciously volunteered to drive Greg to the airport, (2 hrs away) where Delta said "no problem" to his 3 suitcases, each weighing more than 50 lbs. He landed in Orlando at 10pm rented a car and drove 2 hrs to Fort Pierce. After a few hrs of sleep in a hotel he arrived @ 6 am to an airport hanger where Missionary Flights International has been flying supplies and aid workers to Port-au-Prince. Greg was flying standby and we'd been told that the day before no standby people made it on any flights and that he could only bring one bag with him. Thankfully, Greg made it onto the 3rd flight of the day and he was allowed to bring all of his bags with him. Communication got through and someone was at the airport to pick him up. He's been able to e-mail from his i-phone to let us know he's doing alright. They are sleeping outside, but he does have a cot which apparently is good for keeping the rats from running over him while he sleeps. He said they had a busy day at the clinic today mostly with wound care and one amputation.
A tea party
When Ella helps me feet Biniyam this is the end result.
For Christmas Ella asked for a kangaroo costume and with the help of a little hot glue this is what she got. She likes to pretend Summit is a dingo trying to get her and they chase each other around the house.
Biniyam is crawling! He just started really moving this month, before that he could do a good job getting around by rolling and scooting backwards, but never too fast. I really appreciated that we had an extended time with him just sitting in one place happily playing with the toys surrounding him! I also appreciate that he waited until all of the Christmas decorations were down to start seeking mischief. He is also mimicking sounds, he says mama and dadda but they're more sounds than calling us. He does however say Ella sometimes very clearly but usually it's more of an Eehh but definitely directed towards Ella. He also says Uh for up and will sometimes say ba for ball. He continues to be an extremely happy baby! I love that when I'm cooking dinner and he's in his chair all I have to do is make a face at him every few minutes and he'll burst into laughter.
