We are done!!! Done with chemo, with cancer and with that pesky port!!
The song running through my head today is the Nina Simone version of Here Comes the Sun
"Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right"
Ella's singing a little song that goes
"chemo is done, chemo is done, I don't miss my port a single bit.. It's all done, I'm sooo glad, so glad. It's all done with a kiss from me to you. I'll kiss my port too, NO Way!"
On Wed Ella's tests came back with no signs of cancer and early this morning they removed her port (the line under her skin through which she received chemo.)
Now we are breathing easier, doing our happy dance.
With the port out we no longer need to worry about her getting fevers, which has been the big concern that has kept us away from people, especially other kids, these past 5+months. Two of Ella's friends stopped by today with a huge balloon for her and it was so great to see her running and playing with them in the yard.
The surgery itself went smoothly. They scheduled her for 8am which meant we had to leave our house before 5 in order to make it to our 7am checkin. My wonderful sister Deb met us as the hospital to watch Biniyam so both Greg and I could be with Ella pre and post-op. The surgery itself only took a half hour and she's has had no complaints of pain or nausea.
We are praising God for carrying us through this most difficult chapter of our lives!
Auntie Deb and Biniyam at Seattle's zoo the day before Bini's 1st Birthday. We had a great time and were able to pick Greg up from the airport that evening when he returned from Haiti.
Here's our handsome one year old. He weighs 22lbs and is 29 inches long.
I love the way he scrunches up his nose when he smiles!
Both kids in their Ethiopian outfits.
Biniyam's first taste of cake
He loves it!
We'd been working with Bin on his "more" sign and he wasn't clearly using it, he'd wiggle his hands or clap and we'd count it as asking for more. But on his Birthday after devouring his piece of cake he brought his two little hands together and very clearly asked for "more." And of course I had to give him more, it was his first time using his sign. He now signs "more", "all done" and "book". I love this stage of development when we get insight into his little mind and desires.
Bini is quite chatty!
