You Knock Me Down with a Smile

Here's Em and her favorite chew toy - rawhide bones!  She's a beast with these.  They last about a night.  Better that than my shoe.


Over Thanksgiving Emma met Apollo, Sarah & Joey's dog, and she had a great time playing with him.  She has a new best friend.  Freakin' adorable. 

As promised, here's a little preview of our little nest:

 The bottles are a line of Ross's home brews... the kegerators are downstairs with our bar & pool table.  It's a fun house!

 Aren't we adorable?


Things are flowing along smoothly... I began work finally.  I am acquiring a normal status.  I get to see the great AH folks and my Milwaukee friends once a week which makes the drive worth it. 
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Ross's family.  Good food and good company.
This past weekend, Lizzie and Tyler (Ross's little sister and her boyfriend) took Ross and I out to dinner to celebrate my clean results.   It's a funny thing to cheers to, but a wonderful thing to cheers.  We had a great night playing cards and just having a laugh.  Our cheeks were hurting by the end of the night.


The holiday season is upon us so it's busy busy busy from here on out.  Busy is exactly how I like it.


Ta ta for now!

Serenity

Hallelujah!  Hip hip hooray!  Holla!   Huzzah!  

Yesterday's long itinerary at the clinic was more than worth it.  I heard that my marrow is beautiful.  I started the steps for maintenance so we have hit the detour route.  We are closer and closer to leaving the roadblock far behind.


After the labs, chemo and doctor meetings Ross and I went to Goose Island for dinner.  Luckily enough a few of my girlfriends were able to meet up.  I am so lucky to have all of this love.   


It was such a roller coaster of a day.  

(cont.)
Living one day at a time; 
Enjoying one moment at a time; 
Accepting hardships at the pathway to peace;
Taking as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right 
if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.


and breathe.  It's so fitting.  I love this prayer.

bibbidi bobbidi boo

Hello, hello!!  I didn't forget about my blog updates.  Here's the skinny on my life:


Roadblock Update
I was poked and prodded today for my bone marrow biopsy.  I anxiously await the results on Thursday.  Ross will be coming with me to the clinic for the results and beginning of maintenance.  I get to show him off to my entourage.  They are excited to meet him.  The team will be shocked to see me without my parents, who are frowning at the fact that they are missing the appointment.  I can't let them get a perfect record for attendance, now can I?  


I have a toddler's hairdo right now.  My eyebrows and lashes are back too!  It's suh-weet!  Unfortunately there's more proof that God's a man because my leg hair has returned as well.  I was hoping he'd say to himself, "Katrina's been through a lot.  Let's toss her a consolation prize of no more shaving!"  Alas, He didn't.  


Puppy Love
Ross and I are happy to announce that we are proud owners of an 8 month old pupper - Emma!  She's already stolen both of our hearts.  She is adorable, with or without bias.  Emma is 50 pounds of husky and golden retriever.  She happily obliges to stroll with us and accompany us at the dog park.  It's fun to learn her quirks and favorites.  For example, she likes to hop (freakin' adorable) and chase squirrels (not quite as adorable for my shoulder).  All in all, we are a happy little family.   


Don't worry bragging pictures to come...


Madison, my new home sweet home
I'm all settled in.  My goal is to finalize the organization of my closet and desk items.  We have the walls covered with our art which I consider the icing on the cake.  It's ready to serve.  We have a happy little family in a happy little home :)  The American Dream is coming true.


And a fun little note from Shel:

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be." Shel Silverstein