Hi Everyone! We hope that you had a great week and enjoy this weekend!

I will start off with Paul's doctor's appointment this past Tuesday. He gained a couple more pounds and is pretty much at a healthy weight for him. He had to give a ton of blood since he is near his one year anniversary - I think he said something like 27 vials! He is participating in a study so I think a fair amount went to them. He was also supposed to get some vaccines and a 1 year bone marrow biopsy - but since he was waiting for a few hours they spared him. He will have to make another trip down in a week or so to get those done. This past week he has been working outside quite a bit. The weather has been perfect for that!

Vinnie is still hanging in there the best he can. He has been starting to experience nausea throughout each day. He can't even get the anti-nausea pill down. We need to go to the pharmacy today to try another prescription but in liquid form. The only step after that is a suppository but he has been staunchly refusing it! :P His jaundice had slowly been going away but seems to be returning. He was seriously as yellow as Homer Simpson! No joke. Hopefully it doesn't get that bad again because then he starts itching.

Alayna is loving school and all her little friends she has made. I think all they do is art projects there! Each day she comes home with several new masterpieces showcasing the letter of the day or whatnot. I have been debating moving her up to 3 days a week. I am sure she would love it.

Last night all us girls went uptown to Mont Vernon's Barn Dance. It is held in a barn (duh) on a farm that is owned by the town. I had never been before but my friend dragged me out so the kids could kick up their heels. Therefore I dragged my sister with me. :D Alayna learned the chicken dance and had fun people watching.

My parents will be arriving this Monday. We are all looking forward to seeing them again. It has only been a couple of months since we saw them last, but it sure feels longer than that. My mom is packing a cooler of frozen green chile and tamales! I really hope that airline doesn't lose that bag! Having my mom here will be a big help getting Alayna's birthday organized. With Vinnie being sick I have flip flopped back and forth on doing a party or not. So I have left myself little time but we are going to try and pull one together. The invitations will be going out next week! So mark your calendars for October 10th!

Talk soon!

I will never forget...

It doesn't really seem like it was 8 years ago that that terrible day happened. My memory isn't very good these days - but I certainly remember everything about that one. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected.

I would also like to wish my wonderful parents a Happy Anniversary! 44 years ago two crazy kids got married. I am so thankful they still are - and happily too!

This last week went by pretty quickly. Alayna has been doing well at preschool and we have the start of a major art collection. I think we have a miniature Van Gogh on our hands! And as you can tell from her chipper smile - she is pretty excited to head out in the mornings to see her friends and Mrs. Maureen.

Paul has an appointment coming up on Tuesday down in Boston. He will probably be getting more vaccines during this visit. Coming very soon will be September 27th - one year since Paul's transplant! That is an exciting milestone for sure!

Vinnie is still hanging in there - although he is getting awfully confused about things. He won't remember his diagnosis or tests he has had. He is forgetting peoples names and if someone was visiting him in the morning - by the afternoon he will forget that it happened. He is rapidly losing weight. At the most he might be getting in 300-400 calories per day. He gets nauseous sometimes , but mostly he just can't get it doen he says. He sticks with applesauce, ice cream, and jello. I have tried getting him to drink protein/calorie shakes but he just won't. I know this is part of his disease and the path he will follow - but it is still hard to see him so emaciated. Thankfully he still isn't experiencing much pain.

Alayna's best friend Annelina is having her 3rd birthday party next weekend and it is going to be a princess party. So I decided to try my hand at making a tutu for the occasion! I have been whipping up several of them with the tulle I had on hand. I am anxiously waiting my order of more tulle!

This week we have also seen a nice drop in the temperature. We are all loving the change of season's. Hope you all have a fantastic week!

And so it begins...

Like so many others before - our little girl had her first day of preschool on Tuesday morning. Alayna woke up bright and early in a very good mood. Her daddy made her a delicious pancake breakfast, and off she went. She is in the morning class with her BFF Annelina.

Paul and I went to pick her up and were so delighted to hear she had a great day and even painted a beautiful picture.

She is only gone two days a week for a total of six hours - we love having this newfound free time - but also miss her like crazy. The old adage is so true, they grow up way too fast!

Vinnie is still doing about the same. He tries to eat a couple of meals a day but he mostly sleeps. He seems to be in good spirits and has his dry sense of humor in tact. In addition to a hospice nurse visiting twice a week he also has a nurse aid that visits on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She washes his dishes, makes his bed, and was even able to get him in the shower on her last visit! Mostly she helps wherever she can to give us a little break. I am not sure what she gets paid, but it can't be enough! :P

Have a great rest of the week!