One year ago today...

...we left the hospital, finished with Steven's chemotherapy! I felt scared, and happy, and relieved. A year has gone by and I can't even imagine going back to that place. We have come so far. Steven is doing so well and, in many ways, I've put the cancer and the fear behind me. When I am feeling weak though, fear sometimes finds its way in. But mostly, I have moved on.
Of course, even without the cancer variable, there is still so much to worry about. Steven's walking and talking and hearing are the biggies. But even when those concerns weigh me down, I think about Steven who is very happy with life. He's not one bit worried about that kind of stuff. He excitedly told us at dinner how they've switched from soccer to football at recess. His leg doesn't hold him back from trying anything he can. It is hard to believe when I see him now that he took his first real steps without crutches only in March of this year. Since the day he left the hospital a year ago, he has had some hard times--a broken femur and another surgery. Now he has even taken his first running steps--it is amazing. He still has a long way to go. I've been wanting to share a short video we made for my family's film festival this year. Steven has made so much progress since he got his first prosthetic leg in September of last year until now. One thing that is hard to capture is his enthusiasm and perseverance. He is a great kid and we are so proud of all he's accomplished.

Curesearch video

Here is a video that another cancer family made for CureSearch this year. You'll see Steven in it--they filmed it in the spring. If you are planning on joining our virtual team, now's the time. We are just a week and a half away from the walk.

Team Steven

One of the highlights of 2011 for me was doing the CureSearch walk with Steven. We were surrounded by lots of people who came out to support us and it was just an amazing feeling. I was so looking forward to walking again this year, but kept putting off registering a team and getting the ball rolling. Then it turned out that Andrew is going to be baptized that day--at the very same time, and there were no good alternative days we can do the baptism.

(Doesn't Andrew look thrilled to be there?) Which reminds me, Steven is really bummed we can't do the walk this year. He was really looking forward to actually walking this year!

In my attempt to do a little something, I have set up a team for Steven, although we will only be there virtually. We invite any of you to join the team--you can just donate or you are welcome to go to the walk. It is on September 29th at 9am and will be at Sugarhouse park this year. We plan to walk every year in the future, so for those of you who wanted to be there--let's mark our calendars for next year.

Here is the link to my team page. I am having a hard time personalizing my page for some reason, but will try again on a luckier night.

And the obligatory first day of school picture. What a difference from last year--last year he went without hair, an immune system, enough red blood cells or a leg. This year he had all of it and all the confidence that comes along with overcoming hard things. Go Steven!

Goodbye summer

Where has the summer gone? Tomorrow my boys start school and I can't believe that our lazy summer days will be over. We've had a lovely summer with the perfect amount of down time and fun time. We have seen so many old friends and made new ones, too. In our spare moments, the house has kept us busy (of course, that won't change anytime soon!) We've spent lots of time with family and have loved every minute. And then there were the Olympics if we ever got bored . . .This has certainly been a summer to remember.

As I have gone through my photos, I realize that I haven't taken as many pictures as I should have. It's kind of like I haven't blogged as much as I should have (or cleaned as much as I should have... or really "anything" as much as I should have, except maybe slept). But here are a few. One of the kids favorite things all summer were swimming lessons and while I have plenty of video....I guess I didn't take still shots. Steven rocked at swimming lessons and was beating his class in some of the strokes.

You'll see I have several photos of Steven with other amputees. Meeting these other amputees has been a highlight for Steven this summer--for sure an inspiration. We cheered so hard for Oscar Pistorius, the bilateral amputee that ran in the Olympics. That was our favorite Olympic moment.

I think the amputee thing has been a huge part of our summer, mostly because Steven more than ever is finding himself able to do almost anything he wants. For the most part, he has gone forward all summer without letting his leg situation hold him back. But every once in a while he is reminded that he has limitations.

One of those moments came this summer at the swimming pool. He has loved swimming all summer--the water puts him as an equal to the rest of us. Once we went to a pool with a high dive. He was so excited to try it out. First he hopped down the diving board of the low dive and jumped right in. Then he slowly climed the stairs of the high dive and crawled out to the end. He didn't quite dare stand up, but scooted himself off the end. After he went in, the lifeguard came and asked him not to go off the high dive anymore because it made him nervous. Poor Steven was devastated. Just not a fan of anyone telling him what he can and can't do.

We haven't met all our goals this summer. One was to get Steven up on a bike. And because we haven't done that yet, I'm not really counting the start of school as the end of summer. It's not officially over until September 22nd, right? So stay tuned for even more fun--even school won't hold us back from packing some in!

P.S. If you double click on the slideshow, it will take you to Picasa where I have captions that explain the pictures.

Good scans

I am happy to report that all went well at Steven's scans today. He is looking good and I am feeling very relieved. I feel like he has been given at least a three month guarentee on life or at least three months to not worry too much. Steven was just so happy when he heard the results--he has been the picture of cheerfulness all evening. We have been having a fun summer and I have some pictures I need to post soon. Things are good.

Make-A-Wish Ducky Derby

As you've seen from our last posts, Steven's wish was everything he could have hoped for and more. Because we feel so grateful and know how helpful Make-A-Wish is to families and kids like ours, we strongly support this great foundation. Having said that, Make-A-Wish Utah is having their 24th annual Ducky Derby.

On August 25th, 2012 thousands of duckies will race around the lazy river at The Lindon Aquatics Center in hopes of becoming the lucky duck that wins the grand prize, a camp trailer valued at $17,800 courtesy of Sierra RV, Sunset Utah.

With your help, Make-A-Wish Utah looks forward to many more years of granting wishes for Utah children with life-threatening medical conditions. To support the event, go to my donation page and adopt a ducky or more here.

Ducky purchase deadline is August 24, 2012 at 12:00PM. If you have any questions, let me know.