It's the Hap-Happiest time, of the year!

When I walked in the door from Gymnastics lastnight Mark greeted me in kitchen, gave me a kiss, and told me that there was a wonderful message on the answering machine that I had to hear. Boy was that the understatement of the year. It was mom. She called to tell me that she tested virus free. Yes, VIRUS FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The past fourty some odd weeks of chemo has all been worth it, this is the ultimate gift, and it's made out to our family. Mom may be cured, mom may be able to live a full life! If she tests negative in six months, she will be considered cured. EEEEKKK! What, cured? That sounds absolutely crazy! Mom cured of Hep. C??? That's not supposed to be possible. There has never been a "cure"!!! Thanks to medicine, and all the wonderful doctors out there, there now is. It's inconcievable, unreal and hard to grasp.

She's still very sick from the chemo and will be for months to come, but she now has something to smile about, we all do. I remember when the doctor told her that she was a good canidate for this new round of chemo. At the time, she was keeping Alex for me full time while I worked. Her energy level was always unpredictable and I felt guilty seeing her so exhausted each day. She told me about the possibility of doing chemo, and I began the hunt for day care. I hated the thought of day care, but if that meant that mom could have the opportunity to watch her grandkids grow up, Alex was definitely going to daycare.

As it turned out, shortly after hearing the news about this new chemo, I was laid off from my job. This is beginning to sound like a bad time in my life, but in all actuality, the turn of events are the best that have ever happened to me. Mark and I decided to attempt being a 1 income family. Before I was laid off, we never thought it was possible; afterall, we just bout a new house 4 months earlier, and a van the year before, and we also had a new addition to the family the prior year as well. My layoff forced us to consider the possibility. After working some numbers and getting a phone call from my stepmom offering to do anything in her power that would allow me to be a stay at home mom, we made the decision. Less than 24 hours after being laid off we made the best decision we've ever made as a married couple, I was officially a stay at home mom. AND mom was no longer plaugued with the idea that she would be the reason for Alex having to go to daycare. If mom was not sick, I would have found a new job, I would not be a stay at home mom, my life would not be as good as it is today. It's true, it really is.

Here's to life and love mom, Merry Christmas