Seven Years Since Cancer Sugery

Today marks seven years since I had my first cancer surgery. So much has happened since then. I am so grateful.

Back then I was given a lot of scary information. Some of it was true and they left a lot of other things out. It was a long road but I am happy to have gotten through it. I do have some pretty big side effects from the chemo and the surgeries. the worst is the peripheral neuropathy from the chemo drugs, It really has changed me from a super active person into a pretty inactive one. When I started the cancer journey I remember asking if I would be normal after all of it. They always answered that I would have a new normal. So, I guess this is  my new normal. It is not as great as my old normal but I am still extremely grateful.

It is harder for me to run after a 3 year old than it would have been. But not too many 51 year olds have a 3 year old anyway. After HELLP syndrome and cancer it was pretty unlikely I would ever have another baby. That was so sad to me. But, despite all the obstacles I did. Jack is my bonus baby. He brings us great happiness. He is a fighter and a survivor. I think he is destined to do great things.

Julianna was 1 when I got cancer. I remember thinking how she would be so alone if I died. No dad. no siblings. She wouldn't even remember how much she was loved. She is now 8. She is beautiful, smart, athletic and kind. I tell her everyday how much she is loved.

A lot of trying things have happened but a lot of great things have happened too. The good out shines the bad and we really have so much to be tankful for!!!

This picture was taken from our dock this summer.

New School Year!!!

Jack started preschool yesterday and Julianna started 3rd grade today. They are getting so big so fast.

Jack is getting a lot more words but I wouldn't really say that he is "talking" in any way that anyone other than I can understand. He is certainly hearing but I do not know how much he gets. When he is looking right at me he is actually understanding a lot. When he is not looking at he he hears, but I am not sure how much he understands. I was told that learning speech requires hearing and overhearing. Kids overhear so much of other people's conversations. Jack really can't overhear so it limits him a lot.

Jack's birthday is November 28th. In my school district the birthday cutoff is December 1st. If a child is 5 before December 1st they can start kindergarten that year. Jack will be 5 next year two days before the cutoff. I asked the special ed coordinator if I can hold him back and start him the next year. She said I can do that but then he will lose all his preschool services. He gets speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and services of a teacher of the deaf. There is no way he will be ready for kindergarten next year. I have the choice to send him to kindergarten at the deaf school. They have a kindergarten first grade combo class that is located in a public school. It is in East Islip which is almost an hour bus ride for Jack. If he goes to this kindergarten I can always have him repeat kindergarten in our home district. I know it is a year away but all the planning will have to be done in a few months because there are limited placements. All the placements require tons of meetings and evaluations and it can be an exhaustive process. I would guess all the decisions will have to be made by January.

When Julianna started kindergarten she was writing her name, reading many words and understanding some math. Her birthday is January 8th so she was one of the older kids in the class. It seems like Jack is years behind where Julianna was at this age and she was testing behind for a long time. Jack has progressed the most physically. He was testing in the 3rd percentile in overall physical assessment just over a year ago. Now he can do anything a child his age can do and more. He is very physical and he really likes sports. I am going to get him into some organized sports activities but he may have issues following directions.

Julianna is loving her new school. She enjoys sports and loves to read.

Here are some first day pictures.