Day 425

       We have been out of town since December 25th (we just got home last night, January 5th).  Scott worked on Christmas Eve, so we spent Christmas Eve evening together at the fire station.  Scott got home Christmas morning around 7:30 a.m.  Unfortunately, Conner got a high fever Christmas Eve night - and I was up most of the night caring for him.  I had us all packed for our trip and thought, "Well, here we go again, another trip canceled."  I didn't see how we could possibly go - with Conner sick and with the risk of Katie getting sick and needing to go to the hospital (and concern about getting others sick).  However, when Scott got home Christmas morning he said we were going.  We knew we could come back from Heber to the hospital if needed - or drive to Albuquerque's Children's hospital when we were in New Mexico.
      So, on Christmas morning, when Scott got home, we opened our presents and then drove to Scott's parent's cabin in Heber.  We spent Christmas day and the next day with his family, and then we drove on to New Mexico from there.  Conner's fever continued Christmas day, but then it broke.  However, his cough and stuffed-up nose lingered on.  When we got to New Mexico, Scott took Conner to an urgent care (and explained we had a 3 year old with Leukemia and a 86 year old "grandma" and we didn't want to take any risks - we needed an antibiotic).  The doctor declined us!  That was so frustrating - to pay the money for urgent care and then have the doctor refuse to give any medication!  Conner was sick our entire trip (he is still sick).  Thankfully, Katie never got a fever!  Although, she did come down with a cough and runny nose on the drive home yesterday.  She has a very bad cough today.  (My mom, my brother, and my nephews are sick, and Scott is tryign to fight it - and I am left wondering if everyone else could have been "spared" if the doctor had just given us an antibiotic...maybe...maybe not). 
      We had a very nice trip though.  We were able to spend a lot of time with my mom and we were very thankful to have that opportunity.  (I hope she is still thankful, even though we made her sick!)  Katie is due to go in on Wednesday for IV chemo and a spinal tap of chemo.  I am not sure what will happen due to her cough.  I guess we will find out on Wednesday.  It has only been 2 months (not the typical 3 months) since her last spinal, but they are trying to put us back on schedule (Katie was a month behind because of the delay with her chemo due to the "Chicken Pox" Hand Foot Mouth illness in October).  It has been a rough few months (to say the least).  At our last visit (in the hospital) Dr. Dana said, "You guys just can't get a break can you?...This was supposed to be the "easy" time, but nothing has turned out to be easy for Katie...Hopefully, now it will get easier!" 
     That is our hope for 2013 - an easier year for Katie!  Through it all though, we know we have been remarkably blessed!  So many times, things could have been so much worse, but things always turned around and Katie has done very well.  We acknowledge those blessings and we are glad for them! 
      My nephew Jeff sent us a really nice letter just before Christmas.  In that letter, he quoted from a talk by President Monson, entitled "Consider the Blessings."  President Monson spoke of looking back and recognizing all the blessings large or small we have been blessed with.  President Monson went on to say, "I would recommend this same exercise to you - namely, that you take an inventory of your life and look specifically for the blessings, large and small, you have received....My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives.  He loves us.  He wants to bless us.  He wants us to seek His help.  As he guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us.  May we be aware of His blessings in our lives" (Ensign, Nov. 2012).