Can you believe it’s almost 2009? And can you believe I’ve been working on this post since Sunday, and it is now Tuesday night at 7:45?!! We’ve been keeping busy here, hanging out, running errands, taking walks…we even walked down to Pike’s Place Sunday! We didn’t stay long ’cause it was as packed as usual—can’t people just leave so I can have it to myself for a while?

Oh! Before I forget, and you automatically scroll down to the photos, BEWARE!!! THERE ARE SOME PHOTOS THAT MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR SOME OF YOU….THEY INVOLVE NEEDLES!! Lori, make sure you’re sitting down if you look at them! Katie took a photo shoot at my request during the bone marrow aspirate yesterday, so you can actually see what it’s like. I know people say how horrible they are, but when you’re looking at it, just know that it’s not hurting me. Grace numbed that sucker up with Lidocaine, so once the big needle went in, I just felt pressure. After the bone marrow, she did a quick skin biopsy to check for any GVHD (I don’t have a rash or anything, but this is part of my post-transplant work-up). The best thing is that she had some nice Christmas music playing in the background. I love that they play music here!!! Plus, I’m not ready to give up the Christmas songs yet–they stopped playing it on the radio here…before New Year’s…can you believe it?

By the way, the prelim results of the bone marrow are good–it looks clear! We get the cytogenetics back by the end of the week. I met with my team today and everything looks good. We’re looking more at January 15th to come home to Virginia to make sure we have time to fit in all the appointments I need and to really ensure that I’m doing well….basically until they feel confident that I can leave their warm embrace and head across country. Of course, I’m looking forward to the warm embrace of my doctor’s office in Fairfax too, but I definitely want to make sure my peops at SCCA don’t have any concerns, and also that my treatment transitions smoothly.

The dentist spent a long time with me today, and talked about dry mouth and how to take care of it; how to deal with chapped lips; what to look for in mouth GVHD. He also did a full check-up of my mouth, and everything is looking good!

By the way, these steroids must really be tapering ’cause I’m feeling tired already! (it’s 8:12 PM) But I am NOT carrying this post into another day!!!!!

Let’s see…in other news, we met the cutie Rocco (see below) in one of our favorite stores. We pass it each day on “Julie and Carol’s Way”…actually, you should check out the website: http://velocityartanddesign.com/. Not only do they have cool stuff, but a couple of people bring their dogs to work with them. One is a little puppy and the other is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, AKA Rocco. Whenever we walk by, he’s lying on one of the beds in the store, and I’ve seen him hopping from bed to bed. He’s so loving and is the perfect “store dog”, kind of like Carlo who is just down the road from him. I want a job where I can hang with my pups too! I know everyone keeps telling me to start a doggy daycare…who knows? Maybe in a couple years. John, thanks for letting us visit with Rocco–he made my day!

So tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, huh?! Any big plans? I have appointments at the clinic all afternoon, and then we’re heading over for the early bird special at “La Spiga”! My dad arrives in the morning, and hopefully he’ll get to rest a bit before we party all night?! Just teasin’….it’ll be a stretch to make it ’til midnight! But WE WILL and then we will go to the roof to watch fireworks over the Space Needle…pretty cool, huh?

We all send our love from Seattle…Katie, Carol, Laura and I

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Enjoy the photos.