We have been very busy since we landed in Charlotte on Saturday afternoon---- Grier has not missed a beat--- keeps up with anyone and everyone--- certainly not afraid to wrestle with Hayes--- it just makes me cringe as he runs into his BIG brother--- ugh... not sure I will ever get used to that-- You know it was just a couple of days ago he had 4 samples of bone and bone marrow removed from his front and back hips......... again--- not slowing down and thrilled to be at home able to run and wrestle!

Sunday was Valentine's Day and we spent most of the day at Ben & Jerry's @ Parke Towne Village--- Lesa Helbein and Charles Durham ( the owner of the scoop shop) did a wonderful job getting the word out to people to buy gift certificates, cakes, and anything at the shop--- We had a great time getting to see everyone who came in the shop to get a "treat"--  There was a steady flow of people all day--- Thanks to Charles Durham and the two hardest Ben & Jerry's employees and all of you that bought something from Ben & Jerry's.... a donation of $507 will be made to Cookies for Kids Cancer.  It was a really fun day and I am glad we had such a good turnout ( their sales were more than double than any other day this month)--- Hopefully we can do it again when it gets warmer outside.

Monday was suppose to be a another day off from school but it turned out to be a make-up day because of the snow--- And I admit I was so happy...... ! I needed a day to regroup.... Grier just hung out with me and we did not rush around to do anything except we did go to lunch at Selwyn--- we surprised Grace!  Other than that I made some insurance calls and quickly decided that could wait -- I was not in the mood to talk to them and I need to be---- I guess I will work on that soon--- ugh... I wish there was an easier way besides arguing about experimental treatment --in network vs. out of network--- etc--- It adds a whole new stress element to having a child with cancer--  it is very time consuming....  I waited around all Monday hoping to hear some news from New York--- and I was reading caringbridge pages from friends that were in scans last week and they knew results so I was getting a little impatient- So... this morning I emailed Dr. K to ask for ANY results--- I know it is too early for bone marrow tests.  He emailed me back and said all scans so far show NO neuroblastoma--- so that is good news--- now we just need to keep it that way :)  Grier started accutane yesterday and will be on that for the next 14 days- After hearing lots of people tell me that they took accutane or their teenager took it --I was a little curious about the dose-- so looked online and if  they were using it to treat acne - they would start her at 10 mg per day and could work up to 20 mg per day but only if needed and with great hesitation. A half milligram per kilo...Grier is 18 kg and he  takes 110 mg per day-. Accutane is a fairly nasty drug at low doses... there are a ton of warnings on it and it is controlled( we have to have a special ID to get it)--- but  we have no other options - and this is the less toxic of almost all of his treatments combined- 

We have now moved from every 3 weeks in NEW YORK to every 7 weeks on the 3F8 protocol -- this will continue for 2 years!--- I not sure we will know what to do with ALL that time at home ..... Just kidding.... I am actually lining up the repairmen to help with all the things that are broken at home that we have just ignored for so long--- hopefully by the time we fly back to NYC on 4/11 our list will be empty :)-- Yes the 11th  is Jeff's 40th birthday but it was either this day or the kids Spring Break--- and we have already had a couple of Spring Breaks ruined by Neuroblastoma so this week will work out better-- We should only have to be up there for a week of 3f8--


looking forward to being home longer and getting back into the swing of things--- thanks to all that helped last week, my mom , Ross, Bill, Stuart, Melissa, Lee, Nancy, Mick, Jenny, Susan-- and for all the of the meals that were delivered-- as well the facebook messages and CB and blog messages--- :) All the help made  a long week more manageable-