Dear Santa.....

My how time goes by rather quickly and now three months have passed by and time for a blog update...

We Believe!
Brian & Leticia
Bianca 15, Brooke 13, Blayr 7, Lincoln 4

Time seemed fitting since we are hours away from getting in our car to travel to Dallas for our next appointment, which is the one I have been waiting for and I know as Brian said last night, we as a family have been waiting for since the initial diagnosis in January.  Eleven months later.. almost to the exact day here we are,  going in for the final PET scan that will determine whether all of this "stuff" as I so eloquently call it worked. The scan will be Tuesday at 12:30, it takes about 2 hours, then we visit with Dr. Osborne on Wednesday at 3:00 for the results.  I ask for special thoughts and prayers for all of us during that time, not only me as I will be going through the actual procedure, but also my family as they will be waiting.  I know how hard waiting is, Brian will be sitting outside while I'm in the room the entire time and that is just tough! The kids', my sisters and parents will all be occupied back home, but will still be looking at the clock if I know them well enough.

Looking back at the surgery, then chemotherapy, then radiation, I ask myself which was the better.. none of them!  They all rank right about the same, but in different ways.  One thing I do know...I survived them all!! And if you are reading this, with your help!!!  I can't begin to thank you again for each and every kind gesture, word, thought, prayer, call, message of encouragement, visit and yet every step of the way we still keep getting unexpected little calls, special treats, visits, and they all so much to all of us.  Each and every one of them continue to come at just the right time.  So Blessed.....

Now for a little fun to the post, WOW, time to catch you up on the past three months.  Ready...

40th Birthday!!!!
October 24, 2011
Las Vegas, Nevada
Hard Rock Hotel - Pinktober Celebration!

A Trip to the Great Northwest, to visit family I had not seen in 25 years!  Portland, Oregon, Seatlle, Washington were just amazing... A very nice honor at the "Pink the Basin, Breast Cancer Luncheon" in October link..link 2. A trip to Las Vegas for my 40th Birthday!!! My sister Angie and brother-in-law Greg came to visit from Nashville upon our return and we had a small birthday party which was just perfect!!!  Lincoln played flag football! November, Brian and I were able to get away for a week to an all-inclusive resort (and new lifetime friends:) in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  He had been planning this trip for me as a get away after "everything" was finished.  INCREDIBLE is all I have to say..... December.. Christmas parade, Brooke's first band concert, kids' Christmas parties, decorating, a trip to see Santa....

A VERY special gift from Brian's FAVORITE NFL team to Lincoln.
Minnesota Vikings
from the Quarterback's Coach Johnson, an original pink towel used during the 2011 Cancer Awareness  Game
and a hat for mom!  The note was so special!

SISTERS!!!
Sylvia, Angie, Leticia

Portland, Oregon Sept 2011

Happy Thanksgiving, 11/2011!!!
Playa Del Carmen,  Mexico

We have an annual tradition. A trip to see Santa and get the kids' picture taken, they get to tell them what they want. Done.  This year, we had a little different visit.  I took the kids' picture, then wanted to take a picture with all 6 of us with Santa.  We had never done this before, but on a whim, I told Brian to jump in at the last minute.  Santa just smiled at us, they scooted us all in and ..click, first picture was perfect, hard to do with 6!  Then I stood up and went to talk to Santas helper to tell her what package I wanted.  As she and I were discussing the order, I looked over and they were all holding hands.  I just started crying.  She asked if I was OK, I told her I was, that I had an idea what the kids' had just asked for.  They all finished, Santa stood up and came and gave me a hug and said "you have a beautiful family"  I asked Brooke what was said and she told me that Lincoln and Blayr had both asked him for me to be cancer free and so he asked them if it was OK if they said a prayer.  I then asked Lincoln what he asked Santa for he said "a skateboard and let my mommy have free cancer", I asked Blayr what she had told Santa, she said "an art easel and mommy to be cancer free"  I'm so glad this Santa Believes, because we do!

Until my next post with the results........

hugs from cyberworld!

Leticia