This weekend...

This past weekend was so much fun! On Saturday we went to a birthday party, which I LOVE birthdays, and it was one of the best decorated ones I have been too- Mama Mallory was such a good host... pizza, beer, and cake-pops... umm, hello that always equals a good time :) She also had the BEST "goody bags" for the kiddos, meaning they were so age appropriate. Dominick's bag (because I don't know if they were different) had bubbles, a baby book, and best of all baby food- I mean, seriously perfect bag for a 8month old...... and not to mention the bag itself is now one of Dominick's toys, don't know if that was done on purpose, but it is an adorable bag!

I didn't take any pictures :( but here is the lady-bug bag, with each kids name on front!

Then later that night, Bethy, Folkert and Bennys came out! We all decided to jump in the pool. Since Dominick hadn’t had Chemotherapy for 2 weeks, he was able to get in the pool, and LOVED IT!!!! It was so fun to see how much he loves the water. I know he LOVED the bath, but this took it to a WHOLE new level. He is my little swimmer for sure! Also, since he hadn’t had Chemotherapy in so long we decided to do “Bathy Time” with the boys… SOOOOO CUTE! I can’t wait until they are able to play with each other in the tub-  We ended the night with amazing burgers and hot dogs courtesy of my husband’s remarkable BBQing skills- YUM-O!

POOL TIME- 1st fam bam picture in the pool and then one of the boys!
"Bathy Time" then play time for the cousins

Then came Sunday... Let me just say this… Ryan and I were, and still are, overwhelmed with how many people came out. We knew it would be a little crowded but O MY GOSH we had no idea that many people would come. It was incredible to see so many faces; family from all over CA, old friends, new friends, FB friends etc J We can’t say thank you enough for everyone spending their Sunday with us. Just when you think the world is a crazy place, you are quickly reminded there are still many good people out there. I was amazed with how generous people were, and on top of it people who didn’t even know us but came because they heard. When I turned around, and would see a little gold bracelet on so many people’s wrist, it would seriously take my breath away. I think sometimes I forget this whole ordeal is happening to me, but when I sit down and think about it, it is scary the road we have ahead, but then I remember all the people that are behind us to help us with anything we may need and it eases my anxiety and nerves. Thanks again for all the support and love, thanks for the texts, emails, facebook messages, cards etc. None of that will ever get old to my little family and I can’t express how much the kind words lift our spirits when we have our down days. Thanks again seriously over and over to everyone who came………….. and a special shout out thank you to my parents, Ryan’s mom, Robert and Larry, the whole Abriel Family, and everyone who donated something for us to use Sunday. Everything got used and many people left with amazing gifts-  

"tougher than I look" Our little hero :)



Us before... and CLEARLY us after!

Such a GOOD Day!

Today so many amazing things went well for Dominick. We were in the car so much today and not a peep from him. I think he is starting to like his new big boy car seat (thank goodness because the screaming every time we get in the car was getting a little old! :) Then we had him on the floor and FINALLY he is starting to go back and forth on his right side. Since his operation (on his right side) he has only rolled to the left... but not today friends, he is going both ways, front to back and back to front! For those of you that don't have kids I know this sounds super LAME, but it is really exciting I swear! Then for dinner my battle with baby food continued... until he actually ate some! I battle my child every morning and night, but since they say it is mostly bottle still, I don't bug him too much because I feel like I bug him enough trying to give him his meds! I simply insist on one small bite in the morning and one at night. This is my theory with food: I just keep offering, letting it be known it is not just going to leave, and my plan is hopefully he will just come around to liking it. And by the grace of the baby food god he actually had more than he has ever had :) Another amazing thing is today he didn't spit out ANY of his medicine! I think he is starting to accept the fact that no matter how much he throws himself around, I have back-up to help me, and I will win. (hopefully this is a lesson he learns now and NEVER forgets! ha ha ha) lastly he is sound asleep while I wait up for Ryan to get home. Maybe with such an amazing day we will all get a good nights sleep..... HA HA HA wishful thinking people!!!

In his cute new hat (from auntie Amanda), Dominicks 1st sucker at the doctors,
1st time in his big boy car set, and Dominicks favorite toy (don't mind the boxes, it helps him run around!)

just for fun

I always post about the baby updates and ever thought there is nothing wrong with that, today thanks to Nicole and her CONSTANT updates and fun thoughts I thought I would do a fun blog entry-

So today is about……. Ummm, today J My hubby and brother have been working on a BBQ for the back of my parents house. It is HUGE and I can’t wait to use it. Hopefully it will be done by Labor day and we will break it in and BBQ some meat and poor some beer. Ooo, sorry I said BBQ I meant an outside bar! This thing is HUGE with a 3 handle tap. It will be amazing when and if it is ever done J We also went to home depot and tried picking out tile. Home depot gives me anxiety and it is so expensive everything I like cost so much that it is pointless for me to be involved in any decision making for house hold items. HOWEVER, even though it is not my favorite place, I went with the baby and we hung out while the rest of the family discussed “tile.”  The longer the baby and I did laps, the more I started to enjoy the store. The only problem is I am an impulse shopper and find things I “can’t live without!” I feel like if I had a lot of money I would re-do my house all the time! How do you make a decision on tile! Or paint? It was like picking baby names all over again… so walking away on laps the baby and I went J

When we got home we had lunch and someone was sooooo fussy! Yet, Ryan had a lot of work to do so he pushed through an started working J Then my other baby got fussy so it was the fight of the day “nap-time.” I started reflecting on how much work I go through to get this guy to take a nap. As I was walking, bouncing, swaying, singing etc, I thought how nice that would be if someone tried that hard to get me to sleep every night! Ha ha ha Can you imagine? It would be amazing J Anyways, this is what my fam bam did today and I thought I would share our not-so-fun fun day~

Thought I would share a 4th of July pic... not the best one of the fam bam but I had to show-case our matchy outfits :) (poor ryan for always having to wear such "themed" things for me!)

I'm too cute for my hair!

Chemo messed with the WRONG baby!!! So after an emotional day yesterday with hand fulls of hair coming out, we decided this morning to go ahead and shave it. We decided it would be on OUR terms and not cancers terms. I think it was so emotional because I think we have been in a little bit of denial and with a bald baby, it is more of a reality about what is going on. HOWEVER, he is adorable with no hair :) After talking with many friends they told me they had no hair until 2-3 years old so he actually wont be that different than some of my baldy toddler friends were :) I was hesitant about sharing a picture of him because I am still skeptical of how people are with my "open" story. Then I figured, don't go to my blog if you don't want my story right? ha ha ha And many babies (non-cancer babies) on my FB are baldies too and their mamas are posting away :) So here is my "too cool for hair" love munchkin!



an amazing note...

Sometime when I have bad days I read what people have written me... I have been having a hard day and a certain someone wrote me this a few weeks ago and I found myself reading it and thought I would share. This letter did make me feel better and when I think "why is this happening..." I think of the things she says, and maybe she is right... Maybe because of this more people will hug their babies more, or value life in a different way... Today was a hard day because I noticed hair coming out of baby D. I knew this was going to happen, but it was different when it actually did! The ONLY positive is that many babies his age still have no hair, and he is already stared at in public (because he is the cutest baby alive) so he wont get a complex about being different. Anyways, here is the kind message I wanted to share...

 "I wanted to share that we are all so inspired by your courage and strength and you have more people than you know praying for you and sending love and positivity your way. I'm sure that there are countless others who are experiencing what I've heard called "the miracles we don't see" which are, in effect, the miracles that you'll never get to see attributed to your actions, but were definitely sparked by your kindness, caring, selfless love which is and has been so obvious through this whole ordeal. Whether it's that you've made hundreds of people say extra "i love you's" or go see a doctor more regularly, it's the small things that are the big things, and you, my friend, are making small things happen in very big ways. It's no wonder you have such a happy, smiley baby who adores you. I hope this time brings you and Ryan closer together in your marriage and closer to God, and I hope you know and feel how loved and how important you are."

baby update...

I just realized I have not done an update in awhile... So we went to the hospital for 6 days and he did AMAZING on the chemo. This sounds crazy, but the hospital is turning in to a 2nd home. I am starting to know some other moms and LOVE the nurses, so it is always nice to see people you know. I have to admit, this last trip was so much better and easier than the first. I felt more prepared and knew what I was in for.

While we were in the hospital I was taught how to give Dominick a shot!!!!! I was told I had to give him a shot once a day and I was freaking out! I was taught Monday and I didnt have to give him a shot until Thursday so it is safe to say I lost my temper and the stress was too much to handle. After the first day I became a pro and I felt so comfortable doing it. It also helps that the baby doesn't cry :)

We went today for chemo and his blood counts were SOOOOOO GOOD! So we are done with the shots for now :) We added a med to the list to help with his blood pressure and we will see the heart doctor next Wed before his next chemo. We also have to follow up with the kidney doctor one day next week as well. Thankfully we see Dominicks old doctor in Fontana to do the blood pressure (saves us a few drives a week!)

As for baby, he is doing amazing! Today he got a little fussy but I think it is teething and I think he is starting to feel the chemo and has not wanted to eat :( Even thought we have our rough days, cancer baby or not, all little ones have their days! thanks again for the love and support from everyone :)

Play time with Benny boo :)