Christmas and Maintenance Starts

I last posted on the 16th. The 17th was the two year anniversary of Stefan's diagnoses. We actually spent that day with a visit to Royal Columbia to visit my grandpa, kind of fitting that we were brought back there. I remember too well pacing the halls not knowing what was going to happen that night two years ago.

We had a lovely dinner that night to toast Stefan's good health.

Stefan has successfully managed with the kids at home while I've been back to work. Luckily they are all on the same nap schedule so he usually manages a little lay down in the afternoon. I think Charlotte is starting to outgrow her naps, but she is quite happy to read in her bed for nap time.

Back to work has actually been okay, I've dove right back into things and keep busy so the time flies by. 

Charlotte officially started maintenance on Christmas Eve. Again, she did great for dad. They were delayed a couple hours at the hospital and she was the last procedure of the day. But we all made it home in time to cook dinner! We did our best to prep everything ahead of time, and succeeded in making the day go by relatively stress free!

We had a lovely dinner Christmas Eve with all Stefan's family and my parents. Swedish style meant ham, red cabbage, deviled eggs, pickled herring, pickled salmon, aquavit, and my families addition of scalloped potatoes to the meal!  We had the traditional rice pudding for dessert along with my homemade rum raisin ice cream as it's a favorite of my mother-in-laws.  Charlotte didn't have an appetite due to the lumbar puncture chemo, but otherwise she did pretty good. Santa dropped some presents at the door and as we tried to get a peek at him through the window, he popped out from the side of the house and scared the living daylights out of Charlotte!  She recovered pretty quickly though! Was quite funny actually and a memory we won't forget!

Christmas Eve dinner with TooToo and Grandpa Gerald

Picture Perfect Christmas Morning

Christmas morning was just the four of us and was perfect. Not too chaotic, and the kids took there time opening presents, wanting to play with everything. I remember looking at my husband and he had such a sheer look of relaxation and joy on his face. Holding his cup of coffee and watching our happy kidlets. We enjoyed our slow morning and then had an early Christmas dinner at Stefan's sister's home.


Charlotte's appetite recovered for Christmas Day.  She had a couple clingy crying spells as a result of the new steroid, but not nearly as bad as anything we experienced with the dexamethasone.  I guess we can call her a Carlotta version 2.0.  Hopefully this is what will be routine going forward as it was for sure manageable!