On The Launch Pad...

We are on the launch pad as Eric's doctors told us today! They are talking about we are actually getting all prepared to come home on Monday 12/7/09!!! Can you believe it- somebody pinch me! I can not begin to tell you how excited we are to come home, to be with our kids again as a family and be HOME! Those words have never sounded so sweet!

We are so blessed from the Lord that Eric is responding to his treatments and his bone marrow transplant. So grateful for his donor and the chance at more time with Eric and us as a family!
So many things we have missed, so many memories, alot has changed for us. Some good and some bad but we are so grateful to be able to bring Eric home! The kids are so excited! We have so much to do though, it has been a bit overwhelming!

We have been doing extra tests, CT scans, Xrays, bone marrow biopsy. We have discharge home classes we have been attending all week to prepare for coming home. I have to get the house deep cleaned, carpets cleaned, blinds and drapes washed, filters changed in the home, all the air ducts cleaned, every inch of the home has to be sanitized and deep cleaned! WOW!! Then there is Chelsea's 16th Birthday a day after we get home, and CHRISTMAS!!! We won't have much of a Christmas but that is OK- it will be CHRISTMAS ENOUGH just to be HOME AS A FAMILY and to have ERIC DOING GOOD!

I feel bad, Christmas is my favorite holiday! I love to decorate as many of you know but especially for Christmas it is SO MUCH FUN! I usually by Thanksgiving have inside and out all decorated with fun lights, trees, decorations but this year obviously I will get back and not have anything up and decorated. I feel bad for the kids and Eric that it won't feel like Christmas at our home this year since I have nothing up and probably won't have time to get it up for just 2 weeks until Christmas. Hopefully they understand but I just can't find the time to do it! I am sure they will be just happy to have Dad home!

It is really weird it doesn't even feel like the Holidays at all to me, I think I have just lost track of time, lost my days and holidays since our life has been on hold with Eric's cancer and his bone marrow transplant. I feel like it still should be summer since we started all this in the summer and have not had a chance to look back.

I can not believe our Chelsea will be 16 years old next week. I feel like it was just yesterday she was 5 years old! They really do grow up so fast! Eric and I were talking about how a few months ago we were not even sure he would be here to see her turn 16. We are so grateful!!! My love and gratitude is so much to the Lord for allowing Eric to be able to have found a donor, recovering and responding to treatment. He is such a miracle, such an inspiration to me and a constant reminder of what courage is. Anytime I feel hopeless I look at him and know that everything will be alright! Our journey is not complete but we are on our way to the next phase and I pray and hope for continued strength and faith. I know the Lord loves us and we will strive to be who he wants us to be and do good in the world.

Soon we will be coming HOME!!!! :) We can not wait to hear those doctors and nurses sing " YOUR GOING HOME!"