Good Afternoon to all of you,

I have the kids down for naps and we are going to rush off to swim lessons as soon as they wake up.  Sharmi is trying to learn to swim so that she can swim with the dolphins for her Make-A-Wish.  She has been having a hard time with it because, it hasn’t come easy and she doesn’t want to put her head under water.  The girls had a couple private lessons in January which didn’t go well.  However, we have been able to get her in the pool three times in the last few weeks with friends and family, and she has come a long ways.  One of my challenges in raising her is that she has been smart enough that most things come easy and she isn’t used to things being hard to learn. Secondly, she has experienced the hardness of life that she knows bad things do happen and she doesn’t have that blanket trust that many kids have.  So I am going to try her in a small group lesson today and I hope things go well.

Speaking of Make-A-Wish’s, Sharmi was talking to Chantel about them the other day.  Chantel was stating that she was going to swim with the dolphins and Sharmi clarified, ”No honey, you aren’t going to swim with the dolphins.  You didn’t have cancer.  When you grow up you might get cancer, and then you can have your own wish.”  Then she continued, “Hopefully, you won’t get cancer but if you did it would NOT be your fault. Sometimes bad things happen because the devil likes to make us sick.  But it wouldn’t be your fault because mommy is a good mommy and she feeds us healthy food, and she tells us when we can’t have anymore macaroni or chocolate so that we don’t get sick or get cancer anymore.”   I just stood in the kitchen and listened; with tears in my eyes, pride in my heart, and fear in my stomach with a prayer that cancer will never be a part of our home again, especially in my girls. 

Sharmi is becoming quite the health conscious little girl.  I hope it serves her well in keeping her healthy for the rest of her life.  The other day she said to Chantel, “Chantel you need to drink more water and not so much juice, because water is Jesus’ medicine to keep us healthy.” 

Health-wise Sharmi does seem to be doing well.  Last months lab reports were good with no indication of concern.  We are of course grateful for that.

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of going “home” to the Poulsbo church for their talent show.  Sharmi, after some coaxing, sang her six little ducks again and Chantel even ”performed.”  She mostly just breathed really heavy into the microphone, but she did eventually sing “jingle bells jingle bells”, and quickly got shy again.  The people we very gracious at applauding her and it was really nice to see all of my old church family again. 

Our love and prayers are with all of you, and we appreciate the continued prayers that you pray for our family.  God Bless.

Cheris

Our past week has been filled with new experiences.   Saturday night Sharmi sang, “Six Little Ducks” at our church talent show.  She did a wonderful job.  We were all so proud of her.  It was cute, with every verse she dropped the pitch one note.  It actually was really “clever”.  I wouldn’t be able to do that.    When we came to sit down Chantel was begging, “me sing by my-self, pease.”  She asked me over and over during the night.  She wanted to sing “Jingle Bells”, which is “my favrite.” 

Last week Sharmi started spelling all on her own.  She asked me to give her a word  (mom, dad, dog, mat, bat, cat, fat, ….) and she sounded them out and spelt them.  She is stubborn and tries to do them in her head.  I think she believes saying them out loud is cheating.  Her eyes roll up in her head as she tries to figure them out.  I can tell when she gives up and isn’t sounding them out, and then she just guesses “n”.  It is cute.  This weekend she also started to read with Grandma.   She read three stories and did a bunch of exercises before she wore out. 

Chantel and mommy are having mixed emotions about Chantel growing up.   We had a “big girl party” for Chantel on Sunday with my parents, which included cake and presents.  This marked the end of nursing and we also put a big girl bed in her room.  She said, “papa broke my crib.”  She thought it was a good idea before it was gone.  The two changes have brought some happiness and many tears from Chantel and mommy.  Mommy is sad that her baby is grown up and Chantel is very upset that she doesn’t get to nurse-to-sleep anymore.  Chantel does like her new bed though when it isn’t bed time.  She climbs in and covers herself with the bedspread, she tucks her stuffed animals in, and Sharmi and her enjoy reading stories and eating crackers in her bed.   

My back and doing fine.  I am doing the maintenance program that will keep me moving, and in a few months I will try to do the “fix me” program.  All in all we are doing good.

God bless you all,

Cheris

>евтини мебелиy New Year,

Life at the Curry’s is going fairly well.  I am finally feeling less pressured with things to do.  I am trying to run on less adrenaline.  The down side to this is now I feel much like a sleep deprived slug.    I threw my back out a couple times over the holidays.  The worst day I couldn’t even lift my head off of the pillow.  I yelled for help for awhile and finally gave up until I heard Sharmi running down the hall.  After the second time, I finally decided to go to a chiropractor.  He says I need several months of therapy.  However, I am choosing to postpone me again, because this year is going to be about spending quality fun and educational time with my children.  Our life has been a prefect example of quantity not being the same as quality.  Pushing drugs on sick kids certainly consumes many hours of the day, but it is no fun and the only thing we learned was how much we hated cancer.  So once again I am putting my heath on the back burner, but I believe that the time spent with my kids will far surpass the value to my heart. 

The girls have had colds and sinus infections for almost two months straight.  Just when I think they are getting better they both relapse.  They are both hacking a lot and they clearly have an infection, not just a basic cold.  Today I decided to try something new.  I have given them bentonite clay to drink.  It is supposed to work as a detox.  I am hoping it will absorb the infection.  Only time will tell. 

Sharmi had another doctors appointment last week.  The poor girl.  Going back keeps getting harder and harder.  I didn’t tell her until one hour before her appointment and she just lost it!  She cried and absolutely refused to go.  She said she wouldn’t go, wouldn’t get in the car, was never going to have her blood checked again……  I just kept apologizing over and over again that I had to take her and I kept telling her it was unfair and awful but we still had to do it.  Once she pulled herself together she was very compliant and sweet and there were no other issues in getting ready to go or with the doctors appointment itself.  I haven’t got the  lab results back yet, but as far as I know everything if fine.  She is mostly very brave and grown up, but she is sometimes a scared little four year old.   Imagine that….

Sometimes I think she is more educated and grown up than some adults.  Actually I know she is!  (A few names come to mind.)  She doesn’t talk about is much but she is proud of herself for being a survivor.  For Christmas, Dean bought me a cosmetic gift that has galvanic current which helps heal skin and reduce scars.  I asked Sharmi if she wanted me to use it on her chest, where the scars are from her port surgeries.  She said, “no thank you mommy.”  I asked her why not and she said, “I want to be able to show people, that don’t know, that I had leukemia.  I can show them my scar and tell them I had cancer.”  I was shocked.  Who am I to take away her battle scars.  She doesn’t deserve for them to be minimized in any way. 

The girls are coming to an age where they really enjoy playing together. Tonight when I was trying to get them into bed, I finally gave up and just sat down and watched them.  They were wearing matching monkey pj’s and Sharmi was crawling on the floor on all fours with Chantel clinging for dear life onto her back.  Sharmi said, “mommy, she is the baby monkey and I am the mommy monkey.”  When Chantel couldn’t hold one any longer and would fall off, they would both laugh and do it again.  It was good for everyone. 

I hope the new year is filling your lives with love, jobs and all the things you need.

Cheris

Merry Christmas

Cancer wise Sharmi is doing good.  She had another doctors appointment a couple weeks ago.  We left Chantel with Nana Hall.  It was a very good thing.  Chantel had a blast having alone time.  Nana Hall said she played happily by herself most of the day.  It had been three months since we had gone to Children’s hospital, and Sharmi was nervous and upset.  She cried and cried, and demanded to leave.  We finally had to just hold her down to get her blood draw.  Once the needle was in she held still.  We were very grateful that the tech got the vein on the first try.  I don’t know if I could have forced her to do it two and three times like we have had to in the past.  After the blood draw and we were waiting for the doctor, Sharmi found out that she was immediately going to the dentists after her doctors exam.  She was not pleased!  She hates the fluoride paste that they paint on her teeth.  Once at the dentist I had to literally drag her out of the car.  The appointment was uneventful.  She has curved teeth from the binki addiction, but no cavities in site.  They gave her a little rainbow colored snake as a reward. That helped lighten her spirits.

Ten days ago, on Sabbath, Chantel had a fever and was very lethargic.  She was very mellow during church.  In the evening, we went to a “Bethlehem Walk,” and she was only able to come up with enough energy to pet the animals.  The rest of the time she laid on us and didn’t talk much.  The next day, however, she talked about petting the camels neck and she kept saying, “Sharmi scared of king… Sharmi scared of king.”  It didn’t take long before Sharmi asked her to stop saying that.    Even though Chantel didn’t seem to be aware of much the night before, Sharmi’s fear for the king and the soldiers made a big impression on her.  They are very sympathetic to eachother, especially when one is in trouble with mom or dad.  They call for eachother and give eachother hugs.  It is priceless.

Originally, I thought Chantels fever was from the teeth she was cutting, but Chantel and Sharmi have both been sick ever since.  The coughing has been the worst. They haven’t slept well and Sharmi has been coughing so much that she has thrown up several times.  I think they are both on the mend. 

I am enjoying the cleverness of my children.  It is such a blessing to be a parent and to watch your children’s intelligence and humor. 

A smart moment for Sharmi was over Thanks-Giving weekend we were at the Olive Garden eating and Sharmi said “There are two kids on one side and one kid on the other, and we are sitting at a rectangle.”  We gave her the usual acknowledgements and praise and then I asked her, “what shape do the kids make?”  Her cousin Roegan was sitting at one end, her aunt Julie was between Roegan and her.  And sister was across the table.  She asked me what I meant.  I asked her what shape she would get if she drew a line between all of the kids.  She cocked her head and thought about it for awhile, and responded with a big smile, “A triangle!”  We were all impressed, especially her great -grandma.  It is nice to have proud grandparents.

A funny moment for Chantel was last week when we were getting the girls ready for bed.  We usually try to speed up the PJ process but racing and seeing which kid will “win.”  The other night Sharmi was so quick at getting her PJ’s and hurried to put them on even before Chantel got to the bed room.  When Chantel came in Dean said, “Sharmi beat.”  Then Sharmi looked at Chantel a little deflated and said, “Chantel already had her jammies on.”  (She had never changed out of her pajama’s that day.)  Chantel  looked down at her pj’s with a surprised look, and then she looked up with a clever grin. In a loud cheer she said, “I W-I-N!”   We all laughed so hard!!!! 

What a blessing our children are.  My biggest problem is getting life out-of-the-way enough to enjoy them.  Have a Merry Christmas with your families this year and laugh.  It is good for you. 

Love to you all.

Cheris

Good Evening,

Another month has gone buy and Sharmi is still doing well.  She had a doctors appointment last week and she is healthy.  She was brave and we went to “Chantel’s doctor” here in Marysville.  That makes for a much easier day.  When we got home the girls friends Jennifer and Logan were here with their new little puppy.  The puppy was the highlight of the day for my girls.  I have never seen Sharmi sit still so long in her life as she did when the puppy was on her lap.  If it weren’t for the potty training, chewed up shoes and having nothing but mud outside, I would consider two puppies for Christmas.  They are really cute babysitters. 

Our landscaping hit a glitch when our brand new concrete was torn out, so the girls and I are trecking through the mud and the rain to get to the car.  My dream of having the landscaping done by thanksgiving has been washed away with the rain.  The rain also took several yards of dirt and lots of hydroseed.  I miss the sun!  “We aren’t in San Diego anymore.”  Last week we had one really sunny day.  I thought, oh I am ready for spring, then my heart sank when I realized that the rain has only just begun. 

The girls are doing well.  Chantel is really enjoying puzzles, seek & find and counting right now.  She knows her numbers to ten plus, but counting usually goes, “one, three, five..”

Sharmi’s favorite game the last few weeks has been matching games.  She has a Dora game with 72 picture cards that you turn over and test your memory.  It is sad to say that Sharmi “smokes” both dean and I at this game.  Her memory is amazing!

I hope all is well with you and your loved ones.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Cheris

Hello Everyone, 

Several weeks ago we hit a milestone in our home.  After Chantels lovely birthday party, with lack of sleep and too much chocolate cake and chocolate “cream” as she calls it, she came down with a cold.  Later in the week I also gave into her cold for a few days.  Sharmi however did not get sick.  A week or so later Dean had some signs of the flue, and several guys working on a major landscaping project at our house were feeling sick including having the swine flue.  And even through all of this Sharmi still DID NOT GET SICK!  Hallelujah, Sharmi’s immunity is back and stronger than ours!!!!!

Last months doctors visit for Sharmi went well.  I bribed her into letting me take her to Chantels doctor, here in Marysville, instead of taking her all the way to Children’s.  We are now at the point in Sharmi’s treatment that her oncology doctors are OK with us going to Children’s every third month.  Sharmi prefers Children’s Hospital, but since the last couple draws didn’t go well there I was able to bribe her.  I promised that if she would go to Chantels doctor for her appointment, I would take them to Red Robin for lunch.  Chantel had a doctors appointment as well for her 2 year check-up and shots.  Then Sharmi had her exam.  Sharmi’’s lab draw went very well.  She was crying initially becauseshe was afraid, but the tech was good.  He was accurate and fast.  The tech’s were very impressed with how Sharmi handled it and held still for them, especially after her initial crying.  So as promised the girls and I went to Red Robin for Mac n Cheese and fry’s.  It was actually a lovely morning. 

As I mentioned earlier, we have taken on a huge landscaping project in the last month.  We have brought in tons of dirt, tore out our drive way, regraded our entire 1 acre yard, cut in a new driveway that is more aesthetic, made an actual walkway up to our house (which wasn’t there before), had 50 ton on rocks set in our landscaping, and we are putting on a new deck and new patio.  We are tired.  I specifically am tried of the filth.  But, the girls have loved it.  I believe the mountains of dirt were their favorite.  However, they did really enjoy the mud phase as well.  And today, they splashed in a giant 14 foot wide puddle filled with hazelnut color release used to color the concrete.      In between the constant loads of laundry, mopping and vacuuming the floors (sometimes many times a day) I am trying to stop and take pictures of my kids loving life.  For a few moments I can see it through their eyes, but it isn’t long after baths are taken and new cloths are donned that I am yelling again, “DON”T GET DIRTY!” 

They have loved the excitement but it is taking it’s toll on them as well.  They are not sleeping well.  Chantel especially is having sleeping problems.  She has discovered in  the last couple of weeks how to get out of her crib and out of her room.  Not only does she do this at bed time, but she also does it in the middle of the night.  I have tried everything I can possibly think of.  I have tried all of the nice, loving, patient mommy approaches and I have tried all of the harsh disciplinary mommy approaches.  None seem to work.  One night when I was trying the “middle of the road approach of just putting her back in her bed calmly”  I quit counting after 40 times.  I think I am making baby steps but if anyone has any wisdom I am open to suggestions.  

Another thing that was significant for Chantel, this past month, was her birthday party.  Sharmi has had so many parties for her the last few years and Chantel hadn’t had any other than her 1st birthday.  Chantelwas so excited about her party before it happened,  since then she looks at pictures of the party almost daily and any present that she got at her party she emphatically says, “mine, my paaarty!”  She makes it very clear what is hers.  It is actually quit cute. 

All in all life is good.  For a few weeks before the landscaping started life was actually bliss!  It was the “paradise” of being a mom with two healthy kids that I had never known before.  I had a glimpse of what a “normal” life is like.  I am looking forward to that again.  I am praying for sun so that they guys can get done and get out of here so we can have a wonderful holiday season with just our happy family.

Love to you all,

Cheris

Hello,

I can not believe how big the girls are getting.  Chantel is two years old now.  We are going to have a little belated birthday party for her this weekend.  Sharmi is growing like a weed.  I am buying her 5T and 6T clothes now.  She is only 4 & 1/2.  They say it is normal for kids to shoot up after they get off chemo.  She is definatly no exception.

Sharmi’s is overall doing well, but she is still suffering from the side effects of what her poor body has been through.  She is suffering pretty badly from a yeast infection right now.  Doctors don’t really take this seriously, but she is really uncomfortable so I am going to try to get her to a doctor tomorrow and demand Fluconazole for her.  I have read too much about a correlation between yeast and leukemia.  I don’t want to mess with it any longer.  I am going to be a self prescribing demanding mother.   

Other than that, everyone is healthy.  Last week however, I experienced the great discomfort/pain of a UTI.  I have a new found respect for those awful things.  Thank goodness for antibiotics.  I was up being mom the next day.  I did however, appreciate the help of my parents.  I didn’t stay in bed all day (I probably should have), but I was able to do my daily life & chores with less exhaustion.

Sharmi’s last hospital visit was challengingagain for her IV’s.  The first attempt, the tech dug and dug and dug for Sharmi’s vein and she never found it.  Poor sweet Sharmi.  Even though she was really hurting she was so polite.  She kept saying, “PLEASE stop, that hurts! PLEASE stop!  PLEASE don’t do that anymore… PLEASE… PLEASE.!”  Sharmi was incredibly polite while the tech was trying, but when she was done and didn’t get it, Sharmi lost it!  She cried and yelled, “I won’t let you do that again.  I am going home….”   I seriously considered walking out the door and telling them I would be back in a month.  I finally calmed Sharmi down and we had another tech do it and she found the vein immediately and the blood was drawn.  Her labs looked good they said she looked great.  The only other physical complaint Sharmi has is that she is itching, all over, all of the time.  The doctor said that is due to her nervous system recovering and rebuilding after all of the drugs.  It makes her ultra sensitive, as if she wasn’t already.  Tonight when I was putting Sharmi to bed she had her footie pj’s off, except for her arms due to the itching, she said, “I am an itching machine!”  That she was!  Poor girl. 

At the last doctors visit, I pulled up to the valet to unload the stuff and the girls and I hear Sharmi on her play phone, “Hello, yeah we are at the hospital.  Uh huh.  Yes.  No. No, I don’t have cancer anymore.   Uh, huh.  No, I don’t have cancer anymore…  I have got to go.  Bye.”  I couldn’t help but laugh, smile and thank God that she didn’t have cancer anymore. 

The bright spot of our day today is that we started gymnastics again.  The old owners have taken over the business again, so we were excited to return.  Sharmi has graduated to the big kid class, and I have started Chantel in the mom and tot class.  It was a very nice time and I hope it will keep the girls active during the winter months. 

Well, I think I am going to go to bed.  I hope all is well with you and your families.

Cheris