Last Saturday our friend Ginger, invited us out to meet and talk to the incredible people raising money for the LLS as part of running for the Team in Training that Ginger is now serving as a mentor for and still raising money and running and running and running.  Cutler and I woke up extra early to embrace this opportunity to tell our story.  It wasn’t easy to get through it as it is still rather painful to discuss, but it was well worth it to see and meet all of these wonderful people raising money for such a worthy cause.  I believe Ginger said that they have currently raised over $18K, but don’t hold me to that as it was very early.  One person in particular, Dave, is in training while battling his fourth go with CLL.  Rather than be called the team hero, he prefers to go by the team mascot.  I was ashamed to not be running with them, but one step at a time.  First I will need to work on waking up that early.  🙂  Cutler was a big hit as he sat on the ground playing with his truck, as usual, and calling out the garbage truck as it pulled by.  It truly is an honor for Cutler to be represented by Ginger in this manner, including another full Marathon in December.  Go Ginger!

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I mentioned before that Cutler’s favorite word is trucks and while his vocabulary is continuing to grow past this word, his fascination with them grows stronger by the day.  Below are a few pictures from Sunday morning where he found a new use for his pickup.  In case you can’t see, he’s stacking his mini waffles in the bed.

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Yes, I realize it has been a very long time since I have provided an update.  I often feel guilty as I walk past my lonely computer in the office at night after helping put the kids to bed, but I have just been too darn tired to sit down and be creative.  I won’t blow anymore empty promises on future posts that I still owe (e.g. brother’s day, Mason’s birthday)…holy crap I forgot to post about Mason’s birthday back in August?  I have got some work to do.

So anyway, onto the update.  Last week Cutler had his monthly visit with the oncologist where he no longer cries when getting his finger pricked for blood and instead just fusses a bit when he gets tired of the nice lady drawing the blood not letting go of his finger when he is ready.  He is very fascinated with the bandaid as well.  He also prowls the office now as if he owns it.  Oh yeah, the blood work continues to look normal.  His donor marrow is still around 92% so we would still like to see that get up to 100% but this may be baby steps.  As we are now over a year of being in remission and getting very close to his transplant date (12/4) we are very pleased with where Cutler is.  As you can tell from the many photos and videos he is a very normal run of the mill terror for a 20 month old…he just happens to have two belly buttons.  🙂

I will leave you all with a quick video of one of Cutler’s favorite things to do…chasing after his brother.  I think it’s also one of Mason’s favorite things to do.

It may not be clear to everyone else, but Cutler’s vocabulary has really started to grow.  Well at least it has grown from truck, although that is still his favorite word and vehicle to point out.  I am proud to say that Dada is his second favorite.  We are still working on Mama as it is coming out more like Baba.

Many of you may have already seen this picture on facebook, but a week ago today Mason had his very first date with both of his girlfriends…Nathalie and Taylor.  That’s right, one girl for each arm.  I was the lone chaperone, which I started to question my sanity listening to the volume of shrill coming from the back while driving to the movie, but in the end it was worth the headache to be able and take this picture.  I am happy to report that Mason was a complete gentleman and is still waiting for his first kiss…

I just had another long and fun day in the office and am anxiously awaiting to start working first thing again in the morning.  So this is what I watch to put me in a good mood.