Finally Mason got to play in a “game” for hockey.  Actually it was just a little scrimmage across the short length of the ice, but it was worth the price for the entire semester of lessons.  Mason is the one in the black sweater with gold trim across the top.  In the first video he shows his skills in getting to the puck and then falling down, but wait until the very end of the video for the best part of the video.  In the second video, Mason shows his skills in falling down and delivering a cross check on the way down.  All in all very entertaining and a lot of fun for Mason as well.

It’s hard to believe that one year ago this week, Cutler was released from the hospital following his bone marrow transplant!  We never thought we’d get back to being just a normal family…but that’s exactly what we are.  Okay, some of you will question the “normal”, but hey, we feel normal.

Cutler still has a cough that we are treating and we hope to see some significant improvements this week.  He still does not care much for school.  He cries either as you pull into the parking lot, when he’s walking into the building or as he approaches the classroom door 🙂  The good news is he stops crying pretty soon after we leave.  Hopefully it will get better in time.

That’s it for now.  Just wanted to acknowledge the anniversary!

Cutler had his oncology appointment yesterday and he got the all clear!  Thank God all he has is a cold…the same as virtually every other child we come across.  Today is a snow day here in Murphy.  The sleet and snow hit us hard last night, so we are hanging out, in front of the fireplace and watching the movie Cars for the first of many times today 🙂  Poor Aaron is stuck on an airplane at DFW Airport waiting to take off to Atlanta.  His flight was to leave at 7:00 AM and it is now 10:00.  Not looking good.

My newest “adventure” is to tackle a marathon!  Yes, 26.2 miles in Anchorage, Alaska of all places.  Please click my link below to read more.  I know everyone who has followed Cutler has been so generous, and we thank you!  If you are still feeling generous and wish to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, please do so through my Team in Training website.  All the money I raise goes to help cure blood disease!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntxok/anchor11/mfricke

Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm.

Melanie

Just a quick update to let everyone know that the congestion appears to be gone.  Like any other cold, at least for me, it sounds like it has now moved to his chest.  But the coughing has reduced and the constant stream of love from his nose appears to be gone.  So life moves back to normal and our worries are at rest.  Next oncology appointment is on Monday morning.  I will post an update with plenty of good news then…including the return of Kobi.  No, she’s not coming back to work, just to freeload enjoy the Texas way of life while she figures out what she wants to do next.  We will be very happy to have our dishwasher dear friend back.

Below is a picture of Kobi and Cutler that I stole from Kobi’s facebook.

Strawberries!  Sunday Cutler’s focus was on blueberries as he packed away a pint in record time.  Yesterday it was bananas as he polished off five throughout the day.  We even had to make a special trip to the grocery story (all before the fever).  Today he was out of control on strawberries as he went through an entire container.  Oh and today his fever is gone and his cough is getting better.  Unlike Mason, Cutler has never lost his appetite when feeling bad and wasn’t really all that needy.  In fact, today he was the model child that was more than happy to hang out and play on his own and allow dad to work and didn’t require Chuggington constantly.  The topping on the cake is that he would let me aspirate his nose without fussing.  So it looks like it is definitely just a cold as the doctor told us, but Monday is his bi monthly oncologist appointment to help put our overly active worrying minds to rest.

Below are a few pictures during one of his strawberry runs…

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

So not long after my last post Cutler spiked a fever up to around 101.  Naturally I overreacted and called the doctor, the pediatrician, and 5 minutes later was picking up Mason from school and heading our way in.  On the way I told Mason there was a chance that we wouldn’t make his soccer game depending on how long and what the doctor said.  Mason, being the incredibly supportive brother he is, didn’t even think twice about it and simply said that is was ok.  So just to keep everyone updated, Cutler was tested for the flu and rsv and both turned out negative.  The doctor thinks it is just some gunk going around this time of year and that he should be fine in a few days.  A couple of the nurses even stopped in and told us it was nothing to worry about and that indeed there is a gunk going around, but to feel free to call them as often as we like and to come in as often as we need.  It warms my heart the support we get from them every time we visit.  Just like today, the nurse was waiting for us as we walked in and we were whisked away.  Cutler is sleeping away and despite a few coughs, seems to be sleeping well.

By the way, Mason did make it to his game and showed more hustle and the most aggressiveness we have ever seen from him in soccer.  He even rang a shot off the inside post.  Coach Brian was nice enough to call it his first goal.  Below is a picture of the two boys while hanging at the doctor’s office.