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I loaded these pictures backwards, so bear with the scattered post.
Anthony and I are back home, after 14 months in Seattle!
He will still have monthly maintenance chemotherapy in Seattle for 3 years, and daily chemo at home for that time.
But that doesn't matter, because we can be home!

My Christmas cactus started blooming a few weeks ago.
Andy told me it was blooming, and I was so mad because I figured it would be done blooming by the time I returned.
It's still going!

JASON-Here's Anthony doing the "monkey" for you. :)
Anthony misses playing with you.

CARLOS-Anthony's trying to get you to hold his hand. :)

When we arrived home Friday night, there was an awesome bouquet of balloons on our front porch. I was too tired to get a picture then, and this picture doesn't do them justice.

Thank you, Virginia C., for the great welcome!

The girls and I have been working on making some valentines.

It's been fun working with GLITTER.

Our amazing dog, Penny.

Anthony having fun with his Daddy.

Since being home, I've been organizing and cleaning, although it isn't obvious in the house yet.

I send garbage bags out with the kids regularly. Our recycling can and garbage are overflowing.

Can't wait a couple more days till garbage day.

Penny resting in the sunshine.

My room at the Ronald McDonald House was wonderful, being on the same floor as the parking garage and the kitchens. But, it was dark because it was on the lower level with shadows and foliage outside.

My house is so LIGHT, not being in Seattle, and having so many windows!!

Anthony being somewhat-content while waiting to see his pediatrician at home finally.

He was so fussy, and I was worried. After 30 minutes of questions from the doctor, it finally clicked that Anthony was on steroids, and SHOULD be grumpy for another day or so.

He's content again, and was quite cheerful this morning, actually.

My brain feels quite scattered, trying to mesh our home life with the medical life we half-way left behind last week.

Monday, for our Family Home Evening activity, we played Jenga. It was so fun!

Anthony's first and last real time in Nursery at church.

Our pediatrician said no nursery. So, that was that...

One of our favorite nurses, Tracy.

Tracy did Anthony's labs on our LAST day in Seattle!!

Anthony waiting to see Laura.

Andy got Anthony to fall asleep in the waiting room.

Our friends, Nick and Pam.

Josh in the morning...

Anthony sleeping after a full day of videography.

Anthony is the main child being featured for the Ronald McDonald House Hockey Challenge 2011.

Two weeks ago, he had a photography session. Last week he had a videography all day, and then an interview that afternoon. Watch for a link in the next few weeks. :)
At the Hockey Challenge, Anthony gets to drop the puck!

Andy and I being interviewed.

Caity is the girl in purple.

Caity turned 14 at the RMH.

She has fought cancer for a long time, and hasn't lost her hair!

So, Caity is going to shave her head to raise money for cancer.
PLEASE consider donating and honoring this cancer warrior.

She is awesome!

Anthony with Sarah, his favorite physical therapist in Seattle.

Anthony and Caryn, his favorite speech therapist in Seattle. He's eating his nuk toothbrush and a Dorito, while Caryn is signing "play."

Some random notes/thoughts~

Please don't be offended if we didn't call to announce Anthony's adoption. My brain was and is still overwhelmed with exhaustion, medical terminology, possible symptoms, family logistics, etc.

It still feels like my brain is trying to organize scattered thought fragments.

It is so wonderful to slowly get rid of stuff when the children aren't here to argue the case to hold on to everything in this house!

I'm still trying to "dial 9 to reach an outside line."

I love doing laundry, and being able to let it sit for an extra hour or two in one machine or the other, without worrying that someone is going to extricate it so they can use the machines.

I love having matching dishes, silverware, and having silverware that won't bend when bit.

I still have big fear that hopefully will fade as time goes by, of Anthony relapsing. If he did, we'd have to go back to Seattle for a long time, try to find a bone marrow donor match, and just be miserable. The other night, I had a very vivid dream that both Anthony and I needed bone marrow transplants and I was just CRUSHED since I've seen the hell bmt patients have to endure just to survive.