Hello, all. Just an update - we made it to Denver. Mike is in Room 3304 of the BMT (3rd floor) of Presbyterian/St. Lukes on 19th Street. His tel. # is 303/869-1514. He is not feeling well today so please do not call until tomorrow between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm. He does not have restrictions on visitors except no children under 18 and if you have been sick don't come. They put in another port on the opposite side of his chest today and gave him Fentynol so he's out of it - and it's wearing off so his neck and arm are in pain. He will get his chemo dose today, tomorrow and Wed. and then Thurs. is a day of rest and Friday - late evening or early Sat. he will get his transplant. He will be released from the hospital on Monday the 5th to the Staybridge Suites in Cherry Creek. Based upon how he feels is the visitor policy.

My sister flies into town on the 5th and will be taking the caregiver's class w/ me on the 6th.

Brianna developed a fever of 102 last night and I panicked for a minute - but this morning she woke up w/ no fever. I let her stay home from school just to catch up on sleep.

Other than that nothing is going on. I will update later in the week or early next week. Call me before coming to visit please.

Bri's birthday

My baby girl turned 13 yesterday. I remember the day I found out I was pregnant - I was a little scared. She is a little bit sugar and spice and a lot of things nice - a little of Mike and little of me and a whole lot of her! I cannot believe my baby is a teenager - she is in 8th grade.

She invited a bunch of girls to hang out at the mall and back here for a sleepover outside. She had a blast - just the type of birthday party she likes - lots of friends, candy and fun!

Now she's tired and cranky and watching a movie in her room before she falls asleep from exhaustion.

Mike

This is just a short update since most everyone knows. Mike is cancer free as of right now - all reports came back clean. He is scheduled for admission to the hospital on Sept. 20th and be released on Sept. 25 - that is the current plan. He will be living in Denver for a minimum of 100 days which will put us through the New Year.

I am very excited about this but also very apprehensive because it's a huge procedure. It sounds like a walk in the park but it's not. When I get answers from the team I will post them to everyone. My plan (you all know how I love to plan) is to be the primary caregiver during the day and then have someone relieve me for a short time in the evening so I can work and take care of Bri and then go back to Denver for the overnight duties and daytime duties. I'm thinking I'm superwoman enough to do this through the fall and winter. I might need a serious vacation when this is all over but I'll worry about it later.

Bri started her support group and she's made a friend. i was a little concerned b/c all the kids there the first day had a parent who died so I wasn't sure she would be ok. She is settling into school and everyone at the school knows that it might be kind of rocky for her. She will be going on the church retreat in 2 weeks before Mike goes in. My baby is not a baby anymore. She will be 13 on the 25th.

Mason doesn't call very much so I'm not sure how he's handling it if at all. The last time he called was b/c he was out of phone minutes and xbox 360 live minutes. His grades seem to be ok so hopefully Mike will be able to see him graduate in May.

I am as always fine as a fiddle in the rain on Friday! Doing life as life does it. Work is ok - trying to stay ahead of the game so I don't get fired (even though I joke about it every day.) I'm back to running with the dog to lose weight. All is well right now in the Holliday home!