1st Grade!

We are so happy to report that we had a wonderful, active and healthy summer. Joe is set to begin 1st grade. Soccer starts today and he has insisted he does Flag Football too like his brother. So two boys two fall sports here we go!

We started our summer off in Alaska on a charter cruise with the Oberto family; a cruise we bought at the LLS Auction. We had an amazing time and can't wait to someday return! We had a busy summer with swim team, but really enjoyed all the action at the pool. We spent several weekends at our cabin in Cle Elum and loved every minute of family time and "sleepovers" with friends and extended family. We finished the summer in Priest Lake Idaho and it is what Joe dubbed the "best part of his summer", freedom, independence and the outdoors! He even learned to ride a real four wheeler, quite well I might add, seriously scary to watch, but who could of stopped him?

We continue to receive treatment once monthly at Children's, and keep up with our daily chemotherapy pills throughout the month. Joe's blood work has been "perfect" as our nurse has said time and time again throughout treatment this year. We have been very fortunate to keep the major coughs, colds and flu's away this summer, and are up to the challenge of doing the same throughout this school year. Joe's new teacher Ms. Maloney is ready and willing to help keep our classroom as germ free as possible.

We look forward to reporting in on Joe more frequently as we continue towards our path of healing. We feel so fortunate that we are doing well and on the other side of intense treatments.

Much Love,

They Taylor's

We hope this entry finds everyone happy and healthy fresh into this New Year!  We've gotten started back to school, fresh from Maui!  Re-entry back into school wasn't the easiest this year. With the time change, snow days, extra time off, school was a real shocker, we did much better this week however!

The break started with everyone getting a cough.  We actually really avoided major colds & coughs until mid-December!  (This is definitely attributed to Joe's teacher!)  Joe had us worried a bit, with not only the cough but a low grade fever for several days and bloody noses. We took him in during one of the blizzards and they tested him all up and said he was fit to travel to Maui with no signs of trouble. Unfortunately the cold/cough brought on a rapid ear infection that perforated his eardrum. Initially they didn't think he was going to be able to swim in Hawaii, but then they came up with a plan a swim cap and plugs (no ocean swimming) and he was good to go.  He didn't miss a beat!

Our family very much enjoyed returning to the Taylor Family tradition this year of going to Maui for Christmas Break!  The boys did it all, they could of easily stayed a month!  Joe did all the water slides without fear, and even had a water taxi at his leisure, his 15 year old 6'3 cousin Jake!  Paul was a master body surfer by trips end!  Relaxing and enjoyable all the way around.

Of course there has to be some type of health drama, it appears sensitive gums and teeth during intensive chemo broke down some of Joe's dental health, so while we were away he suffered from a tooth ache.  Come to find out, he's going to need a lot of work, probably on 4 teeth, poor guy.  But again, if this is a side effect from treatment we will gladly get past it and be thankful for the effects that didn't come!

We are all enjoying watching Paul play basketball.  Defender extraordinaire!  Baseball is just around the corner.  Joe is going to be joining his Sacred Heart pals on a Kindergarten machine pitch team, and Paul will be playing his second year of machine pitch with Coaches Dad and PT!

We are hoping to finally complete our cabin next month so we might enjoy it late this Winter and Spring.  It's been a long time in the coming, and we look forward to lots of great family and friends weekends in Roslyn.

Much love to all - 

Kev, Ang, Paul and Joe