Three Months!

Look what Georgia got in the mail from the Make-a-Wish Foundation:

It's taken a place of honor on the icebox, and she's ready to start checking off the days!

And speaking of countdowns, our fearless friend, Jenn, is 17 days away from running the Denver Marathon (her first!) in honor of Georgia! She's trying to raise $25 a day until race day, so if you'd consider helping her reach her goal, we'd really appreciate it! Click on her picture in the sidebar to get to her donation page and help support Team in Training's efforts on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Thanks, you wonderfully generous people!

By The Numbers

Every phase of treatment has a “road map” that lays out the schedule of medicines and procedures for that phase, and we now know that even maintenance has one for each of its 85-day cycles. Yesterday, Georgia had her second day surgery for this first cycle (her 14th day surgery overall, for those of you keeping score at home), and we found out that she will have two for each of the first four cycles (on Days 1 and 29), instead of one every three months like we originally thought. Always learning! Again, the two-year countdown to the Big Finish actually begins the first day of the Interim Maintenance phase of treatment, which for Georgia was April 29th. So once she finished the last phase of primary treatment, Delayed Intensification, on August 29th, we were already about four months into that two-year countdown. Make sense? I know. Most importantly, as maintenance is broken up into a series of (roughly) three-month cycles, Georgia’s got about 6 or 7 cycles to go before she is OFF treatment, somewhere around April 29, 2012.

And now that we’ve got all that straight ...

Saturday, October 2nd, is LIVESTRONG Day - the anniversary of Lance Armstrong's cancer diagnosis and a global day of action. Events are taking place around the world to celebrate survivorship and to commit to working towards a world without cancer. Click here to find an event near you, and if you can't attend, at least wear yellow and show your support for the 28 million cancer survivors worldwide. And while you're at it, throw on a little orange or purple, too, and let folks know you're Keepin' Georgia on Your Mind! Thanks, y'all!

Friday "No Report" Report

Well, we thought Georgia had an appointment today for IV medicine, but it turns out, she's due for another day surgery. Whaa - whaa ... (you know that noise, right?) We found out that because she was a Rapid Early Responder (remember that?), she has to have a few more day surgeries than a Slow Early Responder. Seems like it should be the other way around, but if that's what the protocol says, we're happy to do as we're told. So we had to reschedule her appointment to include day surgery on Monday, then we fire up the steroids again for five days, and carry on as we have been. Georgia's feeling great, but she's experiencing some side effects from her medicines, all of which we're keeping tabs on and discussing with her bud, Dr. Neff. It's just part of the ALL Package Deal with Bonus Side Effects, but she is managing everything beautifully.

So, for now, we're holding steady, enjoying the rain, and looking forward to the first weekend of fall. Maybe it will get below 90! : ) Have a good one, y'all!

Luz del Alma

Light of the soul. That's exactly what Ms. Kyla captured in these pictures, I think. She is an amazing photographer - so creative, patient, and kind - and she graciously offered to record this special moment for our family. Please visit her website to enjoy her beautiful work and to schedule your own portrait session - you will love the whole experience. Thank you, thank you, Kyla.

Party Pics

I took so many pictures at the Ice Cream Social, it would take into next week to get them all loaded here - so here's just a quick survey of the scene. Trust me when I say, everyone enjoyed themselves, we served up 100 bowls of ice cream, and we're already planning the next party for when Georgia goes off treatment!

The Amy's-mobile

Georgia and her bud, Ava, and Matt the Ice Cream Wizard

We had a tent and a giant fan in the backyard -
and it was still hot. Thanks, Texas weather.

This guy is everywhere.

Parkside Pals

There are a few more pictures on Georgia's Facebook group page, so head on over there and join. And if you're visiting this page or that one, make sure to leave a comment - even just "Hi!" Georgia loves to hear from you and to know that you've got her on your mind! Thanks, y'all!

Whew!

What a weekend! It seems like we were going non-stop from Friday morning until Saturday night - which was especially surprising since Georgia's hemoglobin was quite low at her appointment on Friday, near transfusion levels, in fact. You never would have known it by looking at her! Amazing what sheer willpower, adrenaline, and a positive attitude can do. So she got the go-ahead to try full days at school, and we'll check her numbers again in two weeks. GO Georgia!

Giving it the Hook 'em Horns for National
Childhood Cancer Awareness Day!

The CureSearch Walk was very inspiring and a great success as well - it raised over $43,000 and counting! Our team page will be up for the next 90 days, so if you haven't made a donation yet, please click on the icon in the sidebar (which we upgraded with an awesome poster from the walk!) and consider helping to fund life-saving research in the fight against childhood cancer.

Pre-game pep talk

Georgia gets a medal from Rep. Lloyd Doggett

The Mighty Peachy Keens

Dr. Neff joined the fun, too!

Georgia and her friends Caitlyn (a leukemia survivor)
and her sister, Nicole - thanks for coming out, girls!

Fresh from her Nutcracker audition,
Ivy cheers on the Peachy Keens

Ice Cream Social re-cap and pictures to follow!

Attention!

Lookin' snazzy

This is your final boarding call for the Peachy Keen Express! Anyone and everyone wanting to walk for a CURE with us on Saturday morning, please click the icon in the sidebar to sign up. And if you'd like to support us with a generous donation, you can do that, too!

Also, please join us for ICE CREAM and all-around CELEBRATING Saturday afternoon!

We're back to the clinic tomorrow for Georgia's two-week count check, but no medicine - yay! Eventually, she'll be going every four weeks, once we get further into this maintenance biz. So far, she is doing excellent, and besides the occasional headache, she's feeling great! Perfect time for a party, I'd say. We hope to see many of you there and THANKS to all of you, near and far, for supporting our girl and keeping her on your minds! Have a great weekend!

Giving Thanks

Today, we're thankful that Georgia is feeling so great, that we have such amazing friends and family, and that we live in Austin, Texas.

One Week Away!

Next Saturday, September 11th, should pretty much be known as Celebrate Georgia Day! The Peachy Keens are doing the CureSearch Walk in the morning, and then all of YOU are coming over for ice cream in the afternoon. What should we do that night? Maybe screen one of this guy's movies?

Wait, what's that on his wrist, Tina Fey?

Yup.

Back to School/Back to Health!

Today, it was Ivy's turn to start school - First Day of First Grade! She was so excited, especially because she moved into Georgia's former classroom with the lovely Ms. Camille! She's very happy to be back at school and THRILLED to have Georgia back at school, too, so it looks like it's going to be a wonderful year!

Up to now, we've always thought of September as Back-to-School Month, but we've recently been made aware that September is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. And now we're all aware, m'kay? And how can we show our collective awareness? By walking for a CURE in honor of Georgia! The Peachy Keens would greatly appreciate your support by having you either join our team for the CureSearch Walk or make a donation to further the Children's Oncology Group's quest for a cure. We're halfway to our team goal, so please click on the link in the sidebar to donate - thanks, y'all!

And don't forget - you're ALL invited* to Georgia's Good Health Ice Cream Social!

Sure, it's gonna be a hot one! But we'll have plenty of Amy's Ice Cream to cool you off and the happiest girl on the planet passing out hugs, so come on over!

*Thanks to Papeterie for the awesome invitations and matching notecards - go check 'em out!