One Month to Go!

On December 29th, we'll be on our way to Florida for Georgia's Make-a-Wish trip! We've been making plans and reservations, but we know there will be some surprises in store for her as well, and we're all looking forward to a wonderful time.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of medically-eligible children across the country, began in 1980 with the granting of a 7-year-old leukemia patient's wish to be a police officer. Today, the Foundation invites children to make their one true wish to Be Something, Have Something, Go Somewhere, or Meet Someone, and, through generous contributions and special fundraising events, grants a child's wish every 40 minutes. Click here to find out how you can support this special organization.

Because Georgia chose to go to Disneyworld, we'll be staying at a most incredible place called Give Kids the World. This resort, and all-around fantasyland, opened in 1989, thanks to an inspiring hotelier with a mission to provide memorable, magical, and cost-free experiences to medically-eligible children and their families. Guests stay in specially-equipped villas and cottages and are treated to things like Christmas every Thursday and ice cream for breakfast, as well as tickets to Central Florida's best theme parks. Just fun, fun, fun! Through partnerships with Make-a-Wish and other organizations, Give Kids the World has hosted more than 100,000 families from all 50 states and over 70 countries. Many moons ago, I worked for a restaurant that was fundraising to help build a villa at the GKTW Village, and now, we may actually be staying in it! If you'd like to help welcome more kids to GKTW, click here - they even have opportunities for "voluntourism," where you spend time during your Florida vacation volunteering at the Village - pretty cool!

After all that Georgia and Ivy both have been through this last year, I can't imagine a more perfect place to celebrate Georgia's birthday, the one-year anniversary of her diagnosis, and our 13th wedding anniversary. So, to Mickey and friends, we'll see ya REAL soon!

Give Thanks

We have so much to be thankful for, including the love and support we've received from all of you. Happy Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

100th Post!

Somehow, we've written 100 posts for this here blog - which one is your favorite? It's hard to choose, but I think the one where we celebrated Georgia's remission has to be the best! : ) Until we post that she's off treatment, that is! Y'all just keep reading, and we'll keep writing.

Georgia's LP-ITC on Thursday went very well, and her counts were so good, she doesn't have to go back for four weeks. For another LP-ITC, of course, but still - progress! This time, her "note" to Dr. Neff was 15 hash marks drawn on her back for each of her previous day surgeries (which doesn't include her first Bone Marrow Aspiration, so, technically 16 procedures since December 31st), and she wore those marks like badges of honor. When it was over, she was ready for a popsicle and to GO HOME. I'm happy to say, she didn't have any back pain, headaches, or nausea, so she pretty much bounced back in an instant. Is she awesome or what?

Friday, we saw the new Harry Potter movie - which we loved! - and Saturday, we were given tickets to the UT game. The weather was perfect, the seats were great, and the Horns won, so it was a wonderful afternoon:

And out on the Pacific coast this weekend, my dear friend, Jeannie, and her team of Jug Band All Stars, fought the elements and walked in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure in San Diego - oh, and raised over $50,000 for breast cancer research! They had some additional inspiration, too:

Thanks, girls - you rock! And so does our girl! Here's to the next 100 posts!

One Down, Five (or Six) to Go

Georgia has completed the first 85-day cycle of maintenance! Now we start the second cycle tomorrow with her 15th day surgery, IV medicine, and the ever-popular steroids! She's been tolerating everything very well so far, with only the occasional headache and some minor gait issues. Her stamina level isn't back to "where it was," but that's to be expected, and it really hasn't slowed her down that much. Part of the LIVESTRONG mantra is "attitude is everything," and after watching Georgia greet each day with a smile, I can tell you that it's absolutely true!

We've got some plans for the weekend - we have to celebrate the end of Cycle 1, doncha you know - and hopefully, our girl will feel up to it all. For now, we really appreciate all of your well-wishes, prayers, and support, and we hope you'll continue to keep Georgia, and all the other survivors out there, on your mind. Thanks, y'all!

Super Sister

Ivy is participating in a wonderful program for siblings of kids in treatment called Super Sibs. She eagerly anticipates her monthly letters and emails of encouragement, plus the occasional package containing special treats like a Super Sib pillowcase. She takes great pride in her trophy and bead necklace and decided to incorporate them into her annual birthday picture this year.

As hard as Georgia has worked throughout her treatment, Ivy has held her hand and supported her every step of the way, and we are so very proud of her. Thank you, Super Sibs, for recognizing and celebrating these amazing children and their own unique journeys.

To learn more about this important program, which was recently awarded Community Impact project funding from LIVESTRONG, please visit their site here.

Make Change, Beat Cancer

Announcing the kick-off of the 2010-11 school year's Pennies for Patients campaign! Over the past 14 years, through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's School and Youth Program, kids from across the country have raised over $100 million to further LLS's mission to find a cure for blood cancers. Yes, 100 MILLION DOLLARS - one penny at a time. Schools participate in three-week long fundraising drives, collecting change and earning incentives like pizza parties, while doing their part to help kids like Georgia beat leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. If you'd like to bring Pennies for Patients to your school, contact your local LLS chapter here, or email us!

And you might recognize the poster girl for the Austin chapter's campaign ...

What Georgia Did This Weekend

Made a tote bag at The Stitch Lab

Worked her brain

Laughed her buns off at Megamind

And what did you do?

Happy November!

We've been so busy celebrating Halloween, followed by Trevor's birthday on Monday, this week has just flown by. Not to mention this year! And while we were eating candy and cake, our dear Dianna was running the Marine Corps Marathon (her first!) in Washington, D.C.! She worked so hard, we're very excited for her - and Will was there to cheer her on to the finish line.

While she's been training with Team in Training, she didn't fundraise for this event, BUT she IS still fundraising for the Dallas Whiterock Marathon in December! Click on her picture in the sidebar if you want to help her support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's incredible efforts in research and patient services. Thank you, Dianna and Will, for running with Georgia on your mind!

We're back to the clinic tomorrow and then looking forward to a three-day weekend. Gotta get those Thanksgiving decorations up, don't you know?!

Also, stay tuned for some very special announcements - coming soon!