Since my last post (was it really as long ago as November...?) we have had:

• An amazing, unforgettable Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland (Dec 08);
• Lots of Cabin time;

• Another blessedly clear MRI (February 09); and
  
• Gianni's port removed (March 09) ["Hey, where did my tubie go?"].

Some pretty big milestones and she continues to thrive. She attends physical therapy once a week, but her real therapy is play-time at preschool. Although her birthday (Dec 02) is the actual cut-off for enrollment in kindergarten at Brisbane Elementary ("must be 5 years old on or before Dec 02"), we have signed her up. Mostly on the recommendation of her preschool teachers and just watching her mixing it up with her peers. Having an older brother around (especially one as extraordinary as Bruno [a bit biased, I know]) has always pushed Gianni to be a bit more mature - she won't tolerate the concept that "he" might be able to do things that she can not. We also have a good friend who will be in this years group of kindergartners, it will be fun for the two of them to be together. For now, we will just wait and see....

"...pushing Gianni to be a bit more mature..."

The hair fairy has been working overtime, I have had more than one person comment to me, "Oh isn't that a cute style, it must be much easier keeping her hair short like that...". It's those small things that make me so very grateful and humbled by how lucky we are to have this time.


The kids and I have abandoned Tony to visit my parent's farm in Kentucky for a week. Sheep, lambs, horse, dog, chickens... and no kidding, my dad actually planned the incubation of a few dozen chicken eggs so that we would have baby chicks to coincide with our visit (and chicken salad to coincide with their July 4th picnic!). Too cute.

"Gianni, stop playing with your food." - Tony

Although I've not updated in a while, we are all so grateful for your good wishes and prayers.

Our path forward is called "surveillance" - that means no treatments, just MRIs every three months (for four years). The next one is scheduled for the last week in May. I will keep you posted!