That was early morning from the kitchen window; this was late morning from the front porch.

There was *more* snow that afternoon, evening and night. . . .

This is the snow that was (is!) Jan 27/28

Sunday, January 30, 2011 8:44 PM, EST

Daddy and Ally have made it safely to "The Ronald". Reports indicate a very long and boring train ride, with a 20 minute nap. Despite this Ally remained pleasant. At Penn Station, when we get off the train, there is a flight of stairs that needs to be climbed. They are narrow and steep...not an easy climb with a 4 year old, a backpack, the world's heaviest suitcase and hundreds of other people doing the same thing. Ally kept telling Daddy he was doing a good job carrying all of the heavy stuff. She even said he could take a break at the top of the stairs, before heading up to street level (at least there is an escalator there!), she is a sweetie. As soon as they got outside Daddy was able to hail a cab...as soon as they got outside. He mentioned this awesome (oops, I mean radical) moment of cab hailing at least 3 times in the 15 minute conversation I had with him. They got to the Ronald, Ally got a toy (the Wonder Wheel) and settled into their room at the back of the house (the quiet side, away from the street noise!). Ally did another fantastic job at the grocery store and at the dinner the Ronald provided for all of the families. Daddy said today was an awesome...I mean radical...(it's really hard not to use that word, it would be like not using "wicked", here in New Hampshire) day for Ally. He said she is the "Queen of New York". They have already run into some old friends, and Ally is already less shy with people (we told her that when you turn 4 you are no longer shy....I think she actually believes us!). She is such a good girl. I miss them both so much already.

Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:44 AM, EST


Happy Birthday Ally!

We are headed to the train station soon. Ally is having a fun 4th birthday so far!
She is anxious to get going to New York. She's the best!!!

Friday, January 28, 2011 6:44 PM, EST

Ally and Daddy are off to New York on Sunday. Tomorrow we will celebrate Ally's birthday with a cake, some gifts and a visit to a friend's house (mommy and daddy's friend...but whose keeping track? At least they have a brand new baby to entertain Ally!).
Someone from the New York office called. It turns out they are "overbooked" for 3f8 next week. This means Ally is on the afternoon schedule. It should start around noon, instead of 8:00. We are not sure what this will mean, as, in the past Ally would kind of snap out if it around 5 or 6, just in time for dinner. Daddy is confident he will figure it out. Thankfully, Auntie Kelly will be joining him half way through the week!
The injections we have to give Ally are causing her huge welts at the injection site. We have to give her benadryl every 4 hours to keep them under control. She has been very sleepy the past couple of days. Luckily they are not bothering her too much.
That's about it for now. I will update at some point on Monday or Tuesday.

PS: Ally does not like the word "Awesome," she prefers "Radical."

Monday, January 24, 2011 6:44 PM, EST

Ally is doing great! She woke up on Saturday morning and returned to her normal self. We gave her some regular Tylenol just a couple of times that day, and she has not needed any since. She is easing her way back into crunchy foods, and as a special treat we went to the Olive Garden for dinner tonight. She LOVES the cheese they put on everything! She even got a second helping of cheese on her pasta tonight.

Ally only has 2 days of preschool this week, and then, on Sunday Daddy and Ally head to New York for round four of 3f8.

We would like to say a special thank you to Ally’s Mommy’s side of the family. Their generous gift help offset the cost of this surgery, as we don't have dental insurance. Thank you so much. Ally's teeth and our peace of mind are indebted to you until the Tooth Fairy comes (which someone told Ally brings you $50 a tooth....WHAT?)

This is what I saw. Click this title for the pic. I've asked for permission to use it. I hope he lets me.

The lady, falling, ringed
in rainbow, laced round with cloud
still bright
waning, gibbous, and
makes like the snow glow
luminous

the snow fawns
still lying along the
river in the night

Keen brittle air
moving with me as I moved
and remembered, once again
that you are far away
and how I hurt to have you here
in my bed as well as in my heart

Hurry home

jjl
22 January 2011

Friday, January 21, 2011 2:14 PM, EST

We are home. Everything went well. The doctor was able to save all of Ally's teeth. The front ones have white caps on them, and the back ones are covered in silver crowns. She is swollen and in pain, but luckily we have some good pain meds left over from NYC that the doctor said we could use. She is also cranky. Before her surgery she charmed so many people that we came home with THREE extra toys. Everyone loves her!!
Off to find some soft foods for her. Have a great weekend.

Thursday, January 20, 2011 9:04 AM, EST

Tomorrow we head to Manchester for Ally's dental surgery. She still has a bit of a cough and a runny nose. Please pray everything goes smoothly tomorrow. The most nerve wracking part is that the procedure is taking place at a different hospital with doctors we don't know and don't know us. It was a funny (on my side at least) conversation with the nurse who called up to get Ally's medical history. I asked her if I could just give her the high points...it was still a 15 minute conversation.

We have to be there at 6:15 tomorrow morning. The procedure begins at 7:30. I will update when we get home.

silence, and pecan trees in January in Louisiana

minou

The Gandhi History Museum

leaving history to a place as relic
in the museum of old thought
brings the end times into a glass case
alongside communism

sweeping the floor a janitor might muse
what thought might be encased next
in the now empty case where
transparency escaped to wikileaks
servers in the culture of now
and immediacy of outrage

coming next the schoolchildren
in the museum tours
writing papers on this field trip
and they all write
about the "nothing" (if they haven't left
for the street demonstration
to practice non-violent action)

By Phil Specht on Jan 16, 2011

Saturday, January 15, 2011 3:43 PM, EST

Today we went sledding again! Ally had a good time [more below] ...

Here is Ally with Grampa...

On Friday Ally will have her dental surgery. All of her past cancer treatments have caused her teeth to decay. The plan is to X-Ray her mouth, once she has been knocked out, and then proceed from there. They are going to scrape away all of the decay and then cap all 20 of her teeth. It should take 2-3 hours for this surgery. The procedure will prevent her teeth from becoming infected and thus, help keep her adult teeth healthy. Ally has the sniffles and a little cough, please pray these go away soon, and do not complicate her surgery on the 21st.

So, can Spring be far behind?

Strumminmysixstring

Christina Taylor Green



Brave home

you need not stand as you weep ...

lie on the grave of a child now free

of your insanity

and let her jump

in your puddle of tears.



Having long lost our innocence

banner striped in blood

there in our flag, our anthem

Dear Country

Lay down your arms

if your heart be so dark

as to kill a child.



By Phil Specht on Jan 9, 2011

Friday, January 7, 2011 8:01 AM, EST

One year ago today Ally had surgery.
This surgery put Ally in remission.

Ally has been in remission for 1 year!

Thursday, January 6, 2011 9:20 PM, EST

We just got a call from the NH medical center.

Bone Marrows are clean!!!

We are having a great few weeks here!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:21 PM, EST

I got a call from NYC today. Turns out...Ally is HAMA negative! Wow...and her blood draw is tomorrow...they can now see into the future! (Actually, when we were up at DHMC last week for scans they drew a HAMA and sent it off....but never told us.)

Anyway, Daddy and Ally will be traveling to NYC on Ally's birthday and she will get her fourth round of 3f8. Happy Birthday to Ally. Kind of a stinky present, as it is a very painful week for Ally, but she should be recovered from her dental surgery by then, and moving forward with treatment is the best thing.

So, our upcoming dates:
January 21: Dental Surgery
January 29: Mommy, Daddy and Ally have birthday cake
January 30: Ally's Birthday/Travel to NYC day
January 31-February 4: 3f8
Sometime in February: Ally's Birthday Party

Ally is a little upset about having to go to NYC, and very upset that it messes up her birthday party/cake. We thought it best to wait until we get back to do her party, as it would be mean to give her a party and then make her keep all her gifts at home and travel to NYC the day after. We compromised and said we could have cake before we left and a party when we get back.

New Moon on January 4 at 4:03 a. m. EST

First sunrise, new year, Yonkers. 1-1-11

Ralfo