3 years!

I can't believe it has been 3 years (and one day) since I posted on here. Life happened, and happen it did. Here are the major events in the last 3 years:

In cancer news: My mom's cancer came back in full force in 2012 and had now appeared in her brain, femur, liver, and I can't remember where else. By now it's also in her breast and pancreas. She had radiation therapy for the brain tumors (8 of them) that have now stopped growing, which is the best we can hope for. She's gone through many different chemotherapy treatments and many very rough months when we didn't think she would make it. She could barely eat, keep any food down, or get out of bed. The treatments either weren't stopping the tumor growth or were so harsh on her weakened body that she couldn't continue them. Thanksgiving 2012 was spent in the emergency room with pancreatitis. We got the crushing, but ultimately false, news that the cancer had spread some more and that my mom had weeks to live. After 2 weeks of anguish her oncologist delivered news that weren't as grim as the ER had made them out to be. I don't like to revisit how low 2012 ended. We just weren't sure how for how much longer we'd have my mom there with us. Fast forward to 2013 when my parents moved to Boston and they finally found a treatment that is both working (as in, the tumors have stopped growing) and enabling her to live a somewhat normal life. They have since moved to Pennsylvania, but my mom continues to go up to Boston every two weeks for treatment... for now, anyway. 

In work news: I changed companies, but they were luckily still very flexible with my work location, and I was able to travel to San Francisco a ton in 2012. My boss fully supported the "family first" concept and was beyond understanding. Also luckily, we have amazing extended family who also came to help throughout the year. We couldn't have done it without them, both for the logistical and moral support. 

In love news: About a month after my last post, I went on a first date with Brian thanks to my friend and his wife who set us up knowing we'd be a good match. Amazing insight I'd say, since they're now my brother-in-law and sister-in-law (Brian is his brother, in case that was hard to follow). Brian and I moved in together after 8 months of dating, got engaged 6 months later, and married 3 months after that. Until I met Brian, I never fully understood or believed the "when you know, you know" saying. I thought maybe I was a little denser than most and might never just know. Or I just might never find someone who would be a good match. In the midst of all the cancer craziness, it was nice to have this constant low-grade anxiety relieved by having found him. At least I knew that I wouldn't also have to be lonely in addition to everything that was going on. A life partner is a very nice person to have!

In family news: I got a new niece in September 2012 and she's a joy! And of course, I got a whole new family in May 2013 and my in-laws are wonderful. They're a big family and such a pleasure to be around. I lucked out once again. Brian and I are growing our own family too and expecting a baby boy in February. Earlier this year, we moved and bought a house. Many life events in the last 3 years!

Thanksgiving is a time when a lot of people reflect on what they're thankful for, especially on Facebook. I admit that I sometimes roll my eyes when I see the posts because I think we should be thankful year-round. And yet, I can't help but think back on the last 4 Thanksgivings and feel thankful. In 2010, we were in San Francisco and my mom was in recovery from major lung surgery. We thought we were done dealing with cancer - one doctor said he was 99% sure it wasn't coming back. In 2011, my mom was well and my parents traveled to NJ where we had a lovely Thanksgiving hosted by my sister. In 2012, we were in SF, I was accompanied by my live-in boyfriend, and things were looking very grim after several cancer-battling months and spending most of the day in the ER. In 2013, with my husband by my side, we were at my sister's in-laws in NJ with my mom weak but okay. In 2014, we will be in Pennsylvania, with a baby on the way and things looking a bit brighter than they have in a while. We've had a lot of ups and downs in the last 4 years, but I am so grateful and lucky to have the life I have. I can't help but jump on the thankful bandwagon, even if it's cliché and so predictable for this time of year. But then again, is it really a bad thing to remember what you have to be thankful about? No, I don't think so. Not bad at all.