An update on Mom

Ok, so it's been a LONG while since I've gotten on here and posted something. As most of you know, I (Tita) write this blog for my mom. And if you didn't know well then SURPRISE, it's me. I have been traveling a lot with my job and have not had a chance to update this. My sincerest apologies if you have been visiting this site regularly and have not seen anything new! Mom should really give me a raise...

Let me begin by saying, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We spent Christmas at home for the first time EVER in my life. For 28 years we traveled to Laredo for Christmas and this was the first time we stayed in McAllen. It was weird not being with the Laredo clan but we thought the travel and Christmas hype would be too exhausting for mom since the doctor had just told us that she was very anemic. The doctor said all of her blood levels and counts were low; but he was not concerned because that is what chemo does to you. If her counts were high then he would have to adjust the chemo and give her a higher dosage. Mom cringed at the sound of that. Because her levels are low, she feels tired all the time - but that is completely normal and ok. This is the cause for the occassional ups and downs.

On the 24th we went to mass and then spent the evening at Tia Sarita's house. Sari and I cooked an eloborate Italian dinner - complete with sausage/peppers/potatoes, mushroom raviolis in a pesto sauce, caprice salad, and mom's favorite eggplant parmigiana. We ate, opened presents, laughed at Tio Salvador pretending to be Santa Clause with Valeria, and were home in bed by 11. Christmas Day was relaxing as everyone showed up to our house in comfy clothes and sat at the table to gorge on a delicious Mexican buffet. Mom was tired but was able to enjoy most of the day with everyone. I flew back to NJ for New Years and mom spent it at home relaxing with Tito (Tito is our dog. Named by my father, after me, because he was a mischevious little puppy - and cute).

So 2010 blew in full force! At the stroke of midnight, I opened my front door to say farewell to 2009 and welcome in 2010. I ate my 12 grapes and drank my champagne, reciting a wish for every grape I not so graciously shoved in my mouth (I finished my grapes in record time). As I recited my wishes in my head, I went through the usual - 1. get healthy, 2. loose weight, 3. make more money, 4. be a better person, 5. Mom to get better, 6. Mom to get better, 7. Mom to get better, 8. Mom to get better, 9. Mom to get better, 10. Mom to get better, 11. Mom to get better, AND 12. Mom to get better! And guess what...2010 was listening to me! Mom is getting better!!! Her tumor mark test came back at 45 (it was at 378) and her doctor couldn't feel anything abnormal in her pelvic area. Which means...CHEMO IS WORKING!!! Halleluiah! Thanks to your prayers and strength we are going to get through this.

So the game plan from here on out...
Two more chemo football games are left and then two championship rounds of radiation. Mom chooses to tailgate with a Whataburger-Whataburger junior with cheese, toasted bun, only mayo/no mustard, extra pickles, and chopped jalapenos. And with the free gift cards Trey gave her for Christmas, she will have plenty of tailgating food.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. No words will ever be able to describe the gratitude I have for all of your love and support. I will update everyone soon on mom's progress...