Well hello people!!! Did the Big Fella bring you all you wanted? He did here in the main I’m happy to say, just to have spent it with the kids was enough this year, and to top it all off I got a chocolate orange ;) I did find it very emotional though, might not come as a surprise to some! Doesn’t take much these days I suppose.

Right, to pick up from where I left off last time.......check up at Alder Hey went well. Cerys has lost some weight though, so we’re trying to build her up even more by pushing the food ever so gently, and giving her more than the usual bagful overnight, feels like I’ve got a newborn to get up and feed when I’m stumbling to put up a new bag of milk at 1am!! Apart from that, she’s still doing well, and they’ve reduced her anti-rejection even more. At this rate, we’ll be off it completely in another 5 weeks, and they talked about having her lines removed then, however, I’m not convinced she’ll be ready for the gastro peg to come out, as at the moment, we’re supplementing her with nearly a thousand calories daily. I cannot wait for that time she comes out of theatre though, and I can give her a big huge squeezy hug, without fear of hurting her or catching a line in over 8 months =) =) =) They’re also going to do another bone marrow biopsy that day too, whilst she’s under, so they’ll have a better idea of what’s going on, would be good to get some positive signs of nice healthy bone marrow for 2010 please!! She has done well over the holidays though, little bit of dry skin and dodgy tummy, but it’s certainly not stopped her. We’re back again on the 4th January.

I am so so so pleased with the pictures from the photographer, he’s done a really good job. Here’s my favourite. Apologies for the poor quality, but I don’t have a scanner, will have to ask Mam if she could give it a try for me.


And some pics from Santa at the Buckley.....



Right, the main event!!!! Kids got themselves in a crackin tizz, and I don’t think Iwan’s eyes have ever shut so tightly as they did when I put him in bed on Christmas Eve! They slept until gone eight in the morning however, but that meant they had super energy for the day!!!! Both were spoilt rotten, thanks to all for the gifts, cards and best wishes for them both xx
New PJ's for Christmas Eve....


The kids go some new coats from Matthew and Liza, and Cerys looked so pretty and healthy in hers, couldn't help but shed a tear, but a happy one.

We went to Grandma's for Boxing day, think the kids were a bit tired and overwhelmed though, and wanted to keep themselves to themselves, so we tried figuring out Iwan's new DS game....well the kids did!!!

The three sisters made light work of Grandma's trifle......wonder how much they'll shout at me for this!!

And a very grown up looking Cerys in her new Hannah Montana clothes =)

Loads more pics but won't bore with you them all!! We're having a lazy day today, kids playing shop at the moment with the new Cherry Blossom Store Nain and Taid bought them, although I'm tempted to kick them out into the garden in a mo and watch the Dr Who special I still havent seen *cackles* Anyone want the last Quality Street????

Just a Sunday night quickie.....

to tell you the pics turned out fabulous! I am so pleased with them, the photographer got some really good shots, and I pick up some of the ones i've chosen on Wednesday *woohoo!* Mam and Dad have also said they'd buy me a canvas print of the kids as a Christmas pressie too, but that won't be ready until after the new year. I adore my pics, and it feels like some sort of closure to the year (sorry to get all psychobabbly on people!) to have proper pictures of both children healthy (touch wood) and mainly, smiling, and happy =) probably doesn't make sense at all, but I know what I mean!! Don't know how I can manage it, but I'll try and post some on here when I get them on Wednesday.

Saturday also went well....one of the presenters from the local radio station here on Anglesey had arraged for Cerys to visit a Grotto and see Santa, and both her and Iwan loved it!! Any one local should definately try and go to the Buckley Hotel in Beaumaris, the staff were so good,the Elf in particular, and I think Santa shed a little tear...soppy old sausage he is!!!!! Anyhow, the pictures are on Mam's camera, so will try and get hold of them this week too. In the meantime, I have to do an interview on the radio tomorrow morning YIKES!!!! It'll be a challenge on a Monday morning anyhow!

Back to clinic in the morning, lots of cards to deliver, and best wishes for 2010 for many friends still there. Hopefully the snow will be kind and it won't take the three of us all day!!! Happy Sunday to everyone, much kisses x

Where does the time go?!!!

Hello world, just popping my head out of the bubble to update again =)

Hope the children and I find everyone happy and healthy, so many colds and bugs going around at the moment, I'm wondering if this isolation thing is the way forward ;) although I sure could do without the swine flu jab yearly!!
Freezing here too, think winter has well and truly set in, although we've had a few nice crisp days where we've been able to get out for a walk and some fresh air.

Health wise we're still doing well, Iwan seems to be growing and growing, and learning and learning. Need to seriously think about putting him back in school after Christmas I think. Cerys is still doing well, weight was down ever so slightly, not enough to be concerned about. They reduced her anti-rejection further, and this has meant some Graft - versus - Host, which they warned us about, but so far it's not overly bothering her, just some dry skin and few aches. The aches aren't stopping her really, she's still zooming around the place, and she was used to eczema before chemo, so a slight version now is a drop in the ocean to her, although chemo seems a bit drastic to cure it!! We're hoping the GVH is a good thing, and will hopefully see off any persistant cancer cells, not that they found any, but it'd be a double-double safety if you like, so we're more than happy to put with it for a few weeks.

Right, what have we been up to........OUR TREE IS UP!!!!!!!!!!! Although in true Bryn Ifor style, that was a drama in itself!!! Jon couldn't find our old one (no, of course he hasn't misplaced it!) so I had to make a last minute dash to buy one, whilst everyone else was disinfecting the baubles!! We finally made it anyhow, and it looks very nice even if i do say so myself =) however, a couple of weeks in, and all the chocolate decorations have vanished somewhere.....probably with the old tree somewhere ;)





Now as we're in isolation still, we've not been able to go and see any decorations anywhere, or even make a visit to any of the Santa's grottos around here. I was feeling a bit down in clinic the other week, and telling my good friend Liz this, but looking at the positive as always, it's only for a year, and well worth the sacrifice. You can then imagine the delight when she rang me to say she had arranged a day at a local (to them!) childrens centre, where they could make christmas crafts,play in the sports hall (it's been months since they were alowed in soft play!!) and she'd even arranged for Father Christmas himself to be there!!!So on Tuesday morning, I put two curious children in the car (hadn't told them where wewere going) and we headed off to www.chilrensadventurefarmtrust.org where the lovely Jenny was waiting for us. We visited some animals, made some christmas decorations(now some of my most treasured possessions) played in the ball pools, bouncy castle, danced in the party room, put on a show, and saw Santa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was pure magic, and I got extremely emotional seeing them both just being normal children, and having fun, running around and getting excited. I was expecting Iwan to be nervous of seeing Father Christmas, but he waltzed inand talked him to sleep I think!!! He didn't quite get the idea that the gift he received wasn't the only one he'dget, so was upset there wasn't a safripark in there, but think he gets it now! We really had the most magical day, the staff were amazing,and I can never thank them enough. The smiles on their faces say it all =)







This is our wonderful friend Liz who organised it all...

the man himself.....

and it left them both shattered,so they tried a snooze in the relaxing light therapy room...

Anyhow, that's basically it for now....we're having haircuts later as Nain has booked us a portrait session for tommorow, which I'm looking forwards to, although choosing the pictures will probably take me most of the afternoon!

A few friends are having a tough time at the moment, and I wish I could make it better for them. Sometimes life isn't fair, and I still haven't figured out why, but hugs to those who need them, and phone is always on.

Will be back before Christmas, as I hope to have nice pictures to share, and possibly some nice news about Saturday too ;)

IIIIIIIIT'S CHRIIIIIIIIISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

Well nearly anyhow! It's finally December and time to think about Christmas already. As "unusual" as this year has been, I can't believe we're here already, and can't believe the year we've had. Still undecided as to whether it was a horrific year, or a wonderful one!The optimist in me will call it wonderful I guess?! And besides, onwards and upwards to Christmas........

I've started Christmas shopping, kids have given us a surprisingly short list each, and I'm not convinced Iwan realises he can more than one gift, so he'll be quite happy with the safari park he wants then ;) Tree isn't up yet, but we've neglected the Sunday Roast of late as my Mam has started a new job that involves her working on a Sunday. However, she's off this weekend, so we will put the decorations up whilst Nain and Taid are here to help ;) I have also tried to think of a good alternative to going out to a grotto to see the big fella himself, and my friend recommended a website where you can get personalised video messages, so will show them that on sunday too =)

Health wise, Cerys is doing grand, still looking better (you wouldn't believe the hair now! it's beautiful!) and gaining weight. She still has the overnight feed, but there is a drastic changein her appetite, and she's grazing more or less all day long. Costing me a fortune, and I'm forver making a sarnie or warming up some soup, but it's so worth it to see her looking so well, and enjoying to eat once again =) The consultants have decided she's doing so well in fact, that they've reduced her dose of anti-rejection. This has meant that we've had a little bit of skin problem because of the graft-versus-host peeping through, but this is a gradual reaction we were hoping for, to hopefully prevent the Big-L coming back, to zap it once and for all!!! She's not at all bothered by it though, and is going from strength to strength. Iwan is also doing good, completely out of nappies, so no more babies in this house!! He's even trying to pinch her DS which causes arguements, but it's all good =)

That's about it for now, I'm aware I don't want to bore people with too many pics or stories of craft activity, our schedule is pretty repetative at the moment,but once the anti-rejection has finished, that should be more relaxed apparently. huge congratulations to our good friend Abbi, who's chimerism results came back as 100% donor - just the news we wanted!

Huge hugs and cuddles to everyone, speak soon x