I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!! We made our trip to Memphis earlier this week and it was quick as usual. Annie came with us and she is always entertaining to bring along. Mac's counts were good, his hemoglobin was back in the 10's and his platelets dropped to about 120,000. Feels a bit like a see saw! But relatively those are good numbers so we are still maintaining the status quo with the medicines. And thankfully we didn't encounter snow during our trip (although Mac & Annie would have loved it!)

Annie had written her letter to Santa early in December and before we mailed it to the North Pole, I read it. Under her list of presents she wanted, she asked Santa to remember the sick kids at St. Jude and bring them lots of presents too. Needless to say, our whole family has been affected by Mac's illness, but it amazes me how it touches children who find out that there are some really sick kids in this world. In fact, when we were there this time, we found out that a family from Mississippi, a Target House neighbor, was back because their little boy's cancer had returned. Ugh. There are so many other words to say, too many really, about the unfairness of it all, but "ugh" is what comes to mind. God has a plan for us all.

Otherwise it's been a relaxing vacation at home for us, and we look forward to ringing in the new year with friends and neighbors down the street, instead of in the Target House! Our new chant is "hemoglobin of 11 in '11"!!!

Here's wishing you a new year full of peace, lots of laughter and good health! I know that's what I'm wishing for!! Thank you for spending the last year and 1/2 with me, and for keeping Mac in your prayers. It's not time to stop praying yet, it never is, but I am thankful we have made it this far!

Happy New Year!!