'Tis the Season!

On December 17, Sol and I packed lunch and had it at school with Tala and then Moody. They were both very pleased that we did and it made their day. I'm sorry that Mom and Dad didn't get to do that. It was the plan, but then they left quickly and didn't have time to do it.

December 18th was the Holiday Program at school. The kids were all excited. We got synopsis here and there of what's in the program by them rehearsing at home. What we didn't know is that Moody was doing a monologue, Santa's my Buddy! He did awesome!

And It was the Rigney's annual Christmas caroling party on December 21st. It was nice to see them and see the now familiar crowd again.

We have been visiting friends the last couple of nights. Kind of reconnecting after a long time of almost no contact. It was a nice change, especially of the mood. Today, Nick et. al are arriving from Canada for the weekend. We are all waiting anxiously.

On Monday, the 29th, I start on the second cycle of chemo with radiotherapy. The cycle will last 5 weeks with daily radiotherapy sessions and chemo dispensing through a pump 24 hours a day. The last cycle was awful and took me 2 weeks to recover after the last dose of chemo. They tell me the side effects to this one would be milder, but I keep thinking how could they if it's for 5 weeks! Wish me luck.

The holiday tree is up and lit with some gifts under it. Santa will drop by on New Year's Eve with more gifts. Yeepie!

Best wishes for a merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009!

!

From Tala's Teacher

From: Mrs. A
To: dregias
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 11:52:10 AM
Subject: Tala

I just wanted to let you know that Tala seems to be having a hard time with her grandparents leaving. She seemed sad this morning and when I talked to her about it she started crying and said "everyone is leaving me. My house used to be full and now it's not. And Moody has been mean lately." I suggested that she color a picture for her grandparents and mail it to them.

Playing Go Fish!

Not to tell you what to do, but some ideas could be to continue writing to her grandparents, brother and sister, and talk to them on the phone if possible. Also, Tala could have a friend over or go to a friends house some day after school to give her things to look forward to...again, just suggestions.

Thanks,
A

A Hole in The Family!

Another goodbye before 2009 dawns on us!

Mama and Baba left yesterday, Sunday. They had stayed with us a little over two months. That was very nice of them and a lot to ask for. Their visit was much needed and their help was tremendous. Mama was an angel sent from heaven. She took care of the kids, cooked, cleaned, did the laundry, gave me massages--really took care of me and my family. We all have lots of wonderful memories with them despite the circumstances.

Tala is so sad. "There's a hole in our family," she and Moody keep saying. To me, it felt like the house has ghosts, after we came back from the airport. Oh, it hurts! {sigh}

On a positive note, Sol stayed home today. I went for a blood draw and then we visited The Wellness Community and I did a yoga class there. It was very uplifting and refreshing. I'll be going to more classes.

Now, I'm going to watch some video with my little angel Lalla before her bedtime. Tomorrow is another day...

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Happy-White-Eid!

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Email from Tala's Teacher

From: Mrs. A.
To: dregias
Sent: Friday, December 5, 2008 10:12:55 AM
Subject: Tala

Mr. and Mrs. Dregia,

Tala has been expressing sadness about her brother and sister leaving. I suggested she write to them. She brought in a letter and card today for them. I was wondering if it was ok with you if I mailed it. If this is ok, could I please have an address to send the card and letter to?

Thanks,

Mrs. A.

Tala Misses Them Two!

Tala misses Anas and Jana a lot, expressing that in notes and paintings. She has a bunch of them taped to the wall in her room and I find them everywhere in the house. I wish they two know how much she loves them!

I started chemo yesterday. I go to the clinic, receive it through the IV in the mediport and come back home. So far, it's the nausea that's bothering me. Well, it's only 2 days now. We plan to take the kids one of those days so they would see it's not a painful thing to have. Tala has been repeating, "I'm sad my Mom has cancer."

Baba has been talking about going back to Libya soon, after Eid. I wanted them to stay till at least mid January. Finally, I reached a compromise with him that they will not leave before the 22nd. This way they will see the Nut Cracker with us, the Holiday Party at school, and the Rigney's Christmas Caroling.

In the conversation my father said that he just now sees the kids as grandchildren. He said, "I didn't have that connection with them in the beginning." I was thinking about that myself. Just like we needed to build that family tie with Anas and Jana, my parents and Mody and Tala needed the time to build and acknowledge their tie. It's a blessing that they have. We have more memories now. We have had so much rich memories this year than any other time. I am thankful for that!

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