Ben's growing, life's flowing--Still in Remission

Since the last post, grandson Ben has grown larger, sweeter, and cuter. He looks like his mom when she was a baby, but has his dad's blue eyes. The Saniuk family wasn't able to join the 3 of us and Neil for Christmas due to weather. They were here for New Year's Day and Anne and Ben were able to stay for a week. Craig and I loved spoiling Ben and changing diapers was even OK.

When Scott came to take them home, he brought my mother. She hadn't met Ben yet. It was a short, but joyful visit.

Craig has his ups and downs, but works through them. The biggest down is needing a root canal. If the weather cooperates, which is unlikely, we'll drive to Sioux Falls for the dental work on Feb. 9. We hope the elimination of the persistent infection, despite 3 antibiotics, lets him increase his strength.

Craig is taking another year off from Destination Imagination. That's difficult because he enjoys seeing the kids compete and benefit from the program. ( Gail told me to do this, and I agreed. My caretaker, also known as wife, tells me what to do, and I do it. She knows me better than I know myself, so I really need to follow her instructions. I am fortunate to have her, and her instructions are always worthwhile and need to be followed. I told her, however, that there are just times when I don't give her the opportunity to voice her opinion or tell me what to do. That way I do miss some instructions, if I can figure out when they are coming and act before she gives the instruction!!!!! ;-) )

Craig remains in remission and we hope that will last for many years. We head to Mayo Clinic in early April for the yearly check-up and the dreaded baby shots. Ben really hated his a few weeks ago and let his parents know it.

Carl is still on break from Taco John's. He's able to hang out with his friends more at day services at Oahe, Inc. and he still works a couple afternoons a week at Holiday Inn Express. He's taken over more of the cooking, baking bread, and it's his job to shovel the front driveway. He's great at all of those. We read together every night and he's watching the Jane Austen miniseries on PBS with me.

From my typing errors I can tell it's time for bed. Stay safe and warm during the long winter.

We will try to keep adding a few words (and pictures) to the blog from time to time.

Craig & Gail

Thanksgiving blessings

We have so much to be thankful for this year. Craig is in remission and gets stronger every day. He looks like his old self.

Benjamin John Craig Saniuk was born on November 23, 2009, in Omaha, NE. He weighed 7# 9oz and was 20.5" long. Parents and baby are doing well.

We are delighted to have a grandson and he is adorable. Craig, Neil, Carl and I went to Omaha over Thanksgiving weekend and got to spoil him. Craig and I think Ben looks like Anne when she was a baby and Craig's folks think he looks like Craig as a baby.

Anne, Scott, and Ben will be here over Christmas. We're looking forward to a wonderful holiday. This year is much different than last year. Then Craig had shingles and went into the hospital for 5 days the day after Christmas. Gail

Good News/last couple of weekends

This is really Craig--as Gail said, we had good news at my three month checkup--still cancer free and in remission. The last couple of weekends we have been visiting our kids in South Dakota and in Nebraska. Anne's baby is due in late November. Her husband Scott and roommate are trying to sell their house so Anne and Scott can move either to a house of their own or a rental for a while. Neil is doing well as a civil engineer in Rapid City, SD. All is well--I am working full days and we have many blessings for which to be thankful.

Good news at 3 month check-up

Craig had a 3 month check-up with the Pierre oncologist. All tests were in the normal range and there was no sign of cancer! He is still in remission. Next check-up is in 3 months.

A few weeks ago, we got a news letter from the transplant house about the July golf tournament and picnic to honor survivors. The young woman from Italy who needed a double lung transplant had the transplant on April 23. In July, she was doing exceptionally well. In fact, at the picnic she was dancing with her friend from New York who was doing well. I was not sure the friend from New York would survive after hearing we met and I heard about all his complications after a second transplant.

The woman needing a liver transplant who had come to the transplant house in January finally received one. She also is doing well. God is good.
Gail

Carl's birthday

Last week Craig and I wrote a long entry that disappeared. This time the post will be shorter.

Carl will be 24 on Monday. Neil is home for a day to celebrate. Craig, Carl and I will meet Anne halfway between Pierre and Omaha for a day together. Scott can't get away to join us. Anne and Neil have not missed seeing Carl on his birthday since he came home from the hospital.

Craig continues to improve every day. He looks like his old self, but considerably thinner. His color is good and he goes to the office every day. He's back to making his odd-ball jokes. Our lives are settling back into a routine.

Craig still goes in for his monthly IV infusion to strengthen his bones here in Pierre. All his 3 month checks ups will be done here unless there is a problem and he'll go back to Mayo. Otherwise, he won't go to Mayo until June 2010. Then he can start his baby shots since his immunity was wiped out. I hope he won't be as fussy as the kids were when they got them.

Craig often says things have gone well for him this year except for the initial diagnosis. Now we pray for a lengthy remission.

We'll try to post a note monthly now. Gail

Craig looks and feels more like himself.