..................................December Stuff

Hello all. I am going to post some pictures of the kids and a few things from the month of December. I can't believe another year is coming to a end. Its been a very crazy year for us here at the Saurini's.

A quick recap (hoping I don't forget anything). All good things started to happen in February when I got accepted into St. Joseph's College of Nursing (2 yr every other F/S/S program for my RN), then in April we went on a very relaxing family vacation to Myrtle Beach. Talk about a great time, the kids loved every minute of it and can't wait to go back again. May, Zachary graduated from pre-k, turned 5 and really started to blossom as a little boy. At the end of May was Marissa's 9th year of Dance Recital, soccer & softball started for her. June brought another summer season of the Doubledays, along with my school starting, Zachary started baseball, along with Marissa's sports still. In June Zachary also had a dr. apt with his ortho and they where concerned about his leg and took him out of all activities. So that was heart breaking for him. July was just a busy month of sports and baseball games and the kids went camping with Nonnie Judi for a week. August came around and thats when things started to fall apart on us. 2 days before Rob and I where going away for a little adult vacation (Vegas Baby!!!!!!) Zachary was complaining of leg pain and wasn't acting right. We called his ortho and we went right in. Well the xrays showed he had some deteration of his femur and just everyday walking was causing stress on it. She ordered a MRI and that was done the week we got back from Vegas. Well that showed new tumor growth, and the detioration. Well we got referred to another dr and that lead us down a long road to Boston Children's Hospital.

Boston has been great, and they have been very active in diagnosing Zachary, and working on getting him up to par.

September was our first trip to Boston and it was a long 3 days of non-stop Dr. Visits. October was a typical month (which was needed very much), November we went back to Boston and Zachary had eye surgery. They removed some of the skin growth on his eye so it wasn't blocking his vision. He did very well and so far its been a success. December has been very hectic with the holiday and just everyday life. We got the call regarding the surgery for Zachary and that will be Wednesday February 4, 2009. So please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for that and during it.

So we are now hoping for a better 2009 and will keep everyone posted to as to whats going on.

Christmas day at G.G's in Rochester.

Zachary jamming with his new guitar in Rochester. They just got a kick out of him.

Marissa on Christmas Eve with my side of the family.

The kids visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop

Making cut-out cookies. Yummy, Yummy

.............................Christmas band concert

Last night Marissa had her band concert at school. They sounded awesome. It was a great choice of music and was only 35 min. long. I took my camera to get some pictures, but didn't get any because she was in the 2nd row and I couldn't see her at all. I am bumming because now I have nothing to scrapbook either. LOL

Hope you all have a great holiday and enjoy all those little school concerts.

..............................A lot of pain lately

It's been about 1 week since I posted last, but thats because there has been much pain at this end. I had 3 big finals for school (nursing, pharmacology, & nutrition). We got the results back from Zachary's genetic testing (not posting that info. to much pain to keep bringing up), and last.......Zachary has been having alot of pain in his left left.

We keep asking him exactly where and he points to just above the knee on the inside he says. That is the area that is weakest and will undergo the bone grafting. I tell you 6 weeks can't come soon enough for this poor little guy to get his leg fixed. Nights have been rough because when he has this pain he is up and down all night long. Tylonal/Motrin don't seem to do the trick anymore for some reason. I am thinking maybe its getting worse (which it did at his August apt) or he is used to the medicine. I also think the pain gets so bad during school that when he gets home he starts his medicine again and it takes awhile to get back into him. He won't go to the nurse while in school. He tells us its because the guy nurse is all by himself and has to do everything and take care of everyone so since he doesn't go down he gets a little break. Bless Zachary's heart for thinking like that, but I keep telling him that his comfort level is just as important and the nurse is only doing his job. So hopefully today he went and got his medicine. I called the teacher and explained to him he has been having pain so he was going to watch for the signs.

..............................Surgery is Scheduled

On Wednesday December 11th we got the call for Zachary's surgery date. Zachary will be having surgery on Wednesday February 4, 2009 at Boston Childrens Hospital for his left leg.

Zachary will undergo a 6 hour surgery to place a telescopic rod in his femur & tibia. While they are in there doing that he will also have biopsies of the tumors on the bone, a bone graft on the femur and biopsies on the skin.

I just pray to god we are doing the right thing for this little boy that means so much to so many people. We are not going to say anything to him until after Christmas because we want him to not worry. If we told him now everyday he would ask us if it was time to go yet and he would stress big time. This surgery is going to be a real tough time on all of us, but I am sure we will do ok. I am the worry wart financially though. I am already not sleeping well just thinking about it.

My next task is setting up care for Marissa the whole time we are gone. We will probably be in Boston for 1 1/2 -2 weeks. I would love for Marissa to be there, but I think its important that she keep her routine and go to school. Thats alot of school to miss for a 7th grader.

I will keep you posted on anything new that may arise.

...............................Hair Cut

Just doing a quick post. We have nothing to really blog about right now, just waiting to hear back from Boston with the surgery date.

But in the mean time I have been contiplating cutting my hair shorter. Well I actually did it tonite. My hair is terrible and seems to look much nicer when its shorter. So here are the before and after pictures. (The before pic is terrible of me, but I was doing a quick costume change on Marissa for dance and its the only pic I have of the back of my hair.)

Before - real yucky and longer

The new look. I am loving it. (Can't say as if Rob feels the same way though. LOL)

................................Marissa in a Play

Just letting everyone know that this coming weekend at 12 & 2 both days at the Cayuga Community College theater the Auburn Players will be putting on free performances of a Christmas play. Marissa is a Barbie/dancer in it. She has been working very hard on this play and would love for you all to come out and see her in it. I will post some pictures after this weekend.

Good Luck Marissa we are sure you will do awesome.

................................Waiting

Just a quick update: We are waiting to hear back from Boston as for when Zachary's surgery will be scheduled. They told us probably the end of January beginning of February. When we hear anything we will post so you all know.

I have been talking to Zach about his surgery and I don't know if he quite understands whats going to happen. Some days he says he wants it done other days he doesn't. I have told him right up front that he will have a cast what it will look like (showed him pics), and told him we won't be able to go anywhere for awhile. We are basing most of his Christmas presents around keeping him busy during this time frame. Everything seems to be learning/sit still stuff.

Lets just keep praying everything goes ok.