Monday, 22 May - Sarah getting her first chemotherapy at the oncologist's office. The first of her three drugs is red (adriamycin) so you can really see the moment it enters her body via the medi-port implanted in her chest. She was surprisingly calm - we were told that many people are very worried during their first chemo and must be lightly sedated to "take the edge off." Her smile is a bit deceiving - fatigue and nausea set in after two days and she's just starting to feel a tiny bit better at the end of Thursday, 25 May. In her own words, "at least we know it's doing something!"

Sarah got a haircut to ease into the "no hair" mode in steps. She starts chemotherapy on 5/22 and after two weeks will likely start losing hair and transitioning over to hats and scarves for a while. We like the new haircut!

A day of bad news

May 11th - no picture for this one. Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer after a biopsy we thought wasn't even necessary. We were both shocked and have been working through the preparations for Sarah's treatment over the past week...
In an instant, our life turned upside down and our priorities radically changed.

I spent a weekend adding this swingset to our existing playtower. Long days, but the kids love it. You can see Ben giving the monkey bars a try.

Spring in our neighborhood is very colorful as all the trees bloom. Here's our redbud and white crabapple with the neighbor's magnolia tree in the background.

Ben and Sam had fun finding their Easter eggs in the back yard. In the close-up of Ben, you can tell he was in such a hurry to get out and start that he put his shirt on inside-out when he got dressed!

Sam learned to use a few signs - he's doing the one for "drink" here. But after that much cake, I think this time he means "got milk?"

Sam's 2 year birthday party. "If it's my cake, then I can poke my finger in the frosting, right?"

"I think I like cake after all... especially birthday cake!"

Sarah and I love the snow... here are our front and back yard after a dusting in January.

Christmas in Chicago. Santa even dropped by to see Ben!

Sam sporting a Chevy's hat... I think he liked wearing it for a while.

Ben at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Water is irresistable...

Fall 2005 trip to the beach (Padre Island, TX) with grandpa and Oma. Ben even found a live starfish we had to help get back to the water.

Sarah and Sam around Halloween time.

... and this is why we NEVER forget the diaper cream in Sam room anymore! Sam loved it, but the cream barely came out of the clothes after four washings.

Some impressions from Alan and Ben's trip to Germany over Thanksgiving. Snow in Kiel, Hamburg river piers and Christmas market.

Ben in front of Sue, the world's most complete T-rex skeleton, at the Chicago Field Museum.

This mega-leaf pile in Fall was a lot of fun to jump in to!

Sam after his baptism.