December, 2009
This year has been challenging for our family. Nancy was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in March and went through chemotherapy. We are happy to report that she is in remission now. John was the rock the family relied on. He continued to work full time, and managed the household. We were blessed to have Sally, Nancy’s sister visit for two weeks. She arrived from the airport, rolled up her sleeves and didn’t stop until we took her back to the airport!
James is in 10th grade, attending a day treatment program. Joseph is in 7th grade. Both boys struggled to cope with their mom’s illness. James has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and we had to hospitalize him in the summer. His doctor was able to find the right medicine for him, and he’s doing very well now. Joseph has had his own challenges. He struggled with school, and chose to get low grades. We’re still working with the school to try to find ways to motivate him, and turn it around.
We took a celebratory vacation in the end of July, after Nancy’s last chemo treatment. We spent a week on a houseboat on Lake Shasta. John’s sister, Cindy, and her husband, Bob, came and spent the first part of the week with us. It was so wonderful to be with them. At the end of the week, Nancy’s cousin Mike and his wife, Anna, and children, Phillip and Christina came for a day. We all had a blast playing in the water and catching up.
Nancy missed five months of work, but was able to return, and was just hired as a permanent government worker at Camp Pendleton, working with active duty service members doing therapy. The commute is long, but worth it. She has reconnected with many friends via Facebook. John has a wonderful group of friends he plays cards with almost every week. James and Joseph have learned how to play it as well and are sometimes allowed to stay up late on school nights to participate.
We’re ending the year with a trip to visit family in several states. We pray that the upcoming year will be blessed and healthy for all. May God’s love and protection be with you now and always.
Love, John, Nancy, James and Joseph
To update, James is still at his day treatment program. Joseph just started a new school program on Tuesday. So far, so good. He's enjoying the attention he gets, and his mood has been much more positive at home. He's still disobedient, but he's nicer about it. 
The hope is that his structure at school will carry over to home.
Joe had yarn with him yesterday, and a crochet hook. John said when he got home he said, "now that I know how, I just want to stay home, watch TV and crochet." Not what you expect to hear from a 12 year old boy! That lasted until he learned that John had plans to go out to dinner and to see Avatar. He did bring the yarn and crochet hook with him though!
James went on his first date last Saturday, it went well, but doesn't seem to be too intense of a relationship at this point. He participated in a "lock-in" at church last night with the youth group, and said it was a lot of fun.
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