Will post pics later...
Hi, everyone! Just wanted to do a quick blog to say that Joli is doing well. She developed petekia at one point, but that has gone away. Her hair is growing back (she hates it) and she's "saucy" as ever! Last night, Jorge and I were laughing hysterically because she is really into making funny faces and dancing! Joli also just says the funniest/wackiest things sometimes (most of it is "fresh", but we discipline her and then turn and laugh!).

"Baby Sister" update: So, on Friday we had a little scare. I was incredibly dizzy all day, and ended up going to the hospital because my blood pressure was really high (probably due to lots of stress, little sleep, and not eating well that day.. oh, and my car battery died as I attempted to go get something to eat for lunch). In the end, all is well. I'm offically 8 months (32 weeks) pregnant, and Jorge and I are prepared to go to the hospital anytime in the next few weeks as Joli arrived at 35 weeks. No, still no name for "Baby Sister".

Come back for Joli pics soon!

31 months old~

Sorry these are a few days late --Joli was 31 months old on February 17, 2006.

Okay, in these pictures, just so you don't think Joli has stained teeth -- she actually just finished eating a no sugar added-100% fruit juice popsicle. That's why her teeth are ORANGE! But, I figured it was a good time to get a picture!

Big news: NO MORE GCS-F injections! Hurray! No more injections! No more "little shots!" (this is actually me, Liza, celebrating the fact that I don't have to do this anymore!)

Joli has a fever today. There is a horrible 'bug' going around, and we're praying she doesn't have this version. We're hoping it's just a post-chemo fever. She basically slept from 6pm-8am this morning, stayed on the couch most of the day, napped from 2pm-4:30pm, and is probably getting ready for bed in a few minutes. Unfortunately, Pops Vega also got 'the bug' and has to postpone his visit along with Grammy and Ped. They were supposed to come tomorrow, but with Joli sick and Pops sick, it's too much of a risk. We'll see you all soon, I'm sure!

Joli also saw "Curious George" yesterday (is THAT where she got sick?) and loved it! Jorge and I actually loved the movie, too.

Joli plays with Tita Grace -
Okay, my sister Grace. God bless that woman. She watches Joli 1-2x a week, and they have a blast. She truly is the only person who can make me both want to strangle her and laugh with her - at the same time.

Quick stories: Grace. She lies. Okay, maybe not "lies" but my brother Paul calls it "Gr-emory." That means a "Grace memory" - as in "Grace. That totally didn't happen. That's a complete Gremory." Like the time when I asked her to help me bring the groceries in from the car when I was 6 months pregnant. She never came out to help. When I was done, I went inside the house and said, "Grace, why didn't you come out to help me carry the groceries?" She said, "Huh? What? I was in the bathroom. I guess I didn't hear you." Oddly enough, when I asked Grace, she was totally NOT in the bathroom but rather sitting on the couch in the livingroom. I saw her.

So, yesterday, she watched Joli -- and both Jorge and I are very thankful for that. I came home from a crazy day at work to a relatively clean house (which, I know Grace has been trying hard to clean up the house -- after she and Joli have sufficiently trashed it -- before I get home from work). However, about an hour later, I see Joli's sneakers on the heater in my living room. They are soaking wet.

I say, "What happened to Joli's sneakers? Grace, did you and Joli play in the snow today? Her sneakers are soaking wet!"

Grace says, "No. We didn't go in the snow. I have no idea why her sneakers are wet."

Then, I go to the digital camera to post some pictures.....

Hmmm......

We love you, Grace! Thanks for watching Joli!

(oh, and if you haven't seen Grace in a while, she looks great! She is now wearing size 12 pants LOOSELY! Go Grace!)

AND... WE'RE DONE WITH CHEMOTHERAPY!

Joli's home now from her very last chemotherapy! She's resting because she's really nauseous... she even came home and threw up a-l-l over Gordon, our dog. Yeah, he wasn't too happy about that (and neither are we because now he smells like dog AND spoiled milk!).

We did a video diary of her last chemo round -- starting from the morning at the house, to her clinic, to the hospital, and going down the elevator to go home! She also got lots of presents from the hospital and clinic staff - they are great, and we are so thankful for all their support and help these past 7 months.

So, what happens now, you ask? Well, Joli still needs to go back 1x a month to the oncologist, 4x a year to the retina specialist, and she'll still be doing at least 2 months more of nurses visits here at home to draw labs and flush her port. She'll most likely get her port taken out in late April. We are looking forward to our last 14 injections and eagerly counting them down (at least Liza is... she's tired of giving them, and I'm sure Joli is tired of getting them!)

Congratulations, Joli!! We LOVE you!

Is it REALLY going to be chemo month 6?!?

We cannot believe it's that time ... the last chemo round. I can remember thinking way back in August, "I don't know how we're gonna make it through the next 7 months...." Well, we did it. No, wait. JOLI did it! Go, Joli!

We went to see the Jahrlings to have her prosthesis re-fitted. Joli looked beautiful just the way she was, and it seemed her prosthesis was a little "big." So, today, the Jahrlings shaved it down a bit, and the prosthesis seems to fit even better! She looks so great!

It is always a little shocking to us when her prosthesis is not in - not sure why. I mean, she's spent more time post-surgery with it OUT than IN. But, here are some cute pictures of us at the office. She has a fun little "suction cup" stuck to her nose! Notice the big belly.. I'm now more than 7 months pregnant....



Here is a picture of Joli hugging "Baby Sister". She's so sweet to "Baby Sister" - she kisses my belly and hugs it! The baby is kicking like crazy! Jorge can now see the baby moving .. well, more like JUMPING!


Okay, more after her LAST CHEMO is done! Keep us in your prayers and thoughts!

Some pictures
Well, I made the phone call and scheduled Joli's LAST CHEMO VIST! Can you even believe we are at round 6? We have a busy week coming up with 3 days of chemo, a prosthesis fitting that will take an entire day, and an appointment for "baby sister". Whew!

Joli sleeps at Lolo and Lola's house 1x a week, and Jorge and I find we miss her like crazy! The picture is of Jorge seeing Joli just after she was dropped off by the grandparents (she's pretty busy watching "The Incredibles" though).

Thanks to all the people who responded so lovingly to the Conn College article about Joli. We heard from some of our classmates we hadn't seen since, well, 1997, and were so moved by the kind words and emails.

Pregnancy news - I'm now 7 months. Woah. Joli is imitating me in one of those pictures because I can typically be found sitting on the couch, eating, and rubbing my belly!