Ah.... Romance! And THE date (a calendar one)

Well, we seem to be following a 'let's do our major life events in contingency with Holidays,' theme.  First, Alaine was born on Thanksgiving. 

We got our date for the study at NIH and the subsequent surgery.  We'll report bright and early on Valentine's Day for testing for the protocol, with the surgery to follow the next week.

Andy's first response was, "Nice!  A cheap date."  Then he thought about it and said, "No....  NOT a cheap date.  NOT at all...."  ;) 

I'm rather relieved to not be doing things on my birthday as I anticipated.  The grand 3-0 can blow in quietly with balloons rather than major surgery.  I'm also glad Alaine will be a little bit bigger before we head out for such an adventure (she'll be coming with us.  The big girls will be staying with Papa and Nonna here at home). 

It's good to have a date and settle in.  Now I feel like I can just do Christmas and enjoy.  Just hoping that there aren't any 'major life events' waiting to jump out and surprise us for Christmas. I'm ok with having a sweet, quiet, family Christmas. One that's completely health related surprise or curve ball free would be extra wonderful

I'm sure Andy and I will find a way to make this little trip all feel very romantic in the spirit of St. Valentine.  Maybe we can have a candlelight dinner in the cafeteria?  A stroll hand in hand down the corridors of the National Institute of Health?  Oh the possibilities...

Really though, getting this thing taken care of so that I can go on to spend many, many years with the love of my life and my beautiful girls without Tomas the Tumah sounds like the best Valentine anybody ever gave me.