This is such an OMG moment!

I'm letting the video speak for itself.

It's MRI time again

So this MRI is cursed. I'm just convinced that it is cursed. Bella had her first MRI October 7th. The following week I get a call saying that they lost her MRI of the brain but that they had the one of her knees. I just think they forgot to do the scan of her brain to tell you the truth. So we had to go last Friday to do the MRI over. This morning I get the news that the original radiologist thought the tumor had grown. Fortunately Bella has an oncologist who is very thorough. He had a second radiologist, one who specializes in reading scans of the brain, look over Friday's scans as well as the past MRI's. The final determination is that the tumor has not grown and what was being read as growth was not growth at all. So after a very long day I'm just thankful to have a little peace and quiet. And I also have to say a special thank you to all my friends and loved ones who have given me a huge amount of support today.

Thanks everyone!

Love Jen and Bella

Four Years and Counting

It was four years ago today when Jerry and I found out that Bella had a brain tumor. These past four years have been both terrifying and wonderful. I've learned so much about Bella's strength and my own. And for the most part Bella and I have laughed our way through it all.



What has been so amazing is watching Bella's progress over these last four years. She has persevered through obstacles and has not given up. I look at her daily and feel so blessed that I get to witness miracle after miracle. In her I see God - his love, his protection, his healing touch. I am so thankful that I get to be apart of something so wonderous.



And while I have had a lot put on me these last few years, I could not have survived any of this without the help of some of the kindest, most loving people ever. I want to thank my parents, my family, my friends and loved ones. But most importantly I want to thank my dear sweet Bella. I hope Bella that one day you will be able to read these words and to know how much I love you. You are my tower of strength. You have shown me what it means to defy the odds.



I have no idea what the future holds. But I do know that Bella will live her life as only she knows how to - with a spirit that will always soar.

Love to you all,

Jennifer and Bella

Bella and Her ABC's

Bella is doing an amazing job in her second year of preschool. She has settled in and is hard at work being a kid, enjoying her classmates, and learning tons of new things. She has stayed very healthy with the exception of a urinary tract infection which caused her to miss one treatment of her chemo Avastin. She is talking my head off and just now said, "More please" so that I would give her more Cheerios.

I hope you enjoy the video below. As you can see, Bella is quickly learning her ABC's.

Love and peace to all,

Jen and Bella

Latest MRI results

Last week we got really good news about Bella's tumor. The latest MRI shows that the tumor is stable and has not grown. So I can breathe a sigh of relief for three more months at least.

Bella is doing absolutely wonderful. She continues to increase her vocabulary. She can ask "What's up?" or "What's that?" But of course everyone's favorite is "Whatever!" I've been working with her on her alphabet. She can manage quite a few letters, but has a problem saying some of them so she improvises saying whatever she wants sometimes.

Now that Bella has her walker, I make her walk around various places. She now has to walk in to her therapy appointments, and I will take her to the park as much as I can. She protests, of course, but it wouldn't be Bella if she didn't.

Hope you've had a great summer. I know we have.

Jen and "Whatever" Bella

Birthday Girl

Four years ago tonight I had the most wonderful thing happen to me - I became Bella's mom. These past four years have flown by and what a ride it has been. There have been lots of tears, but way more laughs. I prefer to focus on the laughs....and on the many times I have had to hear "Whatever." Bella is the best little girl ever and I look forward to many, many more years with her.

Jen

Words of Wisdom from Bella

Bella has a new philosophy for life which she sums up in the video. My part in all of this is small - I just taught her the word. The attitude is all Bella.

In tumor news, Bella's latest MRI showed that everything is stable. No growth! The chemo is working to keep the tumor is check.

Enjoy the video. I think it is a sign of things to come. Oh, God, please help me!