Happy Birthday Alec!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Today is Alec's Birthday, 34 years old!

This is his 4th week of chemo/radiation...one week left! We can not believe how fast the time has gone and how well he is doing. Finally, we catch a break, and we were able to have an un-eventful Christmas. (meaning no flu, hospital trips, etc.) We had a very relaxing few days off and literally did nothing for a change. Alec's family was over for Christmas Eve, we had a nice dinner and we went to a new church which we enjoyed very much.

Christmas Day we left for Plainville around 1:00 and spent the night with my family. It was so nice and we couldn't have had a better Christmas! How I know I am getting old...my favorite present was a Dyson vacuum cleaner! I could not wait to get home and vacuum my entire house, it is marvelous! Does rugs and wood floors and is great with dog hair. I am my mothers daughter :) Alec gave me a Kindle, which is really a cool little device and I have already read one book off of it. He likes it more than me because I can read at night without turning pages and I have one hand free for back scratching!

This week we are staying in Boston to be close to the hospital. It has been great so far, we went over to Tina and Bob's last night who made us a delicious dinner and got to hang out with Julia, Jilly and Brian as well. We all played the "Newlywed Game" which was very funny. I really miss Millie though, I even cried when Alec's mom drove away with her in the car, she was just looking at me with her big brown eyes! I am so pathetic!

So with one day left tomorrow, this week is almost over! Then one more week and off to Florida!

Thank you all for your prayers and being here for us. Hope you all enjoyed Christmas and have a Happy, Healthy, 2010!

Happy New Year!!! And Happy Birthday Alec!

Love,

Heather and Alec

3 Weeks Down!

Wow, December is flying by!


Alec finished up his 3rd week of chemo/radiation and still going strong. We had a good week, he was a little tired, but the docs and nurses are very impressed. I do not think I have heard him complain yet. He has such a positive attitude and is feeling good, both physically and mentally. As we were waiting for our car Friday after radiation a women in a wheelchair told me I was very lucky to have such a sweet friend. I said, "he is my husband too" and she said "wow, you are even luckier...what a great guy." I said, "that's why I married him!"

Charlotte drove him to MGH a few days last week, as I am finishing up the end of my quarter and stayed in Boston one night and also got to see Julia, (always the highlight of my week! She is getting so big and smiley!) It is also nice to have a break from driving...especially with a backseat driver like Alec! haha, I call our drives in together "Driving Mr. Daisy".

We are both looking forward to Christmas and cant wait to have Thursday, Friday and the weekend off. Since we have a short week, radiation is open tomorrow (Sunday) and he only has to go only until Wednesday. Not a bad week! Almost all our Christmas shopping is done, wrapped and waiting to be opened. When I say "our" Christmas shopping, I mean mine. Alec seems to show up Christmas morning and, what do you know? Everyone in our family magically has presents. (It is like there really is a Santa Clause, and he still believes.) I guess that's one of the perks of being a guy!

Last weekend Alec's BF, Ralph came up for a visit, it was good to see him and I think Alec had some much needed guy time...(He is constantly surrounded by women!) I left them alone for a few hours and enjoyed some espresso martinis with his sisters and mom. I also got to see Lizzy and her boyfriend who came through KBPT Saturday, we had a nice lunch and sat on a pervy Santa's lap! Sunday, Amy, Ken, Cath and Jay came up for some Christmas cocktails and spread some Christmas Cheer. We had lots of fun and thank you for visiting! (And for my bracelet, ornament and dinner!) xo


Unfortunately we missed the Christmas party tonight in Boston and I am home sulking. The snow and parking ban in Southie kinda scared me off, not to mention Alec has to be at MGH tomorrow morning for treatment and he was not up for a party tonight. I am sorry I missed it, but I am sure it was tons of fun and hopefully we will see everyone soon :)

We are so excited...Katie and Jon offered to have us stay at their families place in Ft. Lauderdale and I booked the tickets today! We are going down for a few days after his treatment is all over and could not be more excited! I was going to surprise Alec for his Birthday with the tickets, but ended up telling him because I wanted to make sure he would feel up to it. And, I am glad I did because now he really have something to look forward to, he was so happy! Thanks so much Katie and Jon and Weston! And thanks for Omaha, we had burgers tonight...yum yum.


Thank you all for your prayers and support and Christmas cards and gifts! We really are so blessed and so thankful for all our wonderful friends and family.

Love and Merry Christmas,

Heather & Alec

2 Weeks Down!

3 Weeks to Go!

So far so good! Alec had a another successful week. Things are going well, no major side effects, just a little tired. We stop by MGH every day at noon for a radiation quickie. It takes no time, and the staff is so nice. Everyone already loves Alec and he makes everyone smile :)

One thing I am amazed at is how many people have cancer. And it does not discriminate. Old, young, black, white, rich, poor. It is truly eye-opening. We see the same people every day, you can tell which patients are at the very beginning of treatment and those that are at the very end. Alec's radiation doctor thinks Alec is doing very well, and is pleased that his side effects are not worse.

Alec said he wants to hike Mt. Washington before his surgery in January...he must be feeling pretty good!!! I on the other hand, not so much. Haha, I may have to fake some illness so he cant drag me along.

We were able to go out and enjoy the Christmas Prelude in KBPT last weekend. Jill, Brian, my mom and the Lombardos all came up and we enjoyed a few Christmas cocktails, a little shopping and lots of laughs. We even saw Alec's nurse, Katie out at Hurricanes! She comes up every year with her high school friends, she is so sweet and it takes such a special person to do what she does.

Lizzy came over on Sunday and brought us 6 pre-made meals from a place in Freeport and a TJ's card from all the Salve Girls, her parents, Mrs. Dez and her cousin Ned. Thank you ALL! What a great gift, I am seriously going to forget how to cook! I cant wait to try some of them...cashew chicken, glazed pork!? Sounds delish?

And today we received a box of goodies from the Feehan Girls...with the most magnificent muffins ever! Alec had one tonight when we got home from work, smelled like a bakery in here! Thank you all...we are so spoiled!

The funny thing is, most people lose weight when they start chemo/radiation. When Alec started, he was 8 lbs less than what he was today! The doctor asked Alec if he had lost any weight, we both smirked at each other and I told him not to worry, we were keeping him fat and happy. Thanks to my friends and family, we DO NOT have to worry about becoming too skinny! (Not to mention he ate a 2 lb burrito yesterday!)

Fridays can not come fast enough for Alec. Tomorrow he will have his chemo pump removed, and one more radiation, then he is FREE for the weekend! Woohoo!

Thank you for all the prayers and support, we are so, so blessed.

Love to you all!

Heather & Alec

2 days down, 5 weeks to GO!

Phew, we finally can start killing this thing!

We went to MGH yesterday for Alec's first day of chemo/radiation. All went well! We spent a few hours with our nurse, Katie, and Alec has the chemo "bag" again. He will be hooked up every Monday to the bag, wear it for 5 days, then be disconnected on Fridays. He will have to go to MGH every day for radiation, however that only takes minutes and they will even valet our car. Woohoo!

He is feeling good, very tired, not very hungry, (good thing I fattened him up over Thanksgiving!). He had a very weird craving for Lucky Charms(?)But still able to work and drive and play xbox.

The next few weeks will be very telling as to whether or not his body is reacting to the chemo. Please pray that it does!

Lizzy sent us the Lance Armstrong book and I absolutely love it. We can totally relate to everything he has gone through and has quite an incredible story. I keep reading Alec paragraphs, exclaiming..."Wow! That's exactly like us!" (minus the whole "bike" thing!)

Our friends and family are absolutely amazing. We have received more cards, meals, gifts, games, books, etc. than I can even imagine. I can not thank you all enough. We are so blessed. Every day we receive some type of goodie in the mail, it means so much and we are truly so grateful for all of you and your thoughtfulness. I can not imagine going through this without this type of support and love. We know we are not alone, ever.

Please pray for Julie and her family. Her uncle lost his battle to cancer last weekend. We are very heart broken for them. I hope they find comfort in the memories they shared with him and know that he is with God and we will be thinking and praying for them during this difficult time.

This weekend is the Christmas Prelude in KBPT. We are looking forward to seeing Santa come in on his lobster boat and singing Christmas Carols!

Let the healing BEGIN!

Love to ALL!

Heather, Alec and Millie