As the ball dropped at midnight on New Year's Day and as we celebrated my birthday last month, I couldn't help but reflect back to the previous year's celebrations.  Where we were, what we were doing, who we were were with...and then thoughts of the events that were about to transpire in the coming months took over.  It all seemed so fresh.  The raw emotions we experienced during Joe's diagnosis and treatment which overlapped with the last half of my pregnancy and Vivie's early arrival came rushing back. 

Hodgkin's used to be a word, a disease, a cancer, that we had never really thought about.  A lump was only ever going to be a "scare" and chemotherapy and radiation were treatments our grandparents, neighbors, and parents' friends went through--they weren't something we had to deal with directly, especially not now.

Today we know that we have an amazing and supportive network of friends and family, near and far.  Some are new friends found through our journey, some are rekindled and deeper friendships, and many are people who we have celebrated good times with who didn't shy away when it was difficult to know what to say.

We've reached several milestones in the last few days.  On Friday Joe had his port removed, Sunday we celebrated my first Mother's Day and a year ago today we learned that we were becoming a family of three.

I've been wanting to write one final entry for some time now, but until today, the moment just hadn't seemed right.  We will never forget the impact Hodgkin's made on our lives, but with today's special anniversary we will begin looking forward and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in our lives.

We will never be able to thank everyone enough for their support, prayers, kind words and delicious meals, but please know your presence in our lives made a great impact on us.  And if our story can help someone else in the future, please share it with them.