merry christmas friends

Dear friends, if you're checking here you're likely wondering about Isaiah.  He's doing great.  He's strong, growing, and full of life.  He's been off chemo for 16 months.  We're down to one doctor appointment every two months.  We're so thankful.

Please head over to Nate's blog to read our Christmas 2011 letter and to see pictures from the year.  It's been a great season of life for us.  We'd love to share it with you.

Merry Christmas!

merry christmas from the oates family

So grateful...

+ Isaiah completed 1155 days of chemotherapy on July 30.  We celebrated with 150 friends and family at the city pool!  More at isaiahoates.com.

+ Sienna and Nathan celebrated her 10^th birthday by traveling with others from our community to Nicaragua.

+ Matthias brings much life and disaster to our home.  At 15 months he’s determined, sometimes-sweet, and into everything!

+ Carmen and Nathan celebrate 15 years of marriage on December 16^th and occasionally speak whole sentences to one another before being interrupted.

+ We continue to love sharing life and discovering Jesus with our church community.  Emmaus turned 5 this year.  EmmausCommunity.org

hello november

Halloween, 2010: a cowboy, a puppy, and a waitress! 

Sienna and Isaiah and I got to camp at a friend's ranch this weekend!

catching up!

Friends,

Thanks for visiting.  I fear I've lost your faithful companionship via this blog in this recent five weeks of silence.  It's by far the longest I've gone without posting since May, 2007.

The truth is I've felt a surprising need to put this discipline down for a while.  The constant pressure of Isaiah's health served as a strong motivator to blog.  We were so aware of our need for support and wanted to keep those of you who pray for Isaiah posted and up-to-date.

Now that this long season of treatment is done, we've all appreciated simply moving on - thinking, writing, and doing new things.  Last week, Isaiah had his first doctor appointment in 6 weeks!  Six!

We're planning to publish this 3.5 year blog as a book for ourselves and, perhaps, some interested family members.  I'm considering starting a new Oates family blog as a way to share some of the wonderful experiences we're having in this season.  Maybe we'll just join Facebook.  But probably NOT!

We'll keep you posted and, for at least the near future, will keep this site online and active.

Some recent fun:

Sienna and Isaiah spent a few days with their grandparents at Disneyland (but they were, apparently, too busy to take any pictures!)

We just rearranged the kids' room which included building a hanging bed for Isaiah.  He's loving it.

The project included a trip to IKEA:

 Much peace!

happy birthday Matthias!

Our baby is 1 year old!  un. be. liev. a. ble.

parties and doctors

We had a great weekend which included three parties.  I felt like I hardly saw Isaiah.  He was mostly off running/riding/swimming around with his friends.  He crashed hard at 9, but seems to have had a wonderful weekend.  


While standing in front of the family calendar in the hall tonight Carmen reported, "We have a doctor's appointment every day this week!"  It's true.  Time to take a number and get used to waiting rooms.  Isaiah's at Sutter for a blood check Wednesday.  Carmen and I are at UC Davis Friday to meet with the psychologists about the results of Isaiah's "CIA testing."  


Here's a video Isaiah shot of Matthias.  It's cute, but it may give you motion sickness!

Enjoy the week!

port in hand

The port's last night.  

pre-op consult

before: Isaiah felt good.  after: "I just can't focus! Did they take it out?  Focus!"

After walking Isaiah to the operating room and saying goodbye, I squeezed in a quick research appointment while he was in surgery.  On my way back to the hospital, I received this text from Carmen:

The surgeon just handed me Isaiah's port!  Matthy is using it as a rattle.  Praise God all went well!  One incision.  No complications.  I get to see Isaiah in ten minutes.  I just can't wait to see how he feels "port free."  

We shot this video while we were waiting...and waiting...and waiting...