...And new beginnings...

So yes, I did say this blog was winding down. Life is proceeding, moving on and things are returning to normal. There is still a lot up in the air for us, but much of it is medium- to long-term worries. We still don't yet know about my transfer and when that's going to take place. That leads to a bit of apprehension about how, when, and how easily we'll sell the house. But these are worries that are, delightfully, spectacularly, amazingly NORMAL.

Thing is, you're always going to be worried or nervous about the next thing coming down the road. It's natural and normal. In my line of work, the second you show up to your new duty station you're already wondering about where you're going to transfer to next, how competitive the next advancement cycle will be, etc. And it's great...I mean, it's really AWESOME that those are the types of things I worry about these days, rather than if I'll need another brain surgery.

Though, that is still unknown. I like to believe - I have faith and I have optimism - that we're done. That there will be no more brain surgeries or even discussions of chemo or radiation. Right now, that's based solely on optimism and the limited research on what's happened to others who have had this incredibly rare tumor type.

The first big test is coming up in a few weeks. On May 20 - which is, purely coincidentally, my half-birthday - I've got my first follow-up MRI. The first chance we get to check and see if Sylvia has started regrowing, if there are other spots that require treatment, or if I'm continuing on track towards returning to a "normal" life.

I am still out of work right now. But it's, thankfully, not in any way related to a brain tumor or anything like that. Like I titled this post, it's because of New Beginnings. Because in the midst of all this craziness and mayhem, throughout all the unknowns, and fears, and anxious days waiting for results, there is still good in our lives. In fact, there is great, wonderful, amazing in our lives.

And he was born April 13 at 9:35am. He is Nicholas Vercingeterix Charles Atkins. (The "Vercingeterix" part is a long running joke between me and Laura.) He's a wonderful kid who's doing great, and we are just so lucky to have him. Teddy's learning what it means to be an older brother, and doing quite well with it. All of the "regression" fears we'd been told of and were ready for haven't happened - he's still sleeping through the night and like every other toddler is totally obsessed with Elmo and Thomas the Tank Engine. And Nicholas - as well as Laura - are really doing great.

Next stop for the Atkins family? Who knows... It does look like San Juan, Puerto Rico could be an easy one to get. Just not sure if we want to be that far away from friends and family. Though, we may not have a choice in the matter. They are called "orders," not "requests." One day at a time, one step at a time. For now, time to make lunch.