A beautiful Saturday of music and love

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Yesterday was a big day for the Buckley clan.  With all four grandparents in attendance, both boys had music performances.  Luca had his very first cello recital.  He was super excited and confessed afterward that when he got up on the stage and looked out at the audience he had A LOT of butterflies in his belly.  He has been playing for less than a year and can already read music, his tone is full and warm, and he enjoys it so much.  Each week he looks forward to his cello lesson and he willingly practices (most of the time wink wink).  I don't know why there are two boxes for this video (at least that is how it looks on my screen).  One is empty and the other plays, so try them both.

8-year-old Luca just before first cello recital.

Then we headed out to the First Presbyterian Church for a Benefit Concert put on by Dillon's viola teacher, Shanti Randall. Dillon was in the paper again the day before the concert.   Here is the headline....

Shanti played a stellar repertoire and it was beautiful....but Dillon brought the house down!!!  A few photos.

Shanti Randall on viola

Four of Dillon's best buddies in the front row with him.
Seven of Dillon's very closets friends showed up in support!!

Focused on the music....he said he was nervous but it didn't show

Dillon and Shanti practicing their duets

Buckley family after Luca's introduction of the concert...
It was so funny because he used a microphone and his voice was louder than he expected
and he just started laughing so hard right there up in front of a church full of people.
Everyone laughed and clapped and he finally regained his composure and introduced the family.

Here is the video of Dillon and Shanti playing two beautiful, sweet duets...it was the Grande Finale of the concert.

Dillon is doing beautifully.  He has had a few belly bumps, usually the result of overexertion physically, and tomorrow (Thursday) he is having a procedure done on his right big toe.  It has been ingrown for 2 months as the result of his nails dying and falling off after the radiation and high-dose chemo regimens.  We have been managing it up until recently when a flare of an infection made it necessary to have the edges of the toenail removed.  We were trying to avoid any procedures but at this point the risk and danger of the current infection becoming systemic (circulating throughout his body) outweighs the risk of the procedure site becoming infected.  He is very nervous about the shots that are supposed to numb his toe, as well as anticipating any pain that may occur during or after the procedure.  He is not a happy camper about this but we have reminded him that it beats having to be hospitalized with an infection that is raging throughout his body and having to receive IV antibiotics  Does he agree and smile....no.......but with a huge roll of the eyes he accepts it.  This almost 12-year-old boy's determination and perseverance through this illness will never cease to amaze me.  Even though he is scared and angry, he does what he is supposed to do each and every day. 

Sunday brings our next departure to Denver.  All four of us are going....we try to make it fun...like a tiny little vacation with some cruddy needles in the middle :))