Bon Voyage!

With Elizabeth steering (whew!) our beautiful Explorer friends set sail yesterday afternoon as Christi was in the midst of her chemo infusion. We were happy when they called last night to let us know they safely reached the Island and were back tending to the goats. We will forever be indebted to them for showering us with love, support and giggles!

Christi, a big girl now, received two units of blood late yesterday afternoon. She said, “I wonder who donated this blood for me.” We’ll never know, but we did lift them up in prayer. The blood really perked her up. She told me how much better she felt and I realized she had no intentions of slowing down and going to bed when we got back to Ronald so she worked on some drawing projects while I took a nap. (I do feel better because one day this week Jenn said, “I didn’t do anything, but sit around all day and I’m exhausted.” Whew! I know it sounds crazy, but the hospital scene does make for a grueling day.)

In the midst of Thursday night’s hustle and bustle, I called Southwest Airlines to cancel our flights back home. Thankfully, we had changeable tickets so there was no charge to change our two tickets home into one roundtrip ticket for Shayne!!! Yes, Daddy is here through Monday night! That was just the pick-me-up I needed! (And without a doubt, it is always harder for the parent at home!) Christi and I joked with the nurses, “Who knows what our clothes will look like next week with Daddy bringing the rest of our stuff,” but he did fine! (The only thing I asked for that he didn’t bring was Shayla!)

Last night the phone call came in that Shayne was here at the Ronald house, much to my surprise. (My thrifty husband was going to take the train to the University and then do the 20 minute huff to the Ronald House even though I warned him it was only 34 degrees and very windy and taking the train is never fast.) Apparently, Shayne met a "Philadelphia" lawyer on the flight who offered to drive him. (When the kind man called his wife Shayne said, “Don’t tell her you picked up a hitchhiker. Wives don’t like that sort of thing.”) Indeed there are Angels doing God’s work on earth!

Christi was sooooooooooo happy to see her wonderful Daddy. We played “Clue Jr.” and when I went to sleep they had just started the “Trivial Pursuit Jr.” game on the floor of our room. Today Daddy will give her “the shot” which is scheduled to arrive before noon by UPS. She's very anxious about it asking if it will hurt more because it's one instead of many and asking what will happen if it doesn't work. "Not every medicine works on every body," she has reminded me. I've assured her, "It's going to work."

PRAYER REQUEST: We pray that the shot arrives, and that she doesn’t get a fever with this round of chemo.