Rejoicing on Sunday

Never do we take a pain-free day for granted; Christi is still feeling amazingly well and we are most thankful! She’s had some vomiting, but that was most likely due to Daddy’s wild driving (hee hee). After having returned from many hospital trips and then gone to work in a matter of hours, I am exceptionally grateful for having the entire weekend free to unpack, catch up and repack. Frankly, the travel on top of the emotions and events of the “hospital scene” can be absolutely grueling.

While CHOP knows the day I said we’d return, I still have yet to book our flights. Christi will have her blood counts checked at the hospital very early Tuesday before we go to school. Those results will be contingent upon our plans to return. I’m still hopeful she’s going to skate through this upcoming week without a fever. Dr. Maris and Pat weren’t so optimistic and they want us to return sooner rather than later.

This afternoon the girls planted flowers and later we all read out in the backyard with the girls swinging in the hammocks. Christi and Shayla have played like the best of friends and even created a new computer name for when they play their games together- Chrishayla. Tonight Christi couldn’t locate the shampoo. She said, “Mom, I can’t find the shampoo.” I asked, “Do you really need shampoo?” and she burst into giggles saying, “I guess not. I’ll just use my American Girl shower gel.”

Later tonight Shayne will be meeting a fellow NBIV relapsed dad from New York who happens to be in town. (Small world!) We’ve had the pleasure of treating at MSKCC and at CHOP with the amazing Bryan Tressler- our hero and our inspiration backed by two incredible parents! (Bryan has been in treatment for nearly eight straight years which simply doesn’t fit this disease and which simply is a miracle in itself. Goooooo, Bryan!) He and Christi will be testing and scanning the same exact days at CHOP (May 2nd and 3rd) so I’ll get to see his sweet mom very soon too!

Shayne and I started making some tentative birthday plans in preparation for the big day. As I told Shayne today while he was waxing his truck, “I really didn’t think she was going to make it to Feb. 12th (Shayla’s birthday) much less May 12th" and he admitted he had just prayed for March 12th. Now we know May 12th is still a long way down the road in this special gal’s crazy life, but we are filled with hope! And while she doesn’t know it yet, we’ve established the theme (Thanks to my friend Lori and her two awesome daughters- Tiffany & Kelsey). I’ll just say we won’t be serving Philly cheese steaks, but maybe “Filly” cheese steaks (hee hee). Got it? Shhhh! We know our little horse lover will approve!