The Grine's Galloping Good Party

The party invitations said: "You are the APPLE of Christi's eye, being her MANE friends from school. She would love it if you would TROT over to the "Lane of Dreams" Horse Farm to help celebrate her 9th birthday. We are not HORSING around one BIT! We would not invite you if Christi didn't CARROT all for you! We will STIRRUP lots of fun. SADDLE up and HOOF it over to join us for a GALLOPING good time. Christi will be CHOMPING AT THE BIT to see you there! (The party will be held REIN or shine.)"

It was an exciting day all around. (With the Cooks overnighting with us and their two Golden Retrievers in the house, how could it not be?!) Christi lost her first baby canine tooth this afternoon. With very low platelets it bled and bled and bled, but she didn't care. She was so excited to get out her tooth pillow from her wonderful preschool teacher, Mrs. D., and to know the tooth fairy could be coming soon. (In the morning, she'll be thrilled to find "Kansas" for her US Mint coin holder since she doesn't have that one!)

We had a very relaxing afternoon- all compliments of the Grine family (aka "The Party Planners"). Early this afternoon I went to call them to see how they were doing and if I could do anything to help, but then I knew I'd feel too guilty not doing a single thing for this party for my daughter, so I returned the phone to the hook. I don't even want to know how hard they worked putting together the fabulous party. They are the sweetest friends! The party was incredible (And all of the girls in Christi's fourth grade class were in attendance!)

The 11 girls saw a horse riding demonstration by Kelsey, led, rode, played games on beautiful horses and ate darling food- carrots, apples, trail mix and of course....horse droppings (Tootsie rolls, hee hee).
Until the party, Christi hadn't once complained of any pain. It was a great feeling; however, during the party while riding the horses the strong wave of fearful emotion nearly knocked me to my knees. She said, "Mom it hurts right here (pointing to her upper left rib area where the cancer is). It feels like my ribs are spreading apart and exploding or something. I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like that when I breathe in." (I don't think she even knows she has cancer there, but the news was absolutely sickening, especially in the midst of the girls having so much fun being together.)

Christi blew out all nine candles after making a wish. She never tells her wishes because she says then they won't come true.

Thank you to the incredible loving, compassionate and talented Grine family for providing Christi with the birthday party of a lifetime and for giving our family very special memories!! May God richly bless them and all of the sweet Angels who have sweetly displayed their their love for Christi. Thank you everyone for loving her- and all of us!

In seven days, she and Shayne will load up and make the ten hour drive to the east coast. Shayne will drive through the night to avoid Christi's carsickness and to make the trip go by at what will seem to her like a faster rate. I know this is exhausting for Shayne, especially backing it up with a week long inpatient stay, but it's best for Christi. She has to go inpatient on Sunday afternoon. Shayne's cousin, Corrine, will meet them at the Ronald McDonald House and spend the week assisting Shayne while Shayla and I finish out the final week of school and then fly in on Friday.