Monday, September 7, 2009

Labor Day Weekend

As I always seem to say on here, everything can change so fast for us. Friday night, Miss Ally came home from the hospital. And Saturday morning she was feeling so good that we headed to our lakehouse for the day. I don't know how, I don't know why, for the most part I can't even begin to predict....when our girl is going to feel ok. But when she does feel good we really try to capitalize on it. We hadn't been to our lakehouse all summer. We opened it up on Memorial Day....got everything out, cleaned, spent $200 at the grocery store. We were ready for a summer at the lake. Life changed. Again. This Labor Day we packed everything back up, cleaned it yet again, and threw the groceries away. I can't help but wonder where we will be when lake season rolls around next year. I am praying praying praying that it will be the end of Ally's intense treatment and we will be on our way to a fun lake summer. Oh how I wish we could just fast forward to that time and put all of this behind us. But I am confident that we will persevere.

Ally really enjoyed the lake. It was so great to see her smiling and happy and almost as if the disease was not there. Her grandparents drove almost three hours and brought her two cousins up for the day. And it was the most beautiful day of weather. We got so lucky! We went to the boat beach. Ally is not allowed to swim in lakes, but no matter. She sat on the boat and worked on a quilt given to her by Grandma Booher. Bella and Madison stayed with her for part of the time. She even got in the water once, but was perched safely on top of Uncle Bubba's raft. Carly cooperated and slept on the boat so we were able to stay out on the lake all day. Ally even drove the boat with Daddy. We had a yummy steak (STEAK for Ally!) dinner together and then Grandma and Grandpa drove the three hours back. Makes me tired to even think about it. I better mention too that the Ally/Madison nail salon was in full effect. Quite a few people on Breezewood Lane had their nails painted! They waited all summer!! Here are some pictures from our day:


Ally did beg us to stay another night. We almost did...but we had a few obligations to get home to. We mainly wanted to attend a fundraiser for Micheal's House...this is a child advocacy center that my family has sponsored and been very involved with. The center mainly helps abused children and is a very noble cause. In fact I was talking to one of the women from the children's hospital who writes grants to get more funding for this center. I had never met her, but she said she reads the blog every day. She told me that this blog has been a real help to her in her work...she now can write the grants with more knowledge about the patient's perspective on things. She told me how the blog has inspired her to write and helped her with the grants. Who knew it could do that? I had no idea. And thus, I have even more reason to keep on writing. If I can help someone...anyone...it is worth it.

Today I am home trying to recover from some serious allergy issues and also trying to get caught up from the week spent in the hospital. Things can build up so quickly around here when we are gone so much. Mail, email, clutter, laundry, dishes, old food...yikes. But Ally is enjoying yet another day with her cousins as she went to Columbus to celebrate Ben's birthday. We were going to have to keep her home...because they were having the party at a sports/game room/putt-putt place (germ central)...but rainy weather forced them to have the party at their home. So we let her go. Another last minute change that we are just gonna roll with. Happy Birthday Sweet Ben.

Plans are to send Ally to school tomorrow. She is saying she wants to go. She also has to make a trip to the blood lab to check that ANC number yet again. I do think it is on the rise, but we shall see. Another "delay" week should have her feeling pretty good. I hope all of the Army is enjoying (or enjoyed) our Labor Day holiday.

10 comments:

  1. Wow. Amazing job with the slideshow. Tears once again... Wish we could have stayed in that "bubble" for a bit longer but keeping our eyes on next year's lake opening.

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  2. Loved the slideshow, and all of the smiles, how wonderful. Great job of doing one day at a time and taking advantage of the good times. Janel, you are awesome and I know your mom is very, very proud of you and your family. Keep up the good work and I know Ally's counts will be up, she is really a fighter. Prayers for a good week. Remember, her classmates can't wait to see her.

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  3. Glad she had a great day at the Lake. I have no doubt she will be back there many times next summer. Jerad's parents are so much like him, or should I say he is so much like them :-). Loving, giving, wonderful people. I admire their dedication to their grandchild(ren). Hoping for a great week at school. Joshua will be thrilled to see her on the bus :-)

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  4. Good slide show. Carly girl asleep on the boat--that's awesome. Yeah, I know, we hope to get up there more than ONCE next year too. Can't believe it's over already. But just glad to hear that Ally had fun and is ready to go back to school!

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  5. Lovely to see you guys having such a great time on the lake. All the smiles prove that you ARE persevering. Ally looked so happy.

    Oh, and LOVE the shot of Carly sleeping under the Budweiser towel!

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  6. I've just started reading about ally's story a few days ago. My husband came across it while surfing Dayton children's website. Ally's story is our Krista's story. Almost four and a half years ago our daughter Krista was also diagnosed with ALL. I read your posts and all I can do is sit here and cry. I feel as if you are writing our story too. I know exactly what you are going through. All I can say is Dr. B is the greatest and you will get through this. I took Krista shopping today for her first Homecoming dress.(She is now 14 (going on 24) and doing great!) It will be 5 years from her diagnosis in March. It is hard to believe it has almost been five years. Looking back now it's kind of just a blur. I think you said it best when you said you can only take it one day at a time because it is so true. Your Ally reminds me of our freckled face krista. I would send a picture but not quite sure what I'm doing with this whole blog business. She (Alllooks like a fighter!! It sounds like you have a great support system and that you are super strong people. It's ironic when I looked at some of your blog archives , one was titled another bump in the road. I used to tell that to Krista when things didn't go the way we wanted them to. If there is anything we could do to help you or your family please let me know. We actually live about 20 -25 minutes from Lake St.Mary's. I'm praying for Ally.

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  7. Wonderful to see your family having a normal uneventful Labor Day weekend! The slide show was great - looked like everyone had a great time! So glad Ally is ready to go back to school. Praying for a good week for all. Your strength is awesome.

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  8. Wow. It seems each "bump" is a little bit smaller and shorter now-- and I reading that correctly? Thank God for a great weekend. I hope you feel better and get those crummy allergies under control.

    Blessings,
    Amanda

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  9. What a great picture of Jerad's parents with all the kids! All of the pics are great, but that one really captured a nice moment.

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  10. I'm so glad to hear that you guys were able to make it to the lake. I know how much you love that place. Here is hoping Ally has a better week at school.

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