Happy 13 Years.

Sorry for my delay and cause for any worry....Ally did perk up yesterday evening a bit. She was doing well enough today that they said she could go home about 5pm. Of course, we are due back to the hospital at 9am in the morning. It is kind of just a night pass, but it works out because we get to be together and also sleep in our own bed. I sometimes feel bad leaving the hospital, as so many of our friends there stay for very long periods of time. We come and go, and they will still be there. Ally's friend Ashley and Dave were both in that boat this time.

Ally is not feeling so great. Her belly hurts and she seems tired and slow. She wanted to go to Rita's Ice Cream as soon as we left the hospital. I drove her all the way there just to find out it was closed for the season. UGH. So then I asked her if she wanted to go see the kids at her brother's last soccer game. Like the champ that she is she said yes. We went straight from the hospital to the soccer fields and we carried around her backpack full of fluid and made sure we didn't trip up on all her tubes. She is an inspiration to so many. She was even smiling. And I KNOW she felt like crap.

Hopefully, she will pass all of her tests tomorrow and be freed of the tubing. We got a letter from school today saying they are having an unusually high number of absences due to strep throat and/or flu-like viruses. I think that I will just keep her home until some of that clears up....assuming it does. But I can't keep the whole family locked up...so I guess we just have to pray that our family is spared. We have all had the flu vaccine and they tell me that is the best thing we can do right now to protect our girl.

So tonight I am glad to be home again with the family. I am especially grateful today because we are celebrating (well not really celebrating per se) but remembering that Jerad and I were married 13 years ago today. Many of you were there that day to celebrate the beginnings of the Barnett family that we are today. Who knew that when they said for better or worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and the health, that it would all ring true for us. And so early in our married life too. We have had our share of hardships. But I am constantly reminded of what a gift that I was given in Jerad. Because you will never find a more caring and devoted father than him. And once again, maybe that is one of the reasons this is happening to us and not someone else. Many dads would completely crack under the pressure of this and go into a hole and never come out. But he remains strong for all us, continuing to do his work and his community service throughout all of this.. and go on with life and just make the best of it. And maybe even crack a smile or a joke in typical Jerad fashion. And maybe next year we will actually get to celebrate!