Long Days Again

My mind is still racing as I reflect on everything that happened yesterday. I keep hearing all of the wonderful praises from everyone on how amazing they thought it was. I kinda wish I was able to capture it more in my emotional memory bank. I was just super busy the whole time doing all kinds of stuff that the team captain has to do. I guess when you are organizing that many people and passing stuff out/collecting stuff it is inevitable. I wish I would have had a little more time to talk to everyone. Like my college roommate Lisa who came all the way from Wisconsin to walk. Or my 2nd cousin Jane who came all the way from West Virginia....just to see Ally and do the walk. My former supervisor (and friend!) Ruthann who I haven't seen in 8 years....I knew I would cry when I saw her and I did. Jerad's lifelong friend Shawn who surprised us and flew up from Florida. An old elementary friend Jenny Israel who I haven't seen in 20 years! People just came out of the woodwork for our girl. There were also so many people on the list that I didn't even recognize...people who came to support us who I don't even know. Wow.

I did want to thank a few people. My friend, Lin Sartin, who works for Kohler's, arranged for about 25 people to walk on our behalf. Again, most of them don't know us. And the Wright State Basketball Team. Almost all of them were there. I need to track down a picture to post here. They were there to support us and our good friend (their coach!) Brad Brownell arranged it. In addition, today a sports writer from the Dayton Daily News (Marc Katz) interviewed us for a potential story on Ally. Mary Nutter and Robin Kraft and all their "sisters" organization were there rooting for our girl. And Ally's Valley Elementary Family...they had so many there. Her K, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers. Her principal. Her art teacher. Her PE teacher. Her school nurse and guidance counselor. Even teachers that she has never had including Heather Shively who came out on the drizzly night and celebrated her birthday by walking. Thank you all.

So today has been that day of reflection, but being in the hospital today has been especially a downer for me. I don't know if I am just in a bad mood or what, but this place is driving me nuts. I am here for all of today, tonight, full into tomorrow afternoon and after Evan's soccer game. Just walking to the cafeteria to get my dinner and there are tons of sick kids sitting in the hall by the urgent care with masks on (presumably flu). So I took a different path back to avoid it and find a huge carpet dryer out where someone has gotten sick all over the floor. (why carpet in a hospital, why?) Made me not want to eat that dinner I just got.
Ally is doing okay, but we arrived at 9 and they were so busy that they didn't start her treatment until 2. Which sets everything back. They also pumped her full of a bag of fluid at a rate of 999/hr...usually it is about 135. She swelled right up like a balloon...her face and eyes all puffy and full of fluid. One good thing was she now weighs 70 pounds....way up from the 61 measurement that had gotten just two weeks ago. I guess the appetite stimulant is working!
The hardest thing for us now is that the hospital has mandated NO VISITORS because of the outbreak of the flu. No one can come except parents and grandparents. Certainly no kids...not even her own brother or sister. I did get teared up today when she hugged her brother and sister goodbye and was not to see them again for four days. This makes life especially hard on Jerad and I...we usually "transfer" the kids in the hospital room. One of us comes, brings the kids, and then after a quick visit, the other one leaves with the kids to go home. Not sure how this is all going to work out. I guess it is good because I certainly don't want her catching the flu, but being in isolation for four days is just not fun. At all. So there are a couple other kids up here, but only one that she played with today. Aubrey is her favorite little friend up here...I think because she is 18 months old and reminds Ally of her little sister. They played for a little bit in the hemoc toy room. Cute. Both with their blue eyes and little bald heads, Aubrey is just a smaller version of Ally.


And then the only other highlight of the day was when the Sesame Street Live characters came to visit. They are in town for a show this weekend. Carly would have just peed her pants with excitement if she had the chance to see Elmo. She actually screamed and laughed when she saw this picture.
Here's hoping that we get to sleep in more than 1 hour increments....all the fluids make for frequent bathroom trips. And there is a chance that they may allow her to come home late Sunday on fluids, let her sleep in her own bed, and then come back on Monday to the clinic to get de-accessed. I sure hope that works out.

Ally is laying in bed beside me watching a movie. It is dark and her white Light the Night balloon is lit up and tied to her bed. She brought it in here today. How sweet is that?

If you are even still reading......sorry for the extra long post. I just have nothing else to do, so I am babbling on and on! Several of you last night told me I should write a book, and you know what, I just did!

Good night!