Wow I haven't posted since Tuesday. I saw my friend Laura today and she said she had figured me out. When things are going good, I don't post. And she is right. We get all caught up in regular life things and this week has been spring break so we've tried to make life a little extra special. No news is good news.
Ally made it past the warning point and then some. She is doing really well and was quite able to enjoy her spring break which was a blessing. Jerad took the day off work on Friday to actually do something fun. In the old days, Jerad and I spent a bunch of time on the bike path out towards Yellow Springs. So we packed up a picnic lunch...got all the bikes into or on the car...and off we went to show the kids our old favorite spot. I am fairly certain that we may be the only parents of someone with leukemia that think that taking their child on a long bike ride is a good idea. We rode out two miles and then turned around and rode back. We stopped somewhere in the middle at a covered picnic table and had our Good Friday meatless lunch. Ally never complained once. (Evan, well a few times, but he was a trooper too). Carly sat in the bike trailer that Jerad was pulling and sang almost the whole way. We stopped at this beautiful horse farm and watched a horse learning how to do jumps. The weather was perfect...the scenery made me think we were on vacation. Yes, it is a scene straight out of "leave it to beaver" or something like that. And that isn't typical for our family. No, we belong on Grey's Anatomy...a show I used to love, but now can no longer stomach even a glimpse of it. No thank you to any medical drama.
So, to summarize, Ally rode a total of four miles! Yes! We are the parents that push her along sometimes, but it is for this reason that she is so STRONG. If we let her lay around all the time, she would have much more trouble bouncing back all the time. You gotta love her determination to be a normal kid. It comes out when she is feeling good. I am proud of her.
Ally made it past the warning point and then some. She is doing really well and was quite able to enjoy her spring break which was a blessing. Jerad took the day off work on Friday to actually do something fun. In the old days, Jerad and I spent a bunch of time on the bike path out towards Yellow Springs. So we packed up a picnic lunch...got all the bikes into or on the car...and off we went to show the kids our old favorite spot. I am fairly certain that we may be the only parents of someone with leukemia that think that taking their child on a long bike ride is a good idea. We rode out two miles and then turned around and rode back. We stopped somewhere in the middle at a covered picnic table and had our Good Friday meatless lunch. Ally never complained once. (Evan, well a few times, but he was a trooper too). Carly sat in the bike trailer that Jerad was pulling and sang almost the whole way. We stopped at this beautiful horse farm and watched a horse learning how to do jumps. The weather was perfect...the scenery made me think we were on vacation. Yes, it is a scene straight out of "leave it to beaver" or something like that. And that isn't typical for our family. No, we belong on Grey's Anatomy...a show I used to love, but now can no longer stomach even a glimpse of it. No thank you to any medical drama.
So, to summarize, Ally rode a total of four miles! Yes! We are the parents that push her along sometimes, but it is for this reason that she is so STRONG. If we let her lay around all the time, she would have much more trouble bouncing back all the time. You gotta love her determination to be a normal kid. It comes out when she is feeling good. I am proud of her.
My family on the path
All three of my babies...
This picture does not due it justice...the beauty of the hills and the horses...
Loving the ride
We finished our fun day by getting ice cream at the local dairy, feeding the animals, riding their farm train, and then coloring Easter eggs with her cousins at our family's Good Friday fish fry.
Crafty girl made some cool eggs...
Evan LOVED doing the eggs this year.
As I sit here on the eve of Easter I am somehow remembering Christmas Eve. Me, home, doing everything by myself and feeling sorry that our family would be apart on Christmas morning. Yet another thing ruined by the disease that entered our lives 10 months ago. But on THIS day we are grateful. So grateful to be celebrating a major holiday at home together. And with our extended family. So grateful that our daughter's leukemia is in remission and that she has the strength to enjoy a bike ride. Grateful that God put Ally into our lives and gave me the power to take care of her and watch over her while she teaches so many people the simple lessons of life. She is a source of inspiration to so many. It is no accident that this has happened to us. We were chosen for this journey for some reason that we will never know. Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~Floyd W. Tomkins
Happy Easter to Ally's Army. THIS, my friends, was my favorite egg that she created.
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Aww, I didn't see that egg but I have to say it's my favorite as well! So glad she had a good week.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing. I kept checking every night to see how Miss Ally was doing. I figured that she must be doing well. SO happy to hear that. 4 miles??? You go, Ally!!
ReplyDeleteI figured if you weren't posting it meant you were enjoying life and so glad that was the case. You guys need more days like this.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to all, we love you all bunches.
What a wonderful way to start my Easter morning. The tears are flowing, but they are tears of joy for the happiness you and your family are sharing. You are all very strong and times will continue to better. I also loved that bike path and John, Jodi and I spent many happy afternoons at Young's Dairy Farm. Ally's Army reigns again. Have a great day and give your dad a hug from me. My God bless all of you.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Happy Easter, Barnetts! It was so wonderful seeing you all today! I did not get a chance to tell you goodbye, but I prayed that you would all get home safely! Ally looks absolutely wonderful! Thanks for the wonderful surprise!
ReplyDeleteWow. What great news! Happy Easter!!! I miss that bike path and Young's Dairy. I have faith too that this happened for a reason and that you will all continue to triumph. Thanks to God for these good days.
ReplyDeleteSo, so glad you had a wonderful week! Happy Easter to all of you!
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to hear that you made it to Junction City for Easter. I wanted to let you know that by chance, Mike and I were at the beach today and we saw a little boy and his grandmother walking. The little boy was picking up a lot of broken sand dollars and we had a bunch of cool shells. Mike asked the boy if he wanted to pick a few of the ones that we had and he did. While he was doing that, his grandmother asked us what the orange bracelets meant. We told her about Ally and she told us about her son who was diagnosed with AML at the age of 26. They told him to go home because he only had 6 months to live, but they decided to fight it. The little boy was his son and he is now 36! What an amazing chance meeting. She asked that we put Ally's address in their door sometime, because they visit the area often, and she is going to have her son write Ally a letter.
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