Days 40 & 41

K and Sofia playing Barbies

Kennedy is still being a kid, which is wonderful.

Blanca and Sofia came by tonight.  We haven’t seen them in months and Kenendy was so excited.  The girls played independently which was fun to watch.  Barbies was the theme of the night.  

Post visit, we prepped for our first hospital admit on Thursday.  Hospital bag is packed and the plan is set.  Plans are interesting because I’m never quite sure how they will pan out.  Nevertheless, we think we have one.  Gene will take Kennedy for her spinal chemo on Thursday morning and then K will be admitted to the 4^th floor of Loyola to begin the 24 hour IV infusion of Methotrexate.  After work, we will change spots and Gene will go home and I will stay with K for the day on Friday.  Friday evening, Grandma will come and watch K while Gene and I sneak out to a work retirement party for a few hours (the first time we’ve been out alone in 40 days).  Friday night, post dinner, Gene will stay at the hospital and I will go home to pick up Maddox and take him to swimming the next day.  I’ll spend part of the day with Maddox Saturday and then switch spots with Gene.  Gene will go home to hang out and spend the night with Maddox; I will stay with Kennedy in the hospital while they continue to flush out the chemo.  Sunday, we should go home sometime before noon.  Granted, this is the plan but as we’ve now learned, plans change. 

The BN postcard with Ella

I received a nice surprise at work today.  Our marketing department has a longstanding relationship with Bear Necessities. Recently, we donated funds for some bear-hugs so three teens fighting cancer could get gowns for a gala.  As a thank you, we received an adorable post card.  On the front of the card was Miss. Ella.  There was something magical about seeing Ella on that postcard.  People often tell us, as parents, how strong we are. But really, we don’t have a choice – often we don’t feel very strong at all.  Children on the other hand, they can break down, scream, fight us every step of the way but for the most part, they don’t.  They trust us.  They trust that we are doing the best thing for them and they never question it.  Kennedy, Ella and all these other kids battling cancer are the ones that are strong.  All of the perceivable strength we have comes from the children that stand so tall while fighting this disease.