Lots of Things Done Today

Rebekah is doing better bit by bit. She threw up pretty bad this morning but has, since then, kept everything down. Her "food" is being quite diluted and put in at a slow rate, but she is keeping it down. We are so THANKFUL!

There were a few times (far better than one or two) today that Rebekah was wanting to play with Sarah. Play ususally consisted of having Sarah climb on her. A couple of times Rebekah even insisted that she be the one to give Sarah a piece of food or a sippy cup. We had to bring the food or sippy cup to Rebekah and then coax Sarah over there, but it worked.

Sarah pretty much thinks Rebekah is a jungle gym and Rebekah, for the most part likes it. Good thing since she is too weak to do anything about it.

Between yesterday and today we had SO many helpers - so much that we have been brought to tears just thinking about how gracious so many people have been.

Annika showed up this morning early to help paint. Help is kind of an underestimate because it is kind of her project. She even brought the paint. Then she brought her neighbors Nolan, Catherine, Ryne and Meredith who all painted. Ryne and Meredith spent a bit more time outside on the play structure but helped inside every chance they got. Catherine is a twin sister to Rebekah - only about 20 some years older. She is fighting cancer, in chemo and bald just like Rebekah. They all WERE complete strangers until Annika read about Rebekah's story in the newsletter to NAFA (Northwest Adoptive Families Association - a group of adoptive families that we belong to). It was SO cool to have them come out.

Grandma M also came out and helped watch the girls. Ashley from church came and took care of some things around the house that were falling way behind. Then Karen, Dave and Ian came over. Karen is a nurse and we specifically called to see if she would come over and watch Rebekah so mommy and daddy could go - TOGETHER! - to Home Depot and pick out a ceiling fan for the playroom. It was nice to be able to get out together. While Grandma and Karen watched Rebekah and Sarah, Dave and Ian continued on the trim on the outside of the house. Rebekah only fussed once and they were able to calm her down.

Mommy and daddy got a ceiling fan, some lights and some shelving for the "pharmacy". Most of you have family bathrooms. We used to. Now we have a family pharmacy:

(Just for "perspective" these shelves are 5 feet wide and 16 inches deep) And this doesn't count the medicines in the fridge, the IV supplies in her room or the cases of "Food" for her G-Tube. This stuff had been spread throughout the house and we really needed to get it together. Not exactly "attractive" for the family bathroom, but you do what you have to do.

Thank you so much for all the help, for all the prayers and for just thinking about us. Right now we are on pretty much a high with all the progress being made around here. Aren't holiday weekends grand?!