Build a Bear, Shopping Trip, Doing Well

This gift card came in the mail this week with a letter explaining that they had heard about Rebekah's health issues and wanted to give her a gift card so that she could create a bear. Thanks to Denise aka The Queen for contacting them, that was a really really nice gesture! One day soon we should be able to get out and use it. When we ask Rebekah if she wants to go Build A Bear, she says that she wants to build one for "Chi Chi" (her sister).

It has been a good few days. Rebekah is continuing to eat and it seems like more and more each day. The other night for dinner, she must have eaten between a quarter cup and a half cup of food. She just continued to eat and eat and eat. It amazed both Mom and Dad. We just watched with joy in our hearts and tears in our eyes.

I made the mistake of trying to cut the amount of dilution in her food yesterday and it promptly came back up. Ugh! I did manage to get her away from the white couch and new carpet and before it all came up. And she (sort of) cooperated with using the yellow bin instead of pushing it away completely. So we didn't have quite as big of a mess to clean up. Afterwards, she did a great job of helping with a sponge bath (always a good idea after throwing up allover herself). I guess she still needs her nutrition diluted. One lesson learned.

Today, Mommy and the girls went shopping. It has been such a long time since we've really been able to do that. It felt good to get out of the house and not have to worry so much about who Rebekah might come in contact with and what she might "catch" while we are out.

We went to Toys R Us - not the best place to take two kiddos. They kept wanting to divert Mommy and I think would have tried to buy the store out, if they could have. As much as I might like to buy them everything they want, I just can't afford to do that. We did need a few things though, like potty training supplies (so we can work on that one day soon) and placemats for on the table (which they don't carry) and some other things. I was able to use some gift cards that we had been given. It is always great to be able to get the things we need with gift cards.

Then we went to Target and picked up a few more things - a watch for Mommy (my old one is irritating my skin and the giver of the gift card told me I was supposed to buy something for me), some Dora placemats, and a Dora backpack for Rebekah to take to school with her when she goes back next week (her old one broke a strap). In case you didn't know, Rebekah loves Dora.

We are so thankful for all the love and support we have received and continue to receive. It is such an encouragement to us. Thank you for everything you do for us!

Next Wednesday morning, Rebekah will have her kidney test done, which requires anesthesia and then Rebekah's central line will be removed next Thursday morning. We were hoping to get them both scheduled for the same day, but no luck. Next week will be a busy week: Monday is speech therapy and school, Tuesday is physcial therapy evaluation and ENT evaluation, Wednesday is kidney test and maybe school, Thursday is central line removal surgery and Friday is occupational therapy evaluation. I guess we'll have to wait and see how we all hold up after all of that.

We are so excited to hear that Oliver is in REMISSION and he got to go home for about a week (if all goes well). Please continue to keep him and his family, as well as all the kiddos fighting cancer, in your prayers.