Dina's Visit, Kids Camp, and Melody and Heidi's Visit to CA

It was so so hard to leave my family.  I cried going through security at the airport.  I even got patted down because of my port :(.  Ugh.  So many emotions but the Lord provided and my sweet friend DINA was waiting at the terminal for me.  It was the BEST!!!  She cheered me right up and funny story.....we got to talking and talking and we missed our flight!!  Yes I know how in the world.  I'm not really sure except for the fact that we were sitting one gate down from where we needed to be so we weren't paying full attention.  Dumb.  We panicked when we realized but thankfully they got us on a later flight and we made it later that evening!  I had chemo the next morning and she was right there with me.  That day was definitely harder.  My blood sugar wouldn't drop so it took a lot longer.  I think once it did get low it got too low.  I felt pretty miserable and tired the rest of the day.  We skipped hyperthermia that afternoon but it was fine.  We got more time just to hang out.

Weston got some time with his buddies which was so fun for him!  Thankful for the great friends he has.

Meanwhile the kids were getting ready for Kids Camp!  All went except Caleb.  So many sweet friends helped with making sure it was an awesome week for them.  It was really hard not to be there because this was Lucy's first time to get to go!  And I've helped all year in Preteen and love my 5th grade group :(.  But it was fine and worked out.

Silly Caleb at drop off :)

Sweet Jacey made Lucy a sign for her bunk bed :).  And she got to be with Kate all week!

Of course the poop head had to make his way to camp....

Big girls on the bus to camp!

Tyson and his buddies!

Girl's Cabin!

Mr. Brian is the best!

They all had the best time.  I was so sad to miss it but thankful for their time there :).

 Home to the cows...gosh I miss them!!!

Back in CA, Dina left and Melody came back in town.  So thankful for her.  She's spent so much time away from her family to be with me.  We were rocking it driving back and forth from Irvine to Santa Monica....what a whip of a drive!!

But we made the best of it!  We decided to go see Santa Monica pier.  It was old and not super fabulous but still fun to see it!

Then we drove down to a harbor and had our picnic lunch.  It was so pretty and great weather (always!).

Heidi came in to see me and her and Melody overlapped a day or so.  We decided to head to Laguna Beach that day.  It was colder and misting that morning but then warmed right up and was great by the afternoon.  I honestly wasn't feeling that great....I had major pressure and bloating and so it just didn't make me feel very good.  I couldn't walk very far and I loved being at the beach but just wished I felt better.  But it was still fun and relaxing to be there.

Heidi took this when we didn't know...kinda funny.  Think we're sisters??  We even stand the same!  Ha!

Scooby Doo mini van :)

Had to say bye to Mel....she went back home.

Chemo the next day with Heidi!  

And this picture is the best....many prayers have been prayed for Casie getting to be a teacher!!  She did certification stuff and got hired at the intermediate for 4th grade!  This is her new classroom as she is moving in.  I was so sad to miss all this and not get to help her set up but I loved hearing about it all.  And best news she has Lucy in her class!!!  I'm so thankful she'll be with her this year!

Then she had to leave to get back to start teaching!!  So I was brave and did a night in Santa Monica by myself.  It went great and I did fine.  When I got back the next morning I had an appointment with a liver specialist in CA at the City of Hope - a known hospital.  His name was Dr. Fong.  It was hard/good.  He was very blunt and to the point.  He basically told me if I wanted to keep with the low dose chemo and drag this out then ok, stay in CA....but if I wanted to hit this hard and get better then I needed to get home to Texas and get on full dose chemo.  He said if I could get the tumors to shrink he'd be willing to do surgery on me.  He was encouraging and hopeful but very blunt.  So it was a lot to take in.   I was by myself for that appointment and Logan and the kids were getting there to CA in just a little bit.