November Fun, Fingernail Wierdness, and Thanksgiving

Most of November has passed and no new posts. No news is pretty good news in cancer. I have seen a lot of other cancer kids' blogs where they drop off once they get into maintenance.

Brighton High School had a freezing 5-K followed by a Fall Festival fundraiser. The kids loved hanging out with Grady's family and Millie's younger brother. 

They also partnered with our local Chick-Fil-a to split some of the profits on the dinner sales one fine Thursday night, so we went to see our Brighton Buddies then, too.

 

And one more picture of November activities. HopeKids does a movie once a month, and we got to see Big Hero 6 with them at Jordan Commons. The kids loved that.

We had a clinic appointment starting the next 84-day cycle. Those come with Lumbar Punctures. We chose to have her LP in the sedation room again. Dr. Katelyn did the LP, since she is amazing at it. Emma was calling her the Back Poke Queen. The notes suggested a dosage range for the sedation drugs, and I recalled for them that the dose they used was ample and possibly more than needed to get the job done.

Emma stayed asleep for 90 minutes. Sedation is supposed to slow a kid down for about 15 minutes, and they should lie down for a full 30 after an LP to let the methotrexate mix well with the CSF and to reduce risks of headaches.

They adjusted the notes for Emma to use much less of the drugs for her next sedation. I do believe it's genetic. My father and I also respond very thoroughly to any anesthetics. A little goes a very long way for our respective weight classes.

We asked Dr. Doug and Dr. Elizabeth about Emma's fingernails.

They both seemed perplexed. It looks like the old nail died and there is a new nail growing underneath it. I initially figured it was a chemo reaction of some kind, but when they both were unfamiliar with it, I started to worry just a bit over what would make a kid's nails do this.

Another cancer mama saw them, said she'd heard of it, and suggested reaching out for an answer. The cancer mama community has indeed seen it. One mama said her doctor responded to her own kiddo's similar problem with an explanation that the nail bed is a complex matrix and the chemo must have disrupted it. Within a couple hours, five different mamas said their kids had experienced something like it.

It isn't necessarily common, and doesn't seem to be a side effect of any one particular drug, so it wouldn't go on the medication information sheet. I heard of it after a stem cell transplant and during different phases of treatment. So there you have it... the nail bed is a complex matrix.

Cancer is not a great thing at all; but it comes with some blessings. I love the people we have gotten to know through this. On Tuesday, we had a play date with one of Emma's friends so that I could talk with my cancer mama friend. We'll do it again.

Earlier this month I went to an overnight retreat in Heber. 30ish mamas got together at a cabin. Several restaurants catered meals for us. The mama who organized it managed to get quite a lot donated so that it would be affordable. It was so incredibly therapeutic to listen to each other, to relate about this unwelcome horror that we have all had to live with. 

Those are some strong women. We have different interests, different backgrounds, different educations and ages and socioeconomic statuses. The shared experience, though, leads to a level of trust and camaraderie. I am so grateful to know them. They are strong. Their stories and their children's stories are compelling. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for. I am so grateful for people whose life work, career, and everyday focus is to help my Emma.

I am grateful for pediatric oncologists, for researchers, for nurses, medical techs, and all the medical personnel that fight cancer. I am grateful for Primary Children's hospital. I am grateful for the dozen-plus organizations that we know that help bring joy to sick kids. HopeKids, Make-a-Wish, Millie's Pringess Foundation, NEGU joy jars, ACCO, Anything Can Be, the folks who make capes and gather socks and legos, the blanket makers and pillowcase makers. I am so grateful that technology allows for a free and efficient support group on Facebook - I need that group so much.

I am grateful for good neighbors. I am grateful for a close family. I am grateful for my anonymous cash donors. I am grateful for the friendship and generosity of quiet helpers that impact us so much and don't want to be thanked openly. (you know who you are.) I am grateful for CapitalOne360's contest last year, without which we would be in a very different place with the stress and the budget.

I am grateful for the treatments we do have, and grateful that we still have Emma.

I am mindful of those that are missing their angel children at this time of year. I think it must be awful every day to have lost a child; but this time of year must ache a bit extra.

There are so many things to be grateful for, even in the cancer world.

Emma became a Bengal

I am hoping this link works.

Today, Emma went to Brighton High School, where the Principal gave her a school shirt and made her a Bengal.

Brighton is working with Millie's Princess Foundation to help three cancer families,  and we were invited to be one of the three. This video was our introduction to the student body.

We are so grateful, humbled, and honored.

Emma and mom got to meet Grady and his dad, as well as Millie's family. The students and teachers at Brighton were so kind to us.

EDIT:
I wanted to add this video, while we're looking at Youtube. Zions Bank did this for Millie's Princess Foundation.

Holidays, Memories, Plans, and Celebration of Gratitude

I know its October; but I'm thinking a bit of Christmas and our upcoming project. 

I'm also aware that across the  Salt Lake Valley there is a family celebrating Christmas Eve today. The local radio station will play Christmas music just for them. Their 4-year old son has ALL just like Emma, and the doctors are out of ideas for him, so his family is celebrating all their holidays this week while he still feels good. His entire neighborhood had Halloween already and is all bedecked in Christmas lights tonight.

***

I remember visiting the Festival of Trees with my family when it was held in the Salt Palace. I was amazed at the variety of themes and colors that all celebrate Christmas so well. I loved the intricate gingerbread houses and couldn’t imagine how anybody could make such incredible things out of cookies and candy. Mostly I loved the story or dedication of each tree. Sometimes they clearly tied to the tree, and sometimes not; but there was always a compelling story – some sad, some inspiring, some hopeful.

Every tree, every wreath, gingerbread house, quilt, table setting, and toy is decorated and donated out of love. Many are in memory of a loved one, or in gratitude for a life preserved. The amount of passion and love and emotion expended on these trees proved that you can turn emotional energy to creativity and beauty.

Early in our marriage, I started thinking about decorating a tree for the Festival of Trees. I had some nieces and a nephew that had spent some time at Primary Children’s hospital for seizures when they were very tiny, and Clinton’s family had even more reason to be grateful for Primary Children’s. He has two nieces that were born premature and spent much time there.

One niece, Emily, was the youngest baby that Primary Children’s saved to that point, though I understand they have since saved some that were born even earlier. She was about 26 weeks along when she was born, and was the size of a soda can.

I thought that we had much to be grateful for, and that it would be appropriate to do a tree benefitting the hospital and the children whose lives depend on it. We occasionally discussed and dreamed about it among my family and Clinton’s.

Clinton’s education and career goals took us to the East Coast. We had four healthy children. The first year we moved back to Utah, we took our kids to see the Festival of Trees and we certainly enjoyed it.

When Emma was diagnosed with cancer, I determined that this year, we would finally put action to the talk. Primary Children’s saved my baby and we would be there frequently for more than two years for her cancer treatments. I simply had to do a tree. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, and my sisters and mother immediately agreed to join in the planning, designing, purchasing, and decorating. I am so glad they took the lead, since I was barely coping with the newness of Emma’s diagnosis.

Our family went to the 2013 Festival of Trees with Grammy and Auntie Sarah; and Auntie Jen also went. We all took notes on how the decorating was done, what elements and themes looked best, what elements and themes sold well, how they were lit, dressed, and presented. 

Emma chose Minnie Mouse from the themes we considered.

On December 26^th, my sisters and mother and I went shopping at the after-Christmas half-price sales. We carefully scrutinized every pre-lit tree left at Home Depot, and from there we moved on to ShopKo, Target, Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, and Tai Pan Trading. There may have been a few other stops as well. It was certainly more shopping and comparing and considering and deciding and couponing than I could have done on my own. Grammy bought it all at half-price or just under.

When we finally finished, we had a tree, lights, shiny balls in red and silver in different sizes, accenting ornaments, wrapping paper, tulle, ribbon, raffia, and more. We had a critical mass of the necessary materials, and we had a pretty good vision of what we like and what we wanted to create. And we had it all stacked neatly in Grammy’s basement.

In September, we registered for our spot and started to internalize all the rules. We moved everything except the tree to Sarah’s house. We spent one very late night drilling and gluing so that all the ornaments are ready to attach.

I am beginning to get excited, and a little nervous. I hope this goes well.

Festival of Trees has a motto, a gift of love. Every item donated is truly a gift of love. For me, this is a way to channel some of my gratitude.

I can’t say thank you to all the people that have anonymously helped us. I can’t say thank you to all the people that support the organizations that have openly helped us. I have probably missed several people that I could have and should have thanked along this journey.  I can’t begin to say thank you to the researchers, the doctors, and the families that have been through cancer before us and paved the way for the treatments that Emma gets now. I can’t begin to say thank you to those who have made their careers all about healing my little girl.

So I will put it into this tree.

Not Much New

I am very pleased to report that nothing has happened this week.

Well, nothing medically significant. Emma had her regular clinic appointment on the 17th.

This was Emma's vincristine. The label is a bit alarming. Chemo is concentrated directed poison.

Doug took a look at her spots and said she is not contagious any more and it will take a few days for the spots to completely disappear. He was right... though they are no longer red, there are still spots in the texture of her skin that are gradually disappearing.

She started another steroid pulse.

Luckily, that pill bottle is now empty, and she can finish the withdrawals and regain some personal confidence again. She really didn't want to go to school this morning. Kids might be mean, she might do something wrong, they wouldn't play with her. I hate what dexamethasone does to her emotions.

Otherwise, we are trying to maintain our goals.

Earlier this month, while Emma was in the hospital, our church held our twice-yearly general conference in which apostles and prophets spoke. There was no new revelation, but reminders of things that we need to do better. We picked up a lot of new resolve at that time to do a little better.

Our family goals haven't changed or been erased; but we somehow still slip in our good habits. Remembering priorities can be hard, even when they are written on the wall of the kitchen. We are putting more emphasis on the quality of our family time. We are trying to remember to pray together every single morning before anybody leaves. We are trying to remember that our first most important responsibility/job in our family is to be nice to each other.

Long term maintenance in cancer has some parallels to long term maintenance of life. Forgetting pills invites relapse, and forgetting prayer or other personal discipline invites cancer in the soul. Whether you are of my faith or not, personal discipline is important in maintaining the health of your soul, your character, or whatever terminology you prefer.

Relationships need to be maintained daily through small things. Luckily, though, getting time with family is not like chemo. While chemo is concentrated poison, family time, or parents on a date, is beneficial in so many doses and applications.

Sprung!

Emma was sprung from the hospital Sunday the 12th, so there was only one night overnight this time.

After they quit the vancomycin, as well as the benadryl, she got a good night of sleep and started looking perkier and healthier. The additional blood cultures continued to grow nothing. The hand, foot, and mouth desease just did its virusy business. No fevers.

They decided to send her home with daily IV doses of rocephin until they finished studying and growing things on her blood cultures.

Monday they decided that there was nothing to see and that she could quit the antibiotics and return to her chemo.

The most likely situation is that the first blood culture was cross-contaminated. How? I don't know.

On the one hand, it is frustrating to have been hospitalized for two days for something she didn't have. On the other hand, I am grateful that the doctors take these things so seriously. If in doubt, they act in defense of the worst possibility.

Because she has a compromised immune system (that's the purpose of chemo) her contagious window for the hand, foot, and mouth might possibly be longer, so the doctors said she shouldn't go anyplace until clinic on Friday.

Wednesday, Grammy came and spent a few hours with the kiddos to let Momma get out for a couple hours. Thanks, Grammy!

Busy few days

Thursday Emma had a fever and we visited the Emergency Department. All the regular stuff... blood cultures, cbc with diff (complete blood count with differential) rocephin, Tylenol. 

Her ANC was 6700 - really pretty high. We went home. The rocephin is a broad spectrum antibiotic that is good for 24 hours.

Next day she went to the farm with Grandma and Grandpa. They brought lunch home to the rest of us. Emma didn't feel like eating.  She was tired,  and her cheeks were red, and her eyes had that look.  She was hot. 101.7 degrees.

The rocephin was still active; but I called to ask about timing for Tylenol.  Dr Engle and Doug were in, since it was Friday.  They wanted to see her, so Grandma took the others home while I took Emma to see the Doctors.

They did blood cultures,  a urine test, and rocephin again.  Dr. Engle figures the high ANC indicates that the neutrophils are all mobilized to fight whatever is causing the fever. Then we headed home.

This morning we got a call from the hospital. Her Thursday blood culture grew a something.  I can't remember what,  but she needed to come in. Daddy brought her to be admitted.  Vancomycin is the antibiotic of choice for this kind of bacteria.

She reacted to the Vancomycin with puffy lips and a red face, so they folloeed up with benadryl. They don't categorize the reaction as allergic; but they premedicated her evening Vancomycin with benadryl and they are running the Vancomycin over a much longer time frame.

They are running additional blood cultures. We need to have additional samples to rule out cross-contamination of the first sample.  Also, with Vancomycin running in, we need to see that it's working and that her blood is clean again.

Update: no more vancomycin. She did it again. The nurse called it Red man syndrome.  She got all hot, her hed turned red, and her lips puffed up again. They stopped her infusion and will let her sleep a bit. In the morning,  she will get rocephin. It isn't as targeted as vancomycin; but it also won't trigger red man syndrome.

Sunday morning update: she has red bumps on the palms of her hands. 

Survey says: hand, foot, and mouth

This is separate from the blood cultures. (Sigh)

And home again

The morning ANC Thursday was 100. Thursday night she reached 104.9 degrees and the doctor approved a one-time dose of Advil. Emma has not had ibuprofen since diagnosis. They decided her platelets were high enough that she could probably take the ibuprofen without too much risk, particularly considering her temperature.

Friday morning her ANC climbed to 200, with temperatures continuing to be high between Tylenol doses.

Her last Tylenol was about 1:30 am Saturday morning, and the ANC when the sun came up had reached 1100.

"Why did it jump so much?" you might ask. "Is that normal?"

I don't know.

I do know that she came home Saturday a little after noon. She is on an oral antibiotic just to be cautious, but it is likely she fought a virus and it has finished its course.

Her energy levels are approaching normal, and she seems to be her normal usual cheerful self once again.

Our sincere gratitude to Jen and her family, and to Grandma and Grandpa Reeder for watching the boys so Momma could be at the hospital and Daddy could work. Thanks to Grampa and Gamma Tech for coming to the hospital twice, and for Grampa sitting with Emma for 6 hours Friday night, giving Mom and Dad a chance to keep their Friday plans and also switch. Thanks Traci and Syd for visiting Emma.

Also, though they probably don't read my blog, thanks to the donors and volunteers that support the Ronald McDonald family room. Two nights I was there, people came and made dinner - so nice to be able to just pick up a plate, fill it, eat, and get back to my baby without the cost of the cafeteria. I also grabbed lunch from the fridge and freezer in there twice this visit. I am so grateful for that. I may not get a Big Mac very often, but boy I am grateful for the McDonalds' charity. It makes a difference to me.

Toasty with low counts

Emma got the thermometer to say 102.4 and I had the bag in the car by the time we got through to the nurse.

Her ANC was 100, so we are here. The threshold for hospital admittance is 500. At low levels like this, Emma can't fight off germs.

So far she has been negative for the common respiratory viruses on the panel that they ran. Her blood culture has not grown anything.

That is all pretty good. 

Her temperature won't go down on its own. She can have Tylenol every 6 hours, but by hour 5 or 5 1/2, she is pushing 104. Last night she got to 104.5. 

She is also acting pretty tired and grumpy, but she is in good hands.

CureSearch for Cancer

I am grateful for the generosity of so many. Emma's Team raised $1,560 for Curesearch. That will all go to research for improved treatments for pediatric cancer.

The Salt Lake CureSearch walk raised just over $60,000. Other walks happened in other cities around the country. Thank you to those who put their money into this. Thank you for those who have "Gone Gold" for September. Thank you to all who help to spread awareness and raise money to fight this. I am hopeful that the next few years might bring some new breakthroughs. I can't sit by while children die from cancer, missing their futures and opportunities. Thanks to those who listen to me shouting, and especially to those who join in the fight.

Aleigh, Emma's Aunt, was by far the biggest fundraiser, collecting more than $700 from her coworkers and friends in L.A. Aleigh flew out for the weekend to be with Emma despite the rain.

 Our little team was ranked 12th in fundraising. WOW!

 Also joining us for the walk were Auntie Jenni and Cousin Jane.

 Jeremy designed Emma's crowns and he and Jen printed them. Thanks!

We will be doing this again. There are lots of excellent organizations that do incredible things. CureSearch and St. Baldricks are focused on funding research, and they are both very efficient at getting the dollars to the researchers.

Reflections on a cancerversary

Emma was diagnosed on the 23rd of September 2013.

It's her cousin's birthday, too.

We have met many new friends over the year. We have seen so many blessings and such goodness from so many places. One new friend is a pen pal, David. He and his wife, Natalie, write pretty regularly. I hope they won't mind if I quote from their most recent letter:

I am not sure how you mark the one year anniversary of a cancer diagnosis. Is it an anniversary? Is it a commemoration? Perhaps it is a celebration because of the tremendous experiences that have come to your family over the past year. Maybe it is a way to mark the friends that have come into your life from hospital staff, to ward members, to family members that have shared so much of this journey with you. More likely it is acknowledge that it has been a roller coaster of emotions and this one year mark is just another stake in the sand that helps to hold your tent strong in the storms of life...
My hope is that your family is stronger, your marriage is stronger, and your faith is stronger. All in all that is a pretty good thing. The cost is high, but the outcomes have been life changing...

He's right.

There are many emotions, lots of thoughts, lots of memories.

I put Caleb in a nap this afternoon and held him extra tight, remembering the week last year when I barely saw him and sweet Becca Malone helped wean him and find his favorite bottle and formula.

Shawnya's classroom is now the home of our school's reading aids, where Emma enjoys "lunch bunch" getting caught up in reading skills since she missed preschool. But a year ago, that portable classrom was where Lizzy went after school. What a blessing that Clinton's sister taught just one year in this district, the year we needed her the most.

I've been thinking a lot about the family whose 4-year old is complaining of hurt legs, or who is pale or bruising that don't know yet but are about to be plunged into this world of cancer. I'm mourning a bit for their innocence and hoping they have the courage to pull together. Somewhere today, there are several families getting their first introduction to A.L.L. I am thinking of them a lot.

Mostly, though, I am grateful.

I am grateful for the researchers who have figured out how to fight leukemia over the last century.

I am grateful for our doctors and nurses who followed a career into pediatric oncology - what must be a heart-rending profession on so many days. They are dedicated and compassionate. I will love them forever.

I'm also grateful for the rest of Primary Children's Hospital - the ER staff, the other doctors, nurses, techs, pharmacists, receptionists, administrators, cafeteria workers, volunteers, cleaners, and laundry mechanics.

I'm grateful for the other health professionals. Our home health nurse, our own pediatrician, the doctor who sent us to Primary in the first place, the lab people, and on and on.

I am grateful that CapitalOne picked Emma for their grand prize - as our medical bills are under control right now.

I am grateful for the gifts of time, food, money, drive-through gift cards, toys, blankets, hats, service, prayers, cards, art supplies, and more.

I am grateful for Emma's Team. For all the people that have put their efforts and interest into Emma and our family. Friends, family, family of friends, friends of family, and more.

I'm grateful for Make-a-Wish and for Give Kids the World. I'm grateful for Camp Hobe. I'm grateful for HopeKids and for ACCO.

I'm grateful to my facebook mamas group, who support and love each other and understand what it is to be moms of cancer fighting cuties.

I am grateful that I still have my Emma. I am grateful for my little family who are, I think, stronger and closer together.

I am grateful for my faith. It sustains me.

Make a Wish Friday

We had a lot to do the last day. After cleaning up the last of our things, we moved out of our villa and put together the Van Jigsaw.

Next stop, the House of Hearts, where we began our journey.

We needed to check out and collect our packet. Emma also had one last errand.

The Gingerbread House has toys - mostly dolls and stuffed animals - lining the ceiling. Each one was donated by a wish child. It is not required, requested, or ever asked, but Emma knew about those toys. Emma brought Horton the Elephant to Florida to stay. He would be like a little piece of Emma to leave behind and remind future kids of Emma, and for Emma to say thank you with something that she loves. So Emma said Good Bye to Horton and donated him to stay and love all the kids that will come.

We next poked our head in to the Castle of Miracles to meet George.

Then one last breakfast and one last ice cream, and we left Give Kids the World Village.

Our friends from Canada told us what we must see at Sea World in the short time we had. Emma had been talking about feeding dolphins for a month or more, so that was our first stop.

While we waited, Emma picked through the seashells in the flower beds and selected several favorites.

They gave us each a tray of fish and taught us how to feed the Dolphins.

Near the end of the feeding session, a trainer came over to help us and introduce us to the beautiful Lilly who did a few nice tricks right there at the wall for us.

Lizzy's cast denied her the ability to ride the Manta roller coaster, and Clinton thought it unwise right before flying. Emma's magic Give Kids the World button let Momma walk right onto the ride without any waiting at all. The Manta is a flying coaster, which means your feet hang down; but this one also picks riders up and faces them out so the track is at their spines as they reach 54 miles per hour doing 4 inversions and dipping down to get splashed in the lagoon below. That's as close as I've ever been to feeling like I was flying.

Sea World doesn't have any Manta Rays - which have a 25-foot wing span, but we did feed some stingrays.

They eat little shrimp.

The kids each got a tray, and again, the trainers showed them how it is done.

The kids totally loved feeding them!

They are such strange and beautiful creatures.

We watched them circle their aquarium for quite awhile.

 Finally, we had to leave the rays if we were going to see Shamu. We entered the stadium about 4 minutes before the show was to begin, and it was nearly full. I don't know how big it was; but certainly more than twice the size of my high school football stadium.

We showed Emma's pass and were pointed to the front center row, if we didn't mind being in the soak zone.

I don't think we actually did see anybody named Shamu; but maybe. There were four or five beautiful killer whales.

It was a breathtaking show, and incredible what grace and beauty and athleticism there is in an animal the size of a bus.

We had such a perfect view of everything, though we did for sure get thoroughly wet, having forgotten ponchos.

The walk to the exit gave us a chance to dry just a bit. Next stop, the gas station to fill up, then a drive through for some quick lunch, and then to the airport.

We checked three bags and made our way to the gate. There were a few delays due to weather in Houston, and our flights were full. We were all wearing our Make-a-Wish shirts again. The very nice gate agent, looking at our stroller full of carry-on luggage, offered to check a few more bags for us at no cost, which we gratefully accepted.

The children were excellent on the flight to Denver. Caleb was, admittedly, bored and a little bit busy. Neither Clinton nor I got to read or play with electronics.

The last flight was on a tiny plane for only about an hour. Aunt Jenni was there at the airport to take us back home, happy, tired, and smelling of Orca.

One last surprise - while we were gone Grammy came and cleaned our house, did the laundry, and left us some raspberries. She wanted the magic of Emma's wish to last just a bit longer.

Thursday Make-A-Wish

Before leaving home, we had discussed all our options with the kids. I had looked at crowd estimators and events to get an idea of the best days to do things, but we also had the kids help decide. They set the priorities and approved or decided most of the schedule.

By now we knew we would have spent a day at Universal Studios, a day in the Magic Kingdom, half a day each in Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

We had a 2-day Universal pass and a 3-day Disney pass. Friday we would spend 3 hours at Sea World before catching the plane.

We agreed to leave Thursday open. We wouldn't decide until Wednesday night after we had seen some of everything. We could either use the last day of Universal, the last of Disney, or do something else entirely.

Lizzy wanted to do the spells again in the shop fronts of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter; but she also did see the point in Emma's vote for Magic Kingdom.

 
We explained that Universal and Disney World were far enough apart that we thought it wouldn't be the best plan to try to do both. They had to choose.

Emma's choice held the most weight, as well as Emma's original wish to go to Disney World. She talked Lizzy into being happy with one more day at the Magic Kingdom. We also did suggest that we might do some research and see if we could find a way to set up some magic at home... so if anybody knows how to make an I/R-controlled anything, do let us know.

We had breakfast at the Gingerbread House. This maybe takes a little more time than the Ice Cream Palace; but only because there are more choices and the kids sort of get distracted looking at all the toys on display.

Emma led the kids in collecting chocolate donuts for lunch.

Mickey and friends were at the village again, so we went to see if we had missed somebody important. I really wanted to get a good picture of Emma with Minnie Mouse for the Festival of Trees; but she wasn't there.

Pluto was, though, and we were quite happy to meet Mickey's best friend.

We had a free stroller rental available at every park each day. We didn't need them, though, since we brought the deluxe, cruising-Cadillac, multi-toddler, 38-pounds-empty, gear hauling, double stroller.

By about Tuesday Clinton started carrying various little people on his shoulders because it was just too hard to walk.

We should have started in on the free strollers Wednesday for sure; but we didn't until today. The great thing about the light-weight park stroller? Lizzy could maneuver it with ease. It took a weight off Clinton's shoulders, literally. We were very happy to be a two-stroller family.

Today at Magic Kingdom we started in Tomorrowland to go counter-clockwise through the park. Then we could be sure to enjoy the attractions we didn't have time for on Tuesday. We started with Buzz Lightyear.

When we drove the Tomorrowland speedway, the girls drove Daddy while Mommy took the boys.

By then we were hungry enough to have some lunch.

In Fantasyland, we got over to the circus area where the kids rode Dumbo.

 

We also learned how to fly a biplane roller coaster under the tutelage of the Great Goofini.

We also wanted to ride Ariel's undersea adventure, and accidentally found ourselves meeting Ariel herself, which was a pleasant surprise. 

After that we did experience her ride, as well. 

We enjoyed looking at the other princesses' castles and homes, though we didn't go in to meet them or eat at their restautants.

We took a couple more turns on the Seven Dwarfs' mine train and got some ice cream to cool down.
 

After a couple more Fantasyland repeats, we decided to go to Frontierland to repeat our favorites there.

Caleb played in the Laughin' Place while his siblings took turns on Splash Mountain.

 

We also rode Tommy's train - Big Thunder Mountain - a couple more times.

We had talked about the paddle boat or the Disney Railroad around the park; but it was pushing 5:30 and the kids were running out of energy. Even with the extra chariot, Clinton and I were wearing down, too.

We took a vote on one last ride, and went to enjoy the Pirates of the Caribbean on our way out.

I walk slowly as I'm leaving a Disney park, always trying to absorb everything.

I walk even slower the last day. I stop to take extra pictures. We stop and turn around to wave good-bye.
 

 
We took 522 pictures on our own cameras this day, by far the most. 

We had such a good time. For a little while, we were not worried about cancer. We were not worried about homework or school or ADD or the school community council.

We didn't think about our responsibilities at church. Clinton wasn't thinking about servers or changes or what the next step is in his career path. We were thinking of each other and having fun together.

Our last dinner at Give Kids the World was pizza delivery. While we waited for the pizza to arrive, we started packing.

Thursday night is Christmas at Give Kids the World. There is a Christmas dance party on the Avenue of Angels, and Santa Claus visits with kids in the Gallery of Hope. We didn't want to miss Christmas. Daddy put the boys in a bath while I took the girls to catch the tail end of the Christmas party.

We did a dance and then went to find Santa. We were the last in line and had fun joking and teasing with a very amiable Kris Kringle and his elves. Once we finished, the angels were rolling the last of the dance party equipment away.

I found myself lingering along the Avenue of Angels knowing it was our last evening. We for sure went to the ice cream palace and chatted with other families that were getting dessert before going home to bed. We found a family from Utah, the Fullers. We knew they were coming and hoped to meet up with them. They are a cancer family like us.

We brought some ice cream to Daddy, too, as we slowly made our way back. Emma wanted to take the train, so we stopped on a bench to wait. The Fullers were already in the train, and we happily joined them for our last chance ride in the village.

The girls went to bed, and Daddy and Mommy got serious about finishing the packing. We were advised to bring an extra suitcase, and it was squishy getting it all in even with the spare duffel. We expanded all the expandable zippers. Four kids can pick up a lot of presents in a week at Give Kids the World. Plush and pillows take space.