Life as a Leach

The questions are written, the pulmonary data is collected, and the CHOP records are in a stack.  Physically, we are ready for tomorrow's pulmonary appointment. Emotionally, we are a wreck.  Tomorrow will hopefully answer a lot of questions, but it could also involve some really difficult conversations.  We are anxious. Thankfully, today was full of visitors and fun! This morning, Abby's teacher and assistant came for a tea party and they even brought a craft!   We all made very fancy hats--even Caleb!  Later, her friend Facetimed her from Sweet Frog to get her order, then delivered!  They had a great time playing and I got to spend some time catching up with my friend (her mom)!   Abby's appointment is at 12 tomorrow.  Please join us in praying for lots of answered questions and positive news.  

Today, my sweet friend Betsie made the 3.5 hour trip up to spend the day with us!  Her last name is Camilliere, which is hard to say, so Abby calls her Camel Mary.  :). 🐫 Cam is one of those people who is just so full of life and energy that it's contagious!  She has been there since the very beginning with Abs, cheering her on and encouraging me.  Abby adores her.  True to form, she bound into Abby's room lugging a HUGE bag full of fun surprises!  Abby was THRILLED!!  She then promptly pointed at me and then the door, saying "Goodbye Mommy!"  😂. She's a bit possessive over Camel Mary! Since I was kicked out (not really--Betsie and I had discussed it ahead of time!) I decided to actually take a little time for myself and get a pedicure at a nearby place.  It was wonderful!!   Cam even sent me with mindless magazines to read during my pedi!   I grabbed some lunch after and just enjoyed a little time out of the hospital.   I t...

It was another busy day here at Camp Leach!  Another sweet friend of Abby's came to visit and the girls played so well together!  They both love dolls and has lots of fun with them.  We did chalk on the driveway and spent quite a while painting rocks for a new random acts of kindness initiative in our area.  So fun and cute!     After lunch, Abby and her friend enjoyed some Popsicles and Beauty and the Beast.   Matt's sweet cousin dropped off some ice cream (yum!!), and the kids thoroughly enjoyed their dessert!   I got Abby this little bubble blower at the dollar store the other day, thinking it might be fun respiratory therapy.  She did great with it and it made a ton of bubbles!!   Abby asked tonight if we could have camp next week too! :). Nope, this momma is pooped!  It's been a fun week though, and my girl has had a lot of fun.  That's all that matters !  

What a fun day!  Abby enjoyed spending time with a sweet friend from school.  They spent the day making bracelets, painting, coloring, and laughing...lots and lots of laughing!  Camp activities were a big hit today!       You should have heard the girls squeal when their teacher and Abby's one on one pulled up!!  We all enjoyed lunch together and then played an intense game of Uno Blast!   It was a pretty fun day at Camp Leach!  Tomorrow promises to bring another fun visitor and new activities!    

Abby's got a great group of friends.  We just love them!! Oh Tori...dabbing...

Since I'll be celebrating my birthday Disney-style this year, my sweet husband took me out a little early.  We went with our wonderful friends Jenn and Steven to Bobby McKey's, which is a piano bar about an hour from us. We went to dinner first, since Bobby McKey's is more just bar food. We had a little time before the show started, so we checked out some of the stores in the area.  The guys were wearing very similar shirts and got a real complex about being twinsies, so this is the only picture I could get of them.  Steve enjoyed the softness of the bamboo bath mat.  :) This lady gave us so much entertainment.  She had "pre-gamed it" before coming to the show, so she was pretty hysterical! If you've never been there, it's pretty fun!  The guys on the piano are insanely talented and play everything by request.  You will hear everything from 80s music, to rap, to country, to show tunes!   Have you ever been to ...

Matt and I have been good friends with K since we went to middle school.  We've grown up, she's grown up, we've all gotten married, she moved to another state...but we have still remained friends.  We love her husband R too, so it was wonderful to be able to spend a few days with them at their home.  They were such gracious hosts with a beautiful house! Their 3 kids are so much fun, and we absolutely loved playing with them!  Abby and Caleb haven't stopped talking about how much fun they had with them. R is a doctor, so he had to work during the day.  We enjoyed lots of quality time with K and the kids! One of the first things we did was visit the Sturgis Pretzel Factory, which was lots of fun.  The kids learned how to roll pretzels and enjoyed a yummy soft pretzel after the tour. Then we went to a local park to feed the ducks and play on the playground.  Unfortunately, K's oldest got badly scratched by a dog that got scared when ...

Three Calebs...all good friends...all soccer players...all Lego lovers! My Caleb has been good friends with both of these Calebs for a long time!  He has literally grown up with Caleb M. because we go to the same church.  Then he met Caleb W. when they were in the same kindergarten class.  Turns out, Caleb M. and Caleb W. were on the same soccer team together...so it all ties together!  Now, the three Calebs enjoy hanging out together:  playing Legos, running around outside, playing in the treehouse, etc. It's so great to have such good friends...but a little confusing when I call "Caleb" and all 3 answer!  :)

Caleb, my super hero! This is the front of the card a sweet group of Frederick friends sent to Caleb.  This is a group of men and women in the Sunday School class of our wonderful friends, the Reeds.  This group have prayed our family through the last 4 years and send thoughtful cards for birthdays and get well cards to Abby after surgeries.  They are the SWEETEST PEOPLE!   Recently, they sent Caleb a special card congratulating him on speaking about the Rknald McDonald House in front of a group of 70 high schoolers.  He loved the card!   Me?  I'm thankful for those who recognize the wisdom and compassion of my little guy.  He's pretty much one of a kind!