BIG day

Today must be a big day, at least Charli thought it was! At 4:30 this morning she wanted to get up and play, her daddy tried to get her to go back to sleep but she wanted to play with her teddy bear. However, it did pacify her until 5:30 this morning, when she wanted...NEEDED to get out! I tried to rock her but she wanted nothing to do with it! She wanted her build-a-bears, her stuffed animals, her new baby, her animals, and finally...her BROTHERS! Heaven forbid if she can't see those dogs first thing in the morning! So, we all got up and "played". I use that term loosely, because it was mainly me laying on the floor "playing" asleep while she crawled all over me!! Sad, isn't it?! Shortly after I realized there was no going back, so I gave her a few Cheerios and some milk to drink while I brushed my teeth, etc. When it was time for me to get ready for work, I "locked" the three 'kiddos' in the living room while I got ready. She did great! Normally this brings on tears, but I guess it was too early! I realized that there was total silence for about five minutes and then panicked! Much to my HAPPY surprise, she crawled herself up onto her toy pile and was playing on it, in it, and with it! Everyone was very well behaved! Off to get her dressed and out the door we go. It was a good morning despite getting up much earlier than planned. Get to Lynn's (daycare) and just GUESS who is sleeping. Little punk, who does she think she is getting ME out of bed before 5:30 and then trying to wuss out on the day at a measly 7:30!!! So off to playland she went! She keeps so busy there I don't think "tired" is in her vocabulary while there! Tomorrow when we MUST be up and on the road shortly after 5:00 I am sure it will be a struggle for everyone, ironic I guess?!!



Today was my last day of work at Paraclipse. I am sad to leave! I guess it happens everywhere, but you get comfortable where you are and with the people you are with. But, in my experience you can't grown if you don't change...so off I am I guess! Having gone through all of Charli's "things" (including the birth of her!!) I will always remember the people and how everyone seemed to rally around us when we needed their help. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for my new path...bitter sweet I guess!



Tomorrow is the THE day we have been waiting for for nearly a year I guess. Odd to think that for over half of her life she has had this port in, no wonder we are "attached" to it. With it brings a sense of security I guess. We have been very lucky to have no infections or problems with it, so it hasn't been the nuisance it is to some. But, taking it out means only good things. And, it is one milestone I will never want to experience again. We will be in Omaha by 7:00, with her CT scan at 9:00. Once the results have been confirmed the port will then be taken out. Start to finish, port removal and CT scan *should* be under two hours I was told. Since we are doing this first thing in the morning I hope for no delays...but that has yet to happen! So we will just have to see how our little fighting "spider-monkey" does! We expect to be home later tomorrow afternoon, minus one "port". I know that Charli will know it is gone. Sadly, she will pull up her shirt, point to her bellybutton and say "button", then pull it up more and point to her port and say "owie". Good news...when it is gone, the "owie" will be gone too!



I am cautiously elated with my life right now! God has been so good to our family, I want to say "what have I done to deserve this!", but I know He doesn't work that way. Somethings in life happen no matter what you do or don't do in your life. It is this simple belief that gets me through. I believe this and would preach this with out a single doubt. I know that good things happen to good people, I also know that bad things happen to good people. This is called LIFE. I believe that we do get out what we put in, but we also have to accept some of the things that are just ours. Do I think God picked Charli to get cancer, yes. Do I think He was punishing her or her family, absolutely not! Do I think that God wanted Chad to suffer his entire life because of his accident in 1999, no. Do I believe that there is a higher reason for why it all happened...without a doubt. Some things in life are definitely easier to see and understand...while others will always remain a mystery. But, it is my faith that there IS a reason that helps me understand that sometimes life isn't fair.



I guess with leaving my job, starting a new one, and having Charli's surgery tomorrow...I am feeling like another new beginning is here for us. Sorry for getting on my soapbox...thanks for reading!



I imagine I will post a little something Friday evening just to reassure all of you about Charli's surgery, etc. If not Friday night, expect something Saturday morning. And no...you are not bothering me if you call to check in on us!