Well another week has come and gone and the ladies are still hanging out in the hospital.  I visited with them this week - it was really good to see them.  Dallas is in pretty good spirits for not having seen the sun or feel a summer breeze for over a month now.  Her hair is starting to grow back - which should help her understand that when completly done, it will indeed return.  I saw Doc Healy on Wednesday morning - he feels really optimistic that we are back on the road to recovery and if we keep headed in the direction we are in that we can indeed start chemo on Monday September 1.

Dallas is such a brave, strong little lady.  She has grown up way to fast over the last 4 months, some of the growing up is a good thing but most of it is not how an 11 year old should have to mature.....  She continues to impress me every single day - it will be hard to be the tough parent when this is all over. 

Tutu ( grandma from Hawaii ) has been with the ladies for 2 weeks now, I really can not thank her enough for making the visit and staying with them in the city.  Having another adult there really helps Chris and gives me the peace of mind knowing she is not alone.  She keeps Dallas entertained and lends Chris adult interaction.

It was really hard for me to return home Wednesday, walking from the hospital to the car has proven one of the harder things I have done.  I feel like I am leaving them behind - and that feeling is hard to swallow.......
 - but I know that Chris has the situation under control as much as anyone can.  They are in a routine and have focused away from counting the days until returning home and now focus on getting better no matter how long it takes! 
It's funny how you start to view some aspects of life when stuck in the hospital - such as some of the little things that both make their days better during this nightmare and things that most of us take for granted - not getting sick after breakfast, getting a new movie to watch at night, getting roasted veggies for dinner instead of pasta, how amazing the Animal Channel really is, hoping their favorite nurse is on night duty, hoping the roommate sleeps through the night, hoping to not hear any crying throughout the night, hoping the night staff does not wake you to ask you if you are sleeping okay....... 

Please continue to pray, keep the positive mojo flowing and if you have a chance - say hello to Dallas and Chris when you can.

Bill I
(dad)