Monday, April 13, 2009

Wow, this is probably the longest I have ever gone without updating Hannah's site. We've been very busy since our last update and our Hofstra game.

First of all, I hope everyone had a blessed and peaceful Easter. As we were standing in the vestibule at church on Sunday (yes, because we didn't show up early enough to get a seat) I was trying to remember where we were for Easter last year. I do remember 2 years ago on Easter. We were in Boston because Hannah was still getting radiation my parents brought Colby up for the weekend and we were all together. Hannah was still in her wheelchair, could not walk by herself. She had lost her hair, and it was new to us, we were working through the new phase. At that point, I still couldn't make it through church without crying. So we all sat there while I tried not to look like a sobbing fool in church. I was so mad and so sad all at once at God for letting this happen to Hannah.

I have, of course, since reconciled those feelings. God didn't make Hannah sick, and I don't believe he can also reach down and ceremoniously heal her. There is some kind of a plan, and somehow we all fit into that. We can pray and pray for God to "change" things, but I don't know if I believe that prayer can actually "change" his overall plan. I hope that Hannah has been chosen as one of those children that will live on to help encourage other children to fight, to give others hope.

Hannah has been doing well. We were on spring break this past week, and today. During her last week of school, she was struggling to stay in school each day, and I usually got a call from the nurse's office from her. We had been working on a few things to help her stay there, I finally bribed her with a hamster. At first the deal was that if she stayed in school for 10 days straight she could get a hamster. I quickly reconfigured that deal to say if she stayed in until Relay for Life, which is at the end of May, she could get one. She wants a hamster so badly and she constantly reminding me of the deal.




She has felt very good last week, but then again, they have been out of school. We have been working with a few doctors to help Hannah work out some of the issues she is experiencing, both physically and emotionally. One of the things that has come up has been Hannah's problems with school. She doesn't like school. I think it's mentally a big challenge for her to keep up with everything. But, she also has been having emotional issues with school too. All in all, she just doesn't want to be there. We think her stomach issues are a combination of neurological and emotional problems. The medicine is helping her, so she is not throwing up anymore, but she is still experiencing real stomach pain. What is causing that pain is something we're working on. We go to school through the end of June, so we have about 2 1/2 more months left.

The first half of our spring break was filled with appointments, but the second half we headed to Washington DC. Dave had done extensive research, and had about 150 places he wanted to see. The first day there, we stayed out for 12 hours! Yes, we were exhausted. I think we forgot how quickly Hannah tires. We spent a good part of the first day carrying her. The second day we commandered a wheelchair, which made our day SO much easier. I know the kids' feet hurt because my feet hurt too (and my legs and back and head.) By day 3, we had the pace down and there was much less whining all around. Hannah said her favorite was the National Zoo, I think Colby's was the Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was shot, and mine was probably Arlington National cemetary. I think Dave was on a high the whole time, he liked it all. We stayed at Brooks and Rebecca's condo (Brooks is my cousin.) It was perfect, and we were so grateful to them. Brooks also got us into the Capitol for a private tour, which was incredible. I could write and write about it, we did have a good time. Of course I have a million photos, here are a few.

I better sign off for now. If you have made it this far...CONGRATULATIONS!! I won't wait this long before my next update, so that your eyes aren't crossed after reading. Thanks for handing in there with us...lots more to come on our Relay!

♥Kim