American Girl, Medieval Times, and Aunt Kelly

Ellie told us a few months ago that for her birthday she wanted to go visit Aunt Kelly and go to the American Girl Doll Store. So we booked reservations awhile back. This past Friday, we left around noon and headed up to Fort Worth to see my sister. It was a GREAT trip but it went by REALLY fast. We loved finally getting to see my sisters place and look around where she lives and where she works. We spent Friday night exploring her city.



Saturday Morning we got up, ate breakfast, and then headed to Dallas. The American Girl Doll store is only about 20 minutes from my sisters house. We had lunch reservations at 11 and we got there right on time.


The babies even got a seat at our table.


And got their own plate and cup.


Ellie loves her, Sally....


We ate a yummy lunch and then they came out and sang to our birthday girl.


And then we did a little shopping..


We made dinner reservations at Medieval Times so we had a few hours to spare so we shopped at the Galleria for a bit afterwards. Aunt Kelly bought Ellie this hat that she LOVES. Actually, yesterday as we were driving home Ellie informed me that her hat was one of her most favorite parts of the trip. LOL.


We got to Medieval Times early so we could get good seats. The kids were VERY excited!!


And I was very excited to see this sign:


We were on the Yellow team. Our knight was the first out. But we had fun watching the show anyway.


And Gavin was in his own little world cheering for other knights. HE LOVED IT!!!


Sunday morning we went to my sisters church with her. It was a great sermon. It was nice to see where she goes. And we were able to meet Sandra, the sweet lady Kelly saw on t.v. two years ago and went to meet because she knew God wanted her to do something with Sandra and her community. Kelly has a huge heart and I know she is a blessing to Sandra just as much as Sandra is a blessing to her. They help woman who get out of prison make their way back into the world. It was so nice to finally meet Sandra who I have heard about for so long. I am so proud of my sister and the life she has made for herself. And we loved getting to visit her for the weekend!!



Thanks for being such a great host and having our crazy family for a long weekend.

We love you Kelly. Ellie said this was her BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!

MD Anderson Update

On Thursday morning Frank and I got up early to go to MD Anderson. We had our first appointment at 8, and my scan at 9:30. After the scan is over they keep you in the room you have the scan, dressed in your hospital gown while they wait for the radiologist to go over the results. Then the radiologist gives you the clear to leave or if they want to look at anything further they would then do so. The tech came back in about fifteen minutes and said I could get dressed and that there was nothing new. I was so happy but had already felt like it was going to be fine, so I really was not worried. I walked out and met Frank in the waiting room smiling and he knew it was good news.

We had a while until our next appointment so we went to get coffee like we usually do and then went and checked in early for my next appointment in case they could get us in early. We got in the room and my doctors resident came in and told me, "So they found a 2X3X2 mm nodule in the left thyroid bed." My heart sank. I was taken completely off guard since I thought the scan was clean like last time. I hate the word NODULE as that is what my cancer was called until it was diagnosed during surgery. So I was trying to hold back the tears as I started to fire a round of questions. He assured me that he thought it was nothing and they just noted that it would be followed up with another scan and watched. But that my doctor would be in to talk to me about it. The resident left and I looked at Frank and lost it for a minute or two while we waited for my doctor. Then my doctor walked in SO BUBBLY and upbeat and told me NOT TO WORRY. She said it is so small that even if it were cancer and she tried to go take it out, she wouldn't be able to find it. But that it is NOT going to be cancer. She really thinks it's just a lymph node or scar tissue and that any other hospital wouldn't have even found it because it is so small- MD Anderson is just that good. It gave me some relief that she was so positive, but my worrying nature still goes against me. But deep down I think my doctor is right, it is probably nothing to worry about. And worrying about it will do me NO GOOD. My blood work still looks great and there are no marker signs for cancer. So that is a huge positive. 

I was given the dates of my next treatment. I have known since last October that I would have to do one more round of RAI. Hopefully this time I will not have to be away from the kids. I will go the 15 and 16th of October and do a thyrogen injection to get the synthroid out so I can do the test dose of RAI on Monday the 17th. Tuesday, the 18th I will go for the RAI scan, and Wednesday the 19th I will get the results. If everything is  CLEAR, I AM DONE with RAI treatment!!!! That is what we are hoping and praying for.

Thanks for all the prayers and for all you who texted me and checked in....You all always make me feel so loved!!! 

Because we had to go to MDA early, my parents offered to have the kids spend the night Wednesday. They camped out in tent city at Mema and Pepas. They had so much fun. Thursday as we were driving downtown my dad called and asked if Gavin could go to work with him. Gavin had a blast spending the day with Pepa and seeing what he does. Pepa took him to the top of one of the buildings downtown to let him look out over Houston. He loved it. They also ate at "the best hamburger place" in the world. It was a great bonding time for them. My mom meanwhile took the girls to build a bear and they got to make stuffed animals. The kids were so excited to be with them and my parents loved it too- they said ANYTIME when we left- so Frank and I may just take them up on it. :)

Mermaid Bash...

Yesterday we had a little Mermaid Bash with Ellie's friends. We sent out 16 invites and 15 came. She had a good turn out and loved celebrating her birthday with her friends. She wanted a pool party and so with the help of two of my neighbors and pinterest we were able to pull off a pretty stinkin' cute party.

My neighbor made these adorable invitations for her party...

And then Pinterest took over and the house got decorated...

I saw these tails on pinterest and wanted to make them, turns out an old friend of mine was the one to pin them and I was able to get one of hers to make a pattern. This was by far the most work of the party, but it was worth it because I think the girls loved them. I cut, sewed, re-sewed, broke a few machine needles and got help from my neighbor to complete the task.

Then our friends started to arrive.

We had Peanut Butter and Jellyfish, goldfish crackers and pretzels, pearls (yogurt raisins), octodogs, mermaid punch and ocean water.

Aunt Tay was in town so she came to help me out...her only requirement was to have her own mermaid tail. :0)

 Mema called and offered to help as well.

Daddy also came home on his lunch break for the big shin dig..

And then the swimming fun began.  We had this many kids in the pool, does this stress you out???

 I was so thankful to have recruited some help.

Even Fletcher came to her party....we love this little guy.

Girls like to jump. A lot. A WHOLE LOT.

It was Non-stop fun until Ellie slipped and her fun came to an end...for awhile anyway. She fell off the side and into the water hitting her head on a step under water. She spent about 40 minutes of the party inside with an icepack on her new unicorn (as her daddy has been calling it). I was sad for our little birthday girl but glad it didn't require an ER visit.

She composed herself for us to sing to her and open presents. See that knot?? It has since nicely grown. Needless to say we did not make it to tumbling last night.

The little mermaids with their tails on before leaving... 

Momma wanted a quick picture with her almost 6 year old girl too....

Ten more days and this little mermaid is going to be SIX!!!!

And her celebrating continues on.

Thanks to everyone who helped me make her sixth birthday party a success!!! 

More Birthday Fun to come......