Beanie's Blog: Even quarantine can't slow down life.

Last week my Mom was here and it was wonderful. The girls love spending time with her and I love being able to get things done.

On Sunday, Dan and I went to D.C. One of my good friends was killed during a training mission in January. She was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and was posthumously promoted to Major. She was an incredible person, devoted to her country, devoted to her family and friends and it was a traumatic loss for anyone who knew her. On April 27th, she was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. The service was beautiful. The honors and respect with which was laid to rest were well earned and completely breathtaking. From the escorted motorcade to the cemetery, the helicopter flyover, the Honor Guard and Band that presided and the beautiful words spoken by the pastor and good family friend were amazing.

A beautiful breeze and the sun shining down perfected the day as we all said goodbye to someone who shone on our of our hearts. My mind often races with all of the memories I have of her but I'm thankful to have them.

After arriving to town earlier than expected on Sunday, I realized that she would not think we had to sit in mourning so Dan and I took the metro over to the National Mall. What better way to celebrate her than to honor all of the soldiers by visiting the memorials? I made a promise to her in my heart that I will go back and go to the museums and read and look at every single thing. The only way to visit a museum in her opinion.

Washington Monument

WWII Memorial

The Honor Guard standing watch

Rest in Peace friend

After that lovely celebration of Betsy our normal routine continued. Tuesday we went to clinic where it was once again confirmed that Selene is rocking it. There really isn't much news at this point and I suspect we'll be in a holding pattern until our next few big changes. Like June 9 when she can stop wearing masks, then July 9 when we can venture out into the uncrowded world. That 4 month mark will also be our first round of full testing to see how she's doing.

Music therapy, which made me cry. Hormones are getting the best of me!

Sisters just passing time at clinic

Even girls can wrestle

Safety first

"Mmm, comfy cozy."

Daddy has always wanted a fire pit, so this is the compromise until we buy a new house!

And of course Thursday was our next big hurdle completed when we had her tubies removed! She did great. We had a 9am arrival and she was taken around 11. Thus we only had about three outbursts over hunger. Hopefully that's her last round of anesthesia for quite some time! Her surgeon did a great job and all that is on her chest is some Dermabond.

I wasn't here for bath last night (that paragraph is coming) but Dan said that when he was getting her ready she got out her Press and Seal and medical tape. He told her she didn't need it and she didn't get it. "No wrap?" She seems pretty unphased by the lack of her tubies.

Last night we had a kindergarten night at Ainsley's new school. So I took her over with our neighbor and her BFF. It was nice, though a part of me was wondering if we made the right choice in leaving Mater Dei. I think I've grown quite attached to Mater Dei and especially her teacher after all of the emotional support and love they've given our family through this ordeal. That school will always hold a piece of my heart. And if we buy a new house in the area then I'll get to send the next two girls there too! But the teachers seem really sweet and I'm sure we enjoy her time there as well.

After leaving the meeting I came out to a text from Dan that the police had closed down our neighborhood due to a shooting in a neighborhood right next to ours.They had barricaded our street and weren't letting anyone in. I took Ainsley to Starbucks to sit for a bit but she started getting really sleepy so we made the decision to spend the night at Nana and Grandad's. On the drive there Ainsley sobbed over not having Ducky. Apparently Dan was facing a similar challenge at home with Selene since her blanket was in the car. While I find the attachment our girls have for their lovies endearing, it makes moments like that a bit harder.

However, both of us were successful in getting our respective girls down to bed and everyone got a good night's sleep (well, except me because hips, back, belly and heart burn).

So, the week has been quite eventful. Next week is busy and filled with my 37 week OB checkup and appointments with the Bone clinic, Oncology clinic AND orthopedics. I'm still not 100% sure why ortho needs to see her when Bone hasn't even assessed things yet and physically she seems fine. But I guess they want to cover all of their bases and make sure we haven't missed anything that the Neutropenia did to her little body. So I guess we'll make the extra drive into the city to be sure. Call me lazy, but this Momma is tired! :-)