Day +78

Today's daily photo is brought to you by Ariauna's Grandma and Grandpa Watterson. Each stack has a quarter, dime, nickel and penny (see second picture). Now that took some time! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa. We love you and miss you!

No lab results today as we have graduated to only going to clinic once a week now. Yay! Today marks 107 days away from home. Our morning started the same as most mornings, up early to get Austin and Sadie off to school. They have to go so far to school (downstairs). Lol...Once we got them off, then it was time to get Daddy all packed up and ready to go home. The moment none of us really wanted to face! Ugh, it is so hard to barely get him here and settled with us and then have to say goodbye. The only thing that helps us this time is that hopefully we will only be about three weeks behind him on going home. We actually packed up some extra stuff and sent an extra suitcase home with him. We sent all of our Halloween stuff, costumes, decorations, clothing, and then stuffed whatever else we could fit in there. I think I am going to end up shipping several boxes home. We have even considered having Jerry drive over here the weekend of Thanksgiving to help us get everything home. Problem with that is two of our flights were donated so that would be throwing away a chunk of money and Jaxon's flight would not transfer to Ariauna and I for our next trip over here and we probably won't be flying with Jaxon before August next year. Once we got Daddy all packed up we walked him down to the front doors and then it was time to say our goodbye.

In case you are wondering who our new addition is to the family, that is one of our new RMH friends who has become like family to us! Ariauna and Peyton were best of friends before transplant and then when Jaxon came they have become little buddies. I had my turn at saying goodbye to Jerry (sorry for the lack of pictures on that one, but you don't need to see more pictures of me crying) and then we spent our time having a small, short pity party. If I was alone I probably would have had an all day pity party, so luckily I have the kids here to pick me up and keep me busy. We then spent some time down on the main floor. It has become part of our morning routine to let Jaxon and Ariauna go down and spend some time playing when there is not much traffic in the play area. Most other kids are at school or clinic appointments in the morning so we have found it to be a great time to let Ariauna have some time out of our room. We usually find Peyton hanging out down there in the morning too. Today we were a little later coming down and Miss P. (Peyton's nickname) had already been outside to play with the first fallen snow that has stuck to the ground. There was not a lot, but enough that she could make this so we took a picture just to show everyone we do have snow in Minnesota too!

This is Jaxon and Peyton playing in the castle out in one of the main common areas.  They absolutely love it!

Here is a cute picture of Jaxon and Ariauna sporting their University of Minnesota attire. You can also see one of Ariauna's favorite things to do in the background. That is her American Girl Doll Julie in the baby car seat and stroller, her and Sadie can spend hours now days playing with their dolls in all the extra car seats, strollers, and wagons around the RMH. (Next thing I know the girls will be asking for full size strollers for their dolls for Christmas, wouldn't be much different then their weird request of crutches last year).

I fixed us some lunch, got the kids fed and sent Ariauna up to the room to have her school time with her tutor. Jaxon and I hung out downstairs a bit longer and I actually got a few thank you cards written. I apologize in advance to all of you, thank you cards has not been on the top of my list. Once Ariauna was done with school I took Jaxon up and laid him and Ariauna down for their quiet time (nap). I worked and worked and worked while they were napping. This working thing has been a bit of a struggle as we live in such a huge house (hope you can hear my tone of sarcasm in that comment). Our house consists of a bedroom in the back and a small living area right in front of it, luckily there is a door I can shut. But since I am making phone calls for work, I have had to have little chats with the kids not to make a ton of noise. We are so used to me working at our home in Utah were there is usually a whole floor between the kids and me working. Jaxon did wake up from his nap crying one day and I was literally trying to hide in the closet to try to fade out the crying long enough to finish my call. I also put a big sign on the door for Austin and Sadie so they don't come home from school and start pounding on the door since I am working right behind it. Oh and have I mentioned the Internet stinks in our room so after dropping a work call three times, I had Jerry get a hot spot and ship it to us. Now I can talk on my laptop and headset all I want and not drop a call. I had a job that was due and needed to get done so I actually had Austin take the kids away from the room for awhile when he got home from school so I could have more time to make calls. Dinner tonight was lasagna, spagetti, salad and cheesy breadsticks. And you won't believe what was for dessert....

Yep cheesecake, Ariauna's favorite... She was so excited to try it... Unfortunately, with her taste buds gone it didn't taste the same as she remembered it. She did eat a few bites, which made me happy! Calories, Calories, Calories.... Just what she needs! Right after dinner was the Wednesday night activities of the bounce house and a movie night. Here are the kids playing in the bounce house. They actually set it up in the gym downstairs. The kids have a great time playing on it. And the kids really loved climbing and jumping on Austin.

Right after the bounce house was movie night in the RMH movie theatre. Look what was playing, one of our favorites!

After the movie, I actually went up and did a few more calls while Austin kept Jaxon downstairs to play. I am so grateful for Austin being such a big helper over here. Then we called him and Jaxon upstairs and we got everyone settled down for the night and off to bed we went.

Today I am grateful for the job that I have that will help bring a little bit of money in, yet allow me to be a stay at home mom. I am also very grateful that the company has been so willing to work with me during this journey that we have been on. A lot has happened in my life since I got this job, shortly after I was hired on, Jerry's mom passed away and her funeral was the day I was suppose to start training and then a few months later Ariauna was diagnosed with her disease. What an amazing company to work with me on these huge trials that have came my way. I enjoy the job I have and am so grateful to be able to be a part of such a great company.