Christmas is June!

Two very happy girls...open goodies WHILE their Nana & Papa D are watching via skype!

Well, this week I had been dreading a bit, but it turned out to be great!  David flew back to the states for some training that was rescheduled due to my earlier hospitalization.  David and I were both a bit hesitant about him leaving me in "my condition", but the girls and I did fabulous.  Many people checked in on us while he was gone, our new helper has been fabulous, and I was even up for having a girl's nite out with two of my friends!  It was a crazy busy week for my man, but he passed his checkride, got to spend some great time with his dad and sister and even slipped in a quick breakfast/lunch with a couple of his buddies....blessings for him, too!!!  I had list after list for him to do while he was there- my lists were having babies....like multiple times a day!  MANY of my family and friends had been shopping/gathering/shipping things to my sister-in-law's home and my sweet friend, Brantley's, home for weeks now.  I cannot thank them enough for taking some of that errand running off of David while he was there as his time was so very limited.  John  and Deborah (his dad and sister), I'm soooooo thankful it worked out you all got to fly out and meet up with him.  It really meant a lot to him (and me)....thank you!  Reagan, thank you for holding down the fort with your kiddoes so your sweet wife could come out to see her brother!

Deborah, John and David!

I, of course, had my weekly "CPK #" check, and guess what???  It continues to decrease....yeah!  On Tuesday, it was down to 1643 (from 2006 the week before).  Again, I was a bit surprised at the amount of the decrease because I had  had a very busy weekend prior....thought I had done a bit too much.  My doctor (along with me!) was thrilled to see/hear how much better I'm feeling/doing.  She was able to continue to decrease the dosage of steroid AND we still didn't have to start the methotrexate Rx.  THAT'S a huge praise for me....just really want to avoid that if at all possible!

So...you might be wondering what in the world would be on this massive "to do/get/pretty, pretty please bring back for us" list!  Well, when you've been spoiled enough all your life to hop in your car to run to Target, Kroger, or a any store that you can read english as your first language....you tend to start making a list pretty fast when you don't have access to that- or anything like that!  Although I'm pretty used to google translating our items as I stand in front of the shampoo aisle, there's just something nice about asking David, “Please, get.....” (and I KNOW what it is!). I don't think I've ever been so excited to open a box of roll-on deoderant (how weird is that?!?!), blonde hair highlight kit (umm...yes, my Renaissance Man is quite good at that, too!), socks (you wouldn't think THAT would be a difficult item to find!?!?!), flour tortillas, chocolate, medicines/vitamins, sunscreen, flip flops for people with feet a “tad” longer than normal (!), school curriculum, lipstick, ziploc bags (with the slider locks that actually stay closed!), and just gads of other fun stuff that in which we were surprised!  I even sat and opened Christmas cards (literally!) while I ate my Special K with strawberries cereal, chocolate and cherry sours for breakfast this morning....how fun is that!?!

Audrey An's princess costumes were top on her list!

David, kinda didn't think about it until now, but this was the first time you got to celebrate your birthday  starting in one country, cross the ocean the same day, then end up celebrating in your home country....like all at the same time!  Kinda cool-  you even got your seat changed and had more leg room  : )

David with a few friends/co-workers...just hours prior to him leaving.  It's hard catching a bunch of pilots in the same place at the same time!!!

So glad you're home now, baby.  We missed you, but I'm so thankful you had a good week...and we did, too!  HE is faithful Provider and Sustainer!  Now...let's get me well and go somewhere together, okay!?!?

If you're David and have two thoughtful daughters....you are greeted with welcome home signs.  Also, our great friend, Gregg, did a little shopping from the girls (I wasn't quite able to "shop" for his bday)....thanks, Gregg!  He's had his eye on that shirt for awhile : )