What a fun weekend! Sunday we climbed Mt Baldy with the Koeman family. I carried Brooke in a backpack. Every time I stopped she said "whew!" Like she was really working hard :) On the way home the girls asked if dad would take them tent camping with Uncle Mark and their cousins? I told the girls we just did something fun maybe we should wait to ask. Megan was "whispering" to her sisters and said "let's ask dad after his nap." HAHA, smart girl! Steve did not nap but he did take the 3 oldest girls tent camping by Uncle Marks pond. They were excited that they didn't have to change their clothes OR brush their teeth, and there were not toilets. Whoo Hooo. They had alot of fun and ate smores and cookies for breakfast :) The picture below is of Ashley. After camping I told her she needed to rest. She said "I am NOT napping. I DON'T nap, I'm not a baby." I agreed and said, "just read a book, please don't take a nap." hehehe. It looks to me like a "nap." :)

Onto today. Port out! Someone at the hospital said, "it kinda feels like you are cutting the umbilical cord, right?" WOW, he was SOOO right!! Brooke's broviacs/ports felt like our "lifelines." And now it's just been snatched. In reality, we don't need it. If she absolutely does need one, we find a way to put another one in. I also suggested since we have to poke her for blood maybe we should wait and check her numbers less frequently. My thinking, if we aren't going to do anything or change anything, WHY do we keep doing this. When we check her T cells, in my mind, something is going to change for the better or worse. But for the past 6+ months not much has changed. I asked again for a "plan" today. Someday they might surprise me and give me one, but today wasn't the day. They again reminded me she's healthy. She has sisters that live their lives, come home with "germs" and she's ok. When was the last time we were inpatient for an illness? Almost a year, knock on wood :) So, enough complaining and start rejoicing . God's plan is far greater than ours. Brooke did great today. She was not happy about the IV but the nurses got it 1st try, it took 45 minutes to remove the port and they also removed some scar tissue. She's back to herself. I was all excited telling Steve, "we have a new kid, no foreign objects in her." I guess I forgot she's tube fed and has a feeding tube :) That's ok, we'll take her, tubes or no tubes.



I can't help by share my devotions again. It just spoke to the way I've been feeling. "On some days your circumstances and your physical condition feel out of balance: The demands on you feel far greater than your strength. Days like that present a choice between 2 alternatives - give up or rely on Me. .......I will not reject you. You can turn to me at any point.............I will infuse my strength into you moment by moment. Trust me."
Jeremiah 31:25 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy they faint."

Obviously giving up isn't an option. So we rely on Him! Much more satisfying. Give it a try :)