Almost like Normal

It has been a pretty good week for Kelly. After having such a better chemo week last week, she did get sick a couple times this week, but in general, is feeling pretty good. You would never know she is fighting cancer by looking at her. She looks so healthy and normal. We are so grateful she is handling her treatments so well.

She is really trying to get back into some normal activities. In addition to her home tutoring, she has been participating in activities with her Trailmates group, a father daughter program through the YMCA. They went kayaking in LaJolla last weekend. I'll try to post some photos later (they're in Kevin's laptop right now.) Last night she went to a play at Mission Viejo High School, where she would be going to school. It was fun for her to see some friends she hasn't seen in a long time. She also started volunteering for the Pacific Symphony again and helped with one of their family concerts at the Performing Arts Center this morning. This is something she and Kevin did a lot last year, and she finally felt up to doing it again this week. And I am trying to let her get out in crowded places a bit more. This was hard to do at first, since we are always cautious about exposing her to germs with her lower than average blood counts and immune system, but she is at a point where she needs to be with people besides us and participate in some of her "normal" activities. It is so good for her to be with friends her own age now! Please feel free to come visit her as long as you are healthy.

It is also great to leave her a message her by clicking on "comments" below. There are directions in the right margin if you aren't sure how to post a comment. It is so good for all of us to see encouraging messages and she loves to see people are thinking about her. Thanks to all of you that take a minute to write to her - it means more than you know.

One exciting this happened to her a couple days ago. There is a wonderful volunteer group in our area called Room to Heal. They redo kids' bedrooms that are seriously ill so they have a nice place for rest and relaxation (and of course healing!) Our pediatrician knows one of the ladies in this group and told them about Kelly. So they contacted me and came to see Kelly. They measured her room and talked to her about how she would like it to look. Those of you that know her will not be surpised to hear that she wants a room that looks a cabin in the snowy woods, and of course there needs to be a moose in the woods! They already have some ideas and Kelly is more than excited. They will start painting her walls in 3 or 4 weeks.
Kelly really has been blessed with some wonderful people along her journey and this is sure another good example of that.

Kelly has her next chemo treatment this Tuesday after her blood levels are checked Monday. Her next MRI is April 9th and we are praying it will remain clear like her last one.

Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to Relay for Life. It feels great to give back and do something to help fight this disease.
Team Website: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/kellylaude