"Tana"

Last week we hit a big milestone, our first plane ride and trip to Montana since Georgia was about three months old.  She was excited about going to "Tana" she kept saying, "go to Tana, get new boots!"  She'd been promised new cowgirl boots from Grammy and Grandpa.  Despite not enjoying the plane ride over Georgia had a fabulous time, so did I!  

As Georgia is able to do more things I am learning more about what new things she likes and doesn't - she's isn't afraid to share her opinion and one thing is for sure, you can't predict the outcome. 

Brian was able to make it over for two days and wanted to go out on the boat, at last check (about a year ago) Georgia didn't like being on a boat but I thought since this was a pontoon boat it would feel more secure, not so much.  Once we set out on the lake Georgia wanted to "be all done with the boat" so we headed in.  She recovered quickly by stripping down and splashing in the water.

After the boat experience we were all convinced that she wouldn't like the Alpine Slide up at Whitefish Mountain and she surely wouldn't want to go on the chairlift.  She showed us, she went on the slide a total of seven times and had no trouble with the chairlift!

We splashed in the river behind my parents house, saw deer, went for walks and did the Walk of the Cedars in Glacier National Park. It was a fabulous week with a whole lot of smiles and laughing.  Thank you Grammy and Grandpa  - we can't wait to come back!

 

 This pretty much sums up how Georgia felt about the boat ride

 

 Enjoying the view of Whitefish River

 

 Georgia didn't like the airplane ride or the boat but neither of those things bothered daddy - she liked the chair lift - that's all he cared about!

 

 Alpine Slide with Grandpa

 

and again with Grammy

 

 The whole gang at Whitefish Mountain

 

Hard to tell where the trees stop and the water begins
 

 Wildlife in the neighbors yard

 Grammy & Georgia on the mountain

 

 Tall tree, small tree

 Braving the chilly water in Glacier National Park

 

Georgia, did you have fun in "Tana"?  I'm going with yes!

Nineteen Months Post Transplant

Who would have thought?  Nineteen months ago we were living in the hospital with Georgia hooked up to countless things hanging from her IV pole.  Today we are on our first full fledged vacation visiting Grammy & Grandpa in Whitefish, MT.  We have been here for several days and Georgia is having a ball.  She decided last night that she'd like to go back to the alpine slide on Whitefish Mountain to celebrate 19 months post transplant. 

We took four trips down, once with Grammy, once with Grandpa and twice with me, most of the way down she was either chatting or saying "weeee!!"  On our last ride up the chair life we were quiet, just looking around and she said, "Mama, I'm having a good time." 

I can't quite describe the joy I feel seeing her run around having fun and simply enjoying life -- how sweet it is. 

Happy 19 Months Post Transplant my girl -- many more good times are ahead.

 Splashing in Whitefish River

This is one of SEVEN trips total down the alpine slide.

Sixteen Years

Today I have thought a lot about where I was 16 years ago today, I so vividly remember the moments and the pain and numbness I felt.  Losing my mom at 19 years old was devastating, and something that I thought would always top the list of the hardest things I would live through.
I have run through many emotions since Georgia was diagnosed with the same cruel disease that took my mom.  I have been angry, feeling like she was supposed to prevent this, why wasn't she watching over us?  Her name is Georgia's middle name because I wanted to pass along her strength and wisdom not a legacy of disease.
I clearly remember a conversation I had with my mom in the last weeks of her life, I was telling her that it wasn't fair, she responded, "honey, life isn't fair."  We talked about her belief that she had in a sense signed a contract with God, agreeing to the terms of her life, so some how, at some time she was okay and agreed to how her life would unfold and she couldn't go back now.  This is not to say that she wasn't mad as hell that she was dying, she worked so hard to raise my sister and I to be who she knew we could be and now she woudlnt' be around to see the fruits of her labor.
That contract she talked about has crossed my mind many times over the years and more recently I have found new meaning in it.    I have come to believe that perhaps there was a paragraph at the end giving explanation as to why she died at 53 years old.  I have to believe that she knew when she signed that contract that many years after she died she would be the reason that her namesake didn't have to.
I love and miss you mom.  You are talked about and remembered.  On a clear day when you can see Mt. Rainer I point to it and ask Georgia, "what is that?"  She responds, "Grandma Claudia's mountain."

Grandma Claudia

Georgia Claudia

Go Abi Go!

Please send positive thoughts and prayers to our friend Abi, today she is getting the transplant that some doctors said wouldn't happen.  Abi has relapsed with AML three times and through it all she maintains her incredibly infectious, positive, shining personality. 

Some of you may know Abi from the Children's Hospital video that went viral, she's the first and last person you see.  She didn't stop there, she re-wrote the words to a rap song and made it her own.

Wishing you love, strength and health Abi, you've got this one.

Georgia affectionately refers to this as Abi's song -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGCj5mfCk8

Abi's own video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_QyxfbdJag&sns=fb