"gold star"

Today we are attempting to get a routine going on. All the out of town support has had to leave and Linley is back at her preschool. My mom is working out a system of childcare for Linley in the afternoons after preschool that would enable my mom to be here at the hospital and yet would have either my mom, Chad or myself home with her for dinner, bedtime and that much needed attention. We are so glad that the hospital welcomes siblings in good health...Linley and I were able to have a little time one on one yesterday as we went exploring the elevators, cafeteria and multiple fountains outside. To say that I miss her is a gross misunderstatement.
Piper is as usual, acting grand. I shudder to think that she is acting so normal I would never been even raising an eyebrow or taking her to the doctor...Thank you Lord for the way you lead parenting and doctors intuition. Next week her chemo will be alot more intensive and we can expect the days and nights to be a lot more demanding. For now we are receiving each and every one of her coos, snuggles and smiles as a promise of more to come.
Chad went to work last night. He has taken time off from his full time job to be here at the hospital but still will be working 2 or 3 nights a week at his part time job (soccer referee). Thankfully his mom is a self confessed night owl and spent the evening here with me and Piper.
Last night when the doctor came in to check on Piper he told us her charts were the best on the floor for the day and that she gets a "gold star". This doctor is very good at what he does but he is very much a realist, which means he gives us sad statistics and pulls us down emotionally...But the man may not have realized that he just gave us encouragement!!! And we take it in any form from anyone at any time these days.