We took an afternoon walk on the Golden Gate Bridge today.

It was easy to appreciate the size and height of it, once we started walking. I thought it was pretty scary to be 220 feet above the water.

We didn't walk all the way across it but rather meandered back about halfway there.

We stopped to eat our lunch and then headed across the way to the Marin Headlands.

Isabel collected a water sample for her second grade project.

It was a very sweet afternoon spent together and best of it, it was free!

We had a marvelous time at our good friends' incredible tenth anniversary party. The decorations were breath taking, the company was ideal and the entire night was filled with laughter.

Photo by Michelle Feileacan

Photo by Michelle Feileacan

Photo by Michelle Feileacan

Photo by Jean Robison

Isabel and Gabriel were thrilled to join us. The hosts had thought of everything. There was a jumpy house for the kids, two babysitters on hand, and an after dinner movie complete with a popcorn machine and custom popcorn topping table!

Alan and I were feeling the love.

Happy 10th Anniversary to Michelle and Nathan! We're blessed to be friends with such awe-inspiring people! Cheers!

A charming party on a picturesque night.

Last night Isabel had a fever. I was instantly terrified it was relapse, a sign that the leukemia was back. I couldn't sleep and couldn't reign in those poisonous thoughts. What if it were back in her bone marrow? In her central nervous system? I wanted other symptoms. I wanted a runny nose, something that has a clear indication that it was an illness that she would recover from. I'm forever traumatized by that high fever of hers that wouldn't go away and wouldn't go down 3 years ago. That fever was a telltale symptom of her leukemia.

It was the very first time since the winter of 2006 that we didn't have to take her in to the hospital or call the doctor with news of her fever. There would be nothing for them to do. She's off all chemotherapy and all medicines. She no longer has an internal chest port. Her counts two weeks ago were fine.

It all came down to me worrying and waiting, worrying and not sleeping. The entire night spent in concentrated worry. I finally fell asleep around 5:30 in the morning. That was rough. My emotions were out of control. I was just not used to dealing with a normal kid illness. One that doesn't require a middle of the night trip to the emergency room, or a call to the oncologist. I also knew that a fever could be a very real indication of a relapse. But it wasn't. It wasn't a relapse, it was a normal kid fever that slowly went away and was gone completely by the next night. Another off treatment milestone! Phew! I just hope the next fever is a little easier to cope with emotionally!
I was so thankful the children's elementary school agreed to notify me of any illnesses reported in the school, not just in Isabel's classroom. I knew there had been high fevers reported at her school last week. Just that tiny bit of information kept my hope and faith from crumbling during those panicky few hours in the middle of the night while I hovered over her, feeling her hot body, kissing her flushed cheeks.

I'm so thankful to have weathered that fever and come out the other side. Beyond thankful.

Isabel had class outside today!

Isabel's second/third grade class learned about the Coast Miwok village in Point Reyes. http://www.nps.gov/pore/historyculture/people_coastmiwok.htm

They explored the San Andreas Fault Zone on the Earthquake Trail.


It was a neat to give the kids a taste of how the Coast Miwok people lived. Isabel especially enjoyed learning about the kotcas and the sweatlodge.

We had a one of a kind, wonderful Saturday afternoon. We were invited to the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco for a delicious lunch and then to experience a three hour yacht ride in support of the 4th annual Leukemia Cup Regatta. It was such an amazing, fun experience!

The kids each picked out their own St. Francis Yacht Club hat.

We were utterly impressed before we even left the dock!





We were on the Fighting Irish yacht with about 8 other families who are fighting childhood cancer. There was more than enough room for everyone! I really couldn't get over how humongous that yacht was. It was literally bigger than our home!



It was a gorgeous clear day. That's the Bay Bridge behind us.


Isabel had this grin on her face pretty much the entire time!



The kids were very impressed by the big televisions and snacks in each room!





This was my very favorite part!

San Francisco had it's annual kite festival, so we were able to see all sorts of great kites from the boat.


Thank you to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the San Francisco Yacht Club for such a special day!




Isabel and Gabriel are some lucky kids!