It was Friday, July 27, I didn't sleep a wink the night before. It was like we were expecting our third child. We were overwhelmed with joy and excitement. We went to radiation and then headed to the airport. We arrived an hour early (maybe that will magically make the plane arrive early), parked, and went into the baggage claim area. We were so giddy, pacing back and forth, and checking the arrival screen every four minutes. Finally, Delta flight from Atlanta was arriving. Tears started filling our eyes. We ran to the bottom of the escalator waiting for them to come down. Oh the anticipation is killing me!! Then, I see my boys. Oh, my boys, my boys! I could barely wait for them to get off the escalator and our of the way of others. Reynolds and Harland ran to us. I grabbed Reynolds and could barely pick him up. He has gotten so big. Such a tall and handsome little man! Dusty had Harland in his arms. Harland quickly started calling for me. We switched kids. Harland held me so tight. I could feel how much he missed me in his little grasp. He wouldn't let go of my arm and that was fine with me. We were all in tears. Mom was crying watching her family unite again. It will always be a special moment in my heart.
We spent the weekend in San Antonio and got to spend time with some of my cousins and their children, and aunts and uncles. It was a nice weekend and Dusty's energy and health was strong.
Monday is our busy day so we just hung around the hospital and hotel pool. Our doctors, nurses, and "waiting room friends" all enjoyed meeting our kids. It was nice for Reynolds to see "normal" people with cancer.
Tuesday we went to the Houston's Children's Museum, voted the best Children's museum in the United States. It was so much fun. We really had a good time building things, doing experiments, and playing with the boys. Tuesday afternoon we went back to the hotel and went to the pool with the boys. Reynolds got to talking to a young man, who was playing basketball. He has cancer too. They started playing basketball (the courts are next to the pool) and I joined in. We decided to play PIG. He kept missing and saying that he was just a P, but I rolled with it. I knew I was winning! :) But, after a while of me realizing this is never going to end I had to call it quits and pull the dinner time card. When we were walking back to our room, I told Dusty about him cheating. Dusty had been talking to his mom while the kids and me were playing with him. She told him that he has an inoperable tumor in his brain and that he can't produce new memories. So, he couldn't remember that we were playing PIG and couldn't remember what letters he had. I felt so bad. The mother told Dusty that he is her second son with cancer. Ugh, my heart aches for her. He is only 28 and can't remember anything since December 2011. He has no short term memory. So sad. We meet people daily with amazing survival stories. This place is magical.
Wednesday we took the kids to the Houston Aquarium. It was fun but doesn't have anything on the Atlanta Aquarium. It wasn't a full day event so we decided to take the kids to Bass ProShop so they could see more fish and animals. The ProShop is in an outlet mall so we got to participate in some of Reynolds' back to school shopping. We are going to miss open house and his first two weeks of kindergarten. It breaks my heart to miss this major milestone in Reynolds' life but we are doing what we have to do so that Dusty will be there for Reynolds' college graduation. Wednesday evening we swam for a little while and then settled in to watch the Olympics.
Thursday arrived, the dreaded departure date. But, it came at a good time because Dusty's health started taking a turn for the worse. I think he overdid it while the kids were here but it was very important to Dusty that Reynolds see him strong and not sick. Reynolds has been very worried and has made comments about his daddy dieing of cancer, so Dusty was not going to be down while they were here. Dusty got sick that morning but Reynolds was pretty shielded from it. We went to radiation then off to the airport. We didn't plan on it being gone long so Dusty didn't bring his pain medicine. As we pulled into the airport my dad called and their flight had been delayed three hours. We were too far from our hotel to return so we went to McDonalds to let the kids play and try to wear them out before the flight. Dusty started feeling leg pains about an hour into it. Pain in his bones and in his muscles. Dusty hung in there for another hour but then it got to a breaking point. We had to take the kids and mom on to the airport and get him back to our room. We made our goodbye short and sweet. I didn't want to drag it out and upset them more. While pulling out of the airport Dusty and I both lost it. We cried harder in this moment than when he was diagnosed with cancer. Saying goodbye to your children is the hardest thing to do. It rips your heart out.
It was a much needed trip. We cuddled with our babies and enjoyed every second of it. While in San Antonio, we had a king bed so all four Haydens snuggled in. We spent the first hour of each night just giggling and playing in the bed. Then, in Houston Dusty and I took turns with the kids. I've never been one to let the kids sleep with us but I think my rules have changed. I never want to let them go now!
Since they left, Dusty has had ups and downs. Thursday and Friday were horrible days, Saturday (we spent the day with Ashley Bridges) and Sunday (he played golf) were good days. Then today, Monday, another bad day. But, today we celebrate: TODAY WAS HIS LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He still has to take the chemo pills in the morning and night until Friday but he does not have to do inter venous chemo anymore. 8 more radiations. Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm so excited to see the end.
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