Home for Good.

Where the heck have I been? Well, I've been at the beach. It feels like I haven't been on here in forever, but we've been busy enjoying our free time. I'll start at last Thursday, since I never updated about Donnie, but anyway, he had his post discharge check-up. It went really well, he's doing amazing! His doctor even said, "I wish I could just bottle you up." He's just doing that well. You would never know looking at him {minus some hair} what he has went through. Every thing the doctor asked about, he isn't experiencing; mouth sores, loss of appetite, change in taste, fatigue, nothing. Donnie really isn't experiencing any of the normal stem cell transplant symptoms, which is great, we couldn't ask for anything more. He still feels like his stamina isn't 100% but who's would be after all of this? We were just happy to hear that the doctor thought he was doing as well as we felt he was doing. The doctor said since he was doing so good that she didn't have to see him back for 2 more weeks. WooHoo! We honestly thought that we would have to go to check-ups so much more. It was awesome though because we had planned to stay at least one more week in California but now we could go home early! Back to normal a few days sooner, back to our bed a few days sooner, back to our life a few days sooner. Those few days were huge for us.

We could have headed home that day but my mom had planned on bring the kids up the next day, Friday. We thought it would be fun to keep them with us for a few days at my aunt's house in Ventura. We figured it would be nice to take them to the beach and just relax for a few days before we headed back to 'normal'. We had a really great weekend. The first day we were there it was crazy windy, so we didn't do too much. We were able to head down to the park on the beach for a little when there was a break in the wind. The kids loved it. Mia was all about the swing, she must have swung on that for a hour. She just loved it and was so happy. Brody totally enjoyed exploring a new playground. He even made a couple friends :) The next day, it was much nicer weather. We took the kids to the harbor and of course found a park {I think kids have a park radar, they find those way before parents even spot them}. We walked for a little bit and found some rocks for Donnie and Brody to climb on and explore. We went back to the house and ate lunch{Don still can't eat out} and Mia napped.
It was a much need time outdoors, we have spent way too many days cooped up inside! 

A little later we headed to the beach. Mia has never put her feet in the ocean. I had been waiting for the weather to be perfect before we went but the weather was as good as it was going to get. It was pretty cool outside but the beach was still beautiful. Mia and I took our shoes off and rolled up our pants and headed for the water. I think it was love at first step for her. She was in love with the water rolling in and rolling out on her feet. It was freezing cold but she could have not cared less. She just kept running in and running out and jumping. It was a very happy mom moment, it was nice to be able to experience that absolute joy with her. 

At least he is smiling.
That counts for something, right?

Brody on the other hand, haha, man I love that boy, but he is a stick in the mud. I feel like I always talk down on him and then I'm like oh, Mia is so great. He is great too and honestly out of both my kids, I 'get' him the most. But he just sat in Mia's stroller the WHOLE time and refused to put his feet in the water. I try to have patience with him but what kid just watches everyone have fun? Mia and Don and me are running around playing in the water and he's sitting way up on the beach just watching us. I almost felt bad that we just left him up there alone but it was his choice. Donnie kept trying to talk him into putting his feet in but he refused. He is the type of kid where coxing doesn't work. Once he makes his mind up, it is made up, there is no changing it. I don't pressure him though, Brody and me are similar, we don't do well when pressured. We do better when it is our own decision. I love that little guy and he has his own personality and his own likes and dislike, all of which include not wanting to play at the beach :) Haha that reminded me. After the beach we get in the car and I think I said, "ahh, that was fun" and Don says, "yeah, it was but I don't think Brody had fun?!" and I replied, "Brody had fun, it was just in a different way, his own way." and then we hear Brody say from the backseat, "No, I didn't have any fun, I want to go home and play skylanders!" Well, all righty then, guess he didn't. Haha

We spent most of the morning yesterday packing up and then eventually hitting the road. It took us about 6 hours from Ventura to our door step, with a few stretch breaks in between. The kids were very well behaved. They are great little travelers. There was no greater feeling then to walk into our house, it was like pheeewww, Finally. Home. Now on to getting back to normal. There isn't really ever a normal but I guess I mean back to, us. I miss focusing on our family and my marriage and my kids and my passions and all the things we enjoy. We are just so anxious to get all those things going again that, for a lack of words, have been put on the back burner for the last year. 

It just feels really amazing, to be home for GOOD.