If you hear joyous shrieking across the city...

It will be us screaming out in joy!  Gracie's numbers went up from 84 to 120 today and they feel that they will continue to climb.  We are headed HOME from the hospital!  We couldn't be more thankful!!! 

FRRREEEEEEDDDDOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

Because Gracie is eating and drinking so well she does not have to be hooked up to her second booty (IV Tower). Walking around her room, sleeping, and visiting the bathroom has never been easier. As for her blood, her count is still low today, but rising. 

On a side note, Gracie has been eating very well. Last night I was waiting in line to pay in the cafeteria. I had two items that could not have been further apart. In my right hand I was holding a bowl of soft-serve Dryer's Rocky Road (for myself since Grace thinks all sweets are "too rich"), in my left hand I was holding a half bowl of cooked bay shrimp from the salad bar. A last minute request from Grace before she went to bed. Of course the looks I received from the cashier and the others in the line were priceless, especially since I think they noticed my painted toe-nails with hearts on them. If you haven't figured it out already, all of you will be happy to hear that Gracie is taking full advantage of the fact that mom, dad, brother and sister are willing to do anything to make her happy.

Speaking of bravery...

Jack Johnson...you've got competition. Tanner went out of town to visit our family in Utah, so you haven't been seeing him in any of our pictures. But, it would be impossible to overlook our little soldier who has been so brave, yet saddened by this whole ordeal. This has been tremendously difficult for Tanner. He loves his sister so deeply and he can't stand to see her hurting. We are really proud of him and how he is bearing this, though we hate that it affects him so acutely. But, Tanner has always been a brave one, and has never backed down to any challenge. Hence, this video! Enjoy a glimpse into his school's talent show this past June!

Updates...

As of today, Grace's blood count actually went down...so it looks like we'll probably be at the hospital for a while. Also, we now won't hear back on the bone marrow test until Tuesday, so it's a waiting game. But, on the flip side-they said that is a good sign-because if there were a lot of red flags in their initial peek at the bone marrow-they'd be taking more measures with chemo. We're praying and hoping that by mid-September, she will be officially Cancer free. Then, we go ahead with trying to keep her in remission for the next 2 1/2 years. Also, on a more positive note-when I called the hospital to say goodnight to Gracie, JR informed me that they were busy building a giant fort in which they would watch a movie. What a good dad!

Grace's Courage and Faith

For over two weeks Grace's day-to-day has consisted of needles, tests, machines, doctors, nurses, surgeons,  and procedures, accompanied by an unstoppable appetite, the scary thought of loosing her hair, the start of a brand new school, the fact that she cannot leave her room, missing her home, missing playing outside, and knowing that her body is very ill. Yet, she is continually cheerful, happy, and optimistic. That is not to say that she doesn't hate taking her medicine, or not want to be here, but in the end she does it and moves on. 

She looks at us, sucks it up, and does what she is asked to do.  Tonight a glimpse of her faith and determination was shown in a simple conversation we had over Indian food.  

While watching a movie Grace commented on how good a plate of food looked (see above referring to appetite) and I told her that the dish was an Indian dish and it was very good. We started talking about where I had tasted Indian food and I told her about these food carts in downtown Portland that have great food, but are a decent walk, and look a little scary-hygienically speaking.  I told her to trust me that they were very good and the Indian food she was looking at on TV tasted awesome. For some reason, although she was probably talking about the food I felt this overwhelming feeling that she was talking about more. I said to her "you should come with me next time and give it a try," she responded by sitting up on her hospital bed,  looking right at me and saying with a sweet, but exhausted smile, "I would go with you anywhere daddy."

My heart aches for Grace. We as adults know the details of her sickness, we understand the seriousness of cancer, and we appreciate how important all the tests, machines, and hospital hours are. Yet Grace, knowing she is sick, but not knowing the big picture goes with us anywhere. Trusting and having faith that the promises we have made to her about getting better are worth the suffering and discomfort. 

One again we would like to say thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, gifts, calls, comments, love, and friendship.