Brit visit Part One

I have amazing friends who have allowed me to jump on a plane with just a few days notice to spend some time with my sweet niece, Britany, while she's getting chemo. She battled it before and it was so hard to see. Now, it's weird. In some ways it's harder because we know what's coming - or not. Yet, in other ways it's easier because there are less unknowns. What I was not prepared for was the emotion I would feel this time around for total strangers. I can't even express the heartache I have about the little babies that are up there on the Oncology unit with us. Just this morning, Life Line came in with a little babe no bigger than Ezra, a baby born to a dear friend just weeks ago. I wonder if it's just that much harder this time because I'm a mom now. Or maybe I'm maturing enough to know that the world extends beyond my own family. Who knows.

The trip out was uneventful. I love it when I can see the sunset from an airplane.
The clouds below and sky above. It's just amazing in person. I wish I could edit like some of my blog favorites, like Amy Rose King or Lyndsay Stratner, but you can at least get an idea.
Doesn't she look thrilled to see me? Actually, she really is. We are having a good time and she introduces me to everyone as her fun and crazy aunt from Texas. It's weird, I have a photo almost exactly like this one from when she was just eleven. Except, we both look so much older.
She thought I was weird for taking this photo. I disagree. This IV holder is wild. At night, it gives off this eery green glow. I'm not the only one who says it looks like Kryptonite.

I just think it makes for a cool photo.
After her hair started to fall out last week, Brit got frustrated and just started yanking it out with her fists. There were a few die hard strands that didn't want to come out. So, we put our heads together and the true OT in me came up with a plan. At first, we started "waxing" with surgical tape. Then, we went for the big guns and my sister Emily came to take me out to dinner one night and we made a pit stop for some real wax. I wish you could have seen us. It was quite a site! She said it didn't hurt at all. But MAN, was it weird to do. You KNOW I love this girl.
So soft, so smooth. Some people are really curious about chemo heads. It's a big pet peeve for most when someone wants to touch it. Not Brit, anyone walks in her room and she's all... "Feel my head. It's so soft. It's awesome." I laugh.
We tried some finger weaving, but it was crazy hard. We moved on to magic tricks, bead work, and friendship bracelets. I'll post those photos later.
The best part about this? She gets massages 3 x week. Not including the ones I give her while I'm here. Welcome to spa Riley. ;) (Riley Children's Hospital in Indy).

I'll post more later.....