Staycation

So I decided early August that Ahliana and I needed to take a couple of "special days off" together for a little stay-cation.  Just two days to do fun stuff.  And fun stuff we did!

Day 1

Our first adventure was to a place called Noah's Ark.  It is a water park for small children that is actually part of a church.  They charge a small fee to enter and you can play all day.  We made a day of it and it was awesome.  The fact that our temps have been 100+ made this water park even more inviting.

Four of her friends and their mothers also came... I love that my kid hangs out with kids that have really cool moms! So making a day of it was just as fun for me as it was for her. Not pictured is Jaden. I have pictures they just will not upload into blogger. Ahliana has gone to school with all of these kids since she was 12 weeks old.

Love these girls: ~ ♥  Isabel, Sophie, Lexi, & Ahliana (cheetto and all) ~♥

Lexi, Ahli, & Jaden

Ahli kissing her first toad....

Snowcone time...

A special thanks to Kim & Shellie for sharing their pictures.  I forgot my camera and they were kind enough to share.  ☺

After the Noah's Ark we took four tired little girls to lunch and they behaved like angels.

Day 2

Day two was just as wonderful.  Ahliana went to school first thing in the morning so she could enjoy tumble bus. She was only there for about an hour before I picked her up.  Then we headed to the star cinema to met up with Sophie , Lexi, & and their Momma's to see the Smurf's.  It was Smurftastic!!!  Ahli did not take her eyes off the screen.  The theater was wonderful it is a theater/grill so we ate lunch and watch the movie.  I must say it is not the typical eat/watch type theater though it was very clean.  They have a lounge area and you can order adult beverages.  Did not do that with the kiddos but it is an option for date night.

After the movie we headed to the Stomping Grounds.  These girls play so nice together and it is wonderful to be able to sit and have a conversation while they play.

After the Stomping Grounds we had one more stop.  Marble Slab!- I Sream, You Scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream!!! By now we are all exhausted.  Ahli starts to get crabby, I'm a little crabby but we've had fun...lots, and lots, of fun!

worst picture ever coming up... but it was the best I could do with a small camera and all the action.  they had so much fun!

I learned one very important lesson from this two day staycation.  It is very important to take a few days off a year to just play with your kid.  The time we spent together was priceless.  It did not cost that much and it was bonding.  It was special. It was needed.  Ahli is a kid that knows she is loved...oh how she knows...but she knew these days were special...they were ALL about her!!!

I ♥ my sweet baby girl!!

July Mini Vacation

We took a very much needed mini vacation to Rockport a couple of weeks ago and it was fabulous.  I love getting away with my family and reconnecting. I love watching my husband as he de-stresses and starts to unwind as work slowly trickles from his brain.  I love having my family all to myself and not having to share them with anyone.  I know that sounds a little selfish but it is a rarity.  Those of you that are privileged to know my husband, know that he is very social, and also know that there are seldom moments when it is "just" us.

Ahliana loves the beach.  I think she may have been a fish in another life. All she could talk about on the way there was going to the beach and she was so upset that when we arrived at our destination and it was really to late to venture to the beach... but with a promise to go in the morning and a quick trip to the hotel pool she was fine.

Just as we promised we woke up, ate breakfast, and we were beach bound.  The beaches in Port Aransas are much nicer then those in Galveston.  The water is not clear blue or anything like that but they are also not as murky.  We watched as the tide uncovered the small clams then they would scurry and quickly rebury themselves before being carried away into the depths of the ocean by the next surge of water.   It is amazing to me that this is the same Gulf water that we have in Galveston yet it is so much prettier.

Little Miss Hollywood....

The clams... there are thousands of them.

We went on a shell hunt and we noticed that sting ray (what is the proper plural for sting ray?) were coming all the way up to the shore line to nibble on the little fish swimming about.  It was scary yet cool all at the same time... you know I am a little nervous after the Crocodile Hunter incident... just say'n.  I tried to get a good picture but they would swim right at me and I would eventually have to quickly move out of their path, didn't help that they camouflaged with the sand and water.

We headed back to Rockport so Keith could take Ahliana on her very first fishing adventure.  We took her out on the Fulton Pier in Rockport.  Keith baited a line with shrimp and together they threw it into the ocean.  Ahliana watched patiently, for about a minute, to see if the bobber would go under.  And in an instant when she looked away it disappeared.  Keith excitedly yanked on the line (to hook the fish) and together they reeled it in... a little trout, I think.  Ahliana was screeching with excitement.  One little problem the fish was really hooked.  When we released the fish back into the water Ahli was concerned about the red water on her hands...ewww... thankfully while she looked away and I wiped her hands clean a nice hungry seagull carried away the floating fish....oh geeze!!!  Just for the record Ahliana caught 3 fish Daddy caught 0...just had to through that in there....smiling....

Our next big adventure, Corpus Christi and then home.  Corpus is about an hour from Rockport and truly worth the drive.  We headed out that way for lunch.  My one request was to find a Starbucks, at this point it had been two days since I had a good cup of coffee and my huney, whom I think secretly needed one as badly as I did, was eager to oblige.  So the search was on.  And and worth the little detour it was.  We ate at Joe's Crab Shack and the waiter loved Ahli.  Thanks Eli, you did an awesome job ( I act like he will ever read this...oh well it is the thought that counts).  Then Keith asks " do you think Ahli would like the Battle Ship or the Aquarium?" Ummmm really, did you just ask that?  It doesn't really matter what Ahli wants I would have more fun at the Aquarium...no really we all know that she would not have enjoyed the Battleship.

Just a cool pirateship.... Arrrr Matee....

Look "it's Dorey and Nemo"! A young child corrected me when I said this at the aquarium.  It is Dorey and Nemo's Dad (Marlin, I think)... opps...my.bad kid...you are right!  I stand corrected by an 8yr old!!  Hahaha

We love the Dolphins!!



The dolphins got to play with large rubber duckies and a frog... Ahliana said "look mom they have ducks in their bath like me" sooo cute!

Hope all your wishes come true baby girl!!

Hummm....battleship vs aquarium???

One day I will take Ahli to see the battleship. But just not today...

I'm a Survivor....

So I was not going to write this post.  Then I stopped for a moment and said to myself, "Why, you deserve to celebrate this...5 years, this is the marker where you are actually considered a "survivor" and not just in remission".  So then I said to myself (I talk to myself a lot) "Hell yea, I am writing the post!!  I am a survivor baby!!" Well actually I am going to add a few new words and then copy and past my blog from the past.  Sorry, not because I am lazy but it takes me a week to normally write a blog post ... so yes, this time I am under a time crunch and I am going to cheat a little.

It was 5 years ago that I rang the bell.  The bell that signifies the end of one journey and the beginning of a new one.  Cancer is just that, a journey.  For some it is worse then for others but to all it is a life changing event.  I can honestly say that it not only changed my life, or Keith's... but if affected so many around us.  I am honored when my niece does something like cut off her beautiful locks of hair and donates them to the Locks of Love foundation, or when she participates in a fundraiser to help raise money for cancer patients. For all of those who have posted and reposted this on their Facebook status:  May I ask a personal favor..... Only some of you will do it, and I know who you are. If you know someone who fought cancer and won, or fought cancer and died, or someone who is still fighting please add this to your status for 1 hour as a mark of respect and in remembrance. I hope I was right… about the people who will♥  Or just my friends who remembered this day... this very special day...without me even saying anything at all.  I love you all and the support you have shown me is huge!!!  Please don't think I take it for granted.  I know that I am lucky and blessed is so many ways.

My name if Jennifer Ponce and I am a 39 year old 5 year Lymphoma cancer survivor!

Four  Five years ago on August 22, 2006 I rang the bell. The bell that was to signify the end of my cancer treatment. Not the journey...just the treatment. This day was far more emotional then I ever could have anticipated. I thought it would really be no big deal, I would ring the bell because Keith and a few of my friends insisted. Heck - I didn't even know the bell existed until a couple of days before my last zap of radiation.

When you ring the bell you also recite what is written on the plaque:

Ringing Out

Ring this bell

three times well

Its toll to clearly say,

My treatment's done

This course is run

And, I am on my way!

REAR ADMIRAL IRVE C. Le MOYNE, USN

JANUARY 4, 1996

I can tell you that I rang that bell way more then three times well... I took a hold of that string and rang that bell with every ounce of my being...with warm tears streaming down my face that could be seen flooding the floor beneath. In fact everyone around us was crying. Not just me, not just Keith and my friends, but there was not a dry eye in the lobby... I don't think this is something that is special just to me...I think anyone that witnesses a patient ringing that bell is overwhelmed with emotion.

This is Cathy, my radiation technician, she was very kind and made me laugh everyday through radiation.  I have gone back to try to find her and she has since moved on...but she really made a difference in my life and I wish I could tell her that.  So this is the best I can do...Thank you Cathy!!

My hair started growing back just before my last round of chemo (the doctor told me it was because my body was past the insult of the chemo...nice Dr. Sam...nice....). So I promised Keith that I would remove my "security blanket" after ringing the bell. I promised not just for the day, but for good. This was a hard one for me. With no hair and no bandanna I felt ugly. But I was officially no longer sick and it was time to move past this chapter, so I hesitantly agreed. The significance was strong so I knew I had to get past my self consciousness.

I did not copy and past the entire post from last year, and of course I made a few changes to make this post unique.  If you want to get a better glimpse of our cancer journey feel free to read last years post on August 22, Life is Beautiful!  Would link you there...but I have NO idea how to do that.

Special prayers at this time for Patty Coe who has been recently diagnosed with Lung Cancer.  My heart and prayers go out to you and your family at this time!

Please continue to pray for those still battling this awful disease. As well as for those who are survivors to NEVER have to battle it again. GOD STRONG!!! ~ ♥