DONE!

By the time we got back from the big celebration Friday, the apartment's internet access had been turned off. Not that they were rushing us or anything. But even after 24 hours without internet access, no one got the shakes. We were too rushed trying to pack up 6 weeks worth of "stuff" into 2 weeks worth of luggage. I think Mom and I were mostly appreciated for our baggage allowance.

Chase finished Friday afternoon and there was a big celebration. Here's a short video of "the gonging". What you can't see is the crowd of people, cameras, and cell phones in front of him - they really do it up right there! Unfortunately, Judith's camera doesn't have sound, so you'll just have to imagine a startlingly loud gong sound at the appropriate moment.



Applause! Applause! Applause!

Here, have a cookie!


If his face looks a little red, it's not because he's blushing, but because he just spent an hour locked down like this:


Aligning the acrylic forms for treatment.
But that's OVER - whew!

The celebration was fun, but...we still had to pack. Our flight wasn't at 7:30 Saturday, it was at 7:15! I did get the AM part right, though, dangit, and it's hard getting up at 4:45 when you were still packing at 0'dark thirty the night before. But we made it on time, thanks to no traffic and a very nice curbside check in guy. I think we had a total of 15 bags, including a last minute "throw it in that shopping bag over there" one.

We landed at RDU and headed for home - Buddy picked up Chase and Judith and drove to Greensboro, but I don't think Chase will light there long. NC State tonight, Chapel Hill tomorrow(?) and moving in to a Chapel Hill apartment on Monday. He's looking forward to becoming a college student again, ya think?

Many, many thanks to the friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, medical staff, and virtual strangers who made this passage bearable. Y'all are amazing!

I'm signing off and turning the keys to the blog over to Chase now. As rough as it was on him, at least he can never say he had a boring Freshman year!

Mom and I got in to Houston last night after a long flight on a teeny tiny plane. There were several doors leading out of the terminal, and we wandered every which way until we heard a voice we recognized say "Doesn't this mean anything to you?"



Houston's a big city. I know, Duh... Judith says we didn't see it all, but we did spend about 6 hours today in and out of the car. I need a nap!

This morning (and I use that term loosely), Mom and Judith left Chase snoozing (I was in the shower) and drove off to gape at all the huge houses in River Oaks. I told them to keep an eye out for secret service men, but they don't think they saw George Sr.'s house, reported to be in the area. By the time they got back, we had to rush to get Chase to his next to last treatment. We had lunch at a TX BBQ place, and then on the the Houston SPCA to thank them for their help with all the pets after Katrina. We came thisclose to bringing a darling, personable kitten home with us on the plane, but no... So cute, though!

Then we headed back to the Proton center to pick up Judith's phone...oops.

I have no idea what else we did today, but it involved a lot of traffic. Oh, we did pick up Chase's "goodie" for graduation tomorrow (a big chocolate chip cookie with the UNC logo on it). Judith was upset that Mom and I weren't particularly interested in shopping at the Galleria Mall. C'mon, Mom and me at Versace???

We're doing our best tonight to clean out the fridge and pantry of food - more chips any one? How 'bout a hot dog? Salad? Ice cream? :: burp ::

Tomorrow, the gong!



19 down, ONE to go!

Almost there... He's rounded the final turn and is racing down the home stretch. Or is it he's rounded third base and is heading for home? He's in the final quarter and up by 13? Are there any more sports analogies I can throw in here?

Packing up and getting ready to go, but Judith and Chase still have to entertain Mom and me for a few days. We'll be there Wednesday night to kick Chase out of his room for good (we get the twins, he gets the air mattress). There are a few things we need to see around Houston, and we wanted to make sure we were there for the final Gong on Friday. He had appointments with a bunch of doctors today and they all said he could leave Saturday. Good thing, 'cause we're all booked on a 7:30AM flight that morning!

Chase's treatments still take too long (at least according to him), but...

17 down, 3 to go!

Forewarning: a rather photo intensive blog ahead...

Since two influential presidents were conveniently born just 10 days apart, Judith and Chase had the day off. Not that they wanted it actually, but there ya go.

So they started out in a park in Houston where the arty boots are hanging out. If you click on the link, there are a lot of boot pictures there, or if just one will do, here's one for you:



There were some fancy kites flying as well. Judith took this movie of a circular kite flying (then, well, not flying). As of midnight, it's...not working, but hopefully by morning, youtube will have finished "processing" it (whatever that means).



Once it works, you'll see the slowly rotating rainbow kite, and behind it you'll see the Geico gecko taking off (or maybe it's a dragon - didn't the Chinese New Year start Sunday?)

After enjoying the park, they headed down to Galveston.

Who woulda thunk? The Gulf is cold in February!

Out on the pier (psst! Judith - "i" before "e", except after "c", not "p" ;-). Self portrait - notice Judith's arms reflected in her glasses.


They went to Pier 21 and saw the film on the Storm of 1900, when over 6,000 lives were lost, and the history of the protective wall guarding Galveston Island. The wall has held up through all the hurricanes since it was finished in 1905.



Just one of the friendly locals. Did he think Chase had a can of tuna under his cap???

So tomorrow begins the Last! Week! of Treatment!!!

Still...16 down, 4 to go!

In honor of Judith and Chase's final week in Houston, may I present:
Cowboys on Ice



I did talk briefly to Judith today, and from the sound of it, they had a great day off in Houston and Galveston. I was promised photos and maybe even a video. Until they surface, though, the cowboys will just have to do!

It was nice while it lasted :: sigh :: The weather cooperated, and a good time was had by all.

Buddy and Jacob are back home - already...but they had a very good weekend (many thanks to Susan and Charlie for the tickets!) I got a jumble of info in an email from Judith - she mentioned going to a Booster Ball with Debbie - cowboy chic dress requested:


A little bull riding (and showing off her new boots):


Those bulls look a bit different than I expected...


Meanwhile Chase and Jacob went to an Aeros hockey game where Chase was welcomed by name on the Jumbotron. Then they went back to Sugar Land with Debbie and Jake's two boys to play video games. I didn't even hear of any sibling fussing going on (not to say there wasn't any, of course!)

One more photo, and no, it's no one we know. But how often do you see a guy with a red mohawk riding a moped?



Countdown to Saturday - and home!

Many people seem to expect daily blogs. Okay, a few. Well, one, really.

Mom.

But Mom, if your daughter and grandson are too busy to call and update me, I can't just make stuff up out of thin air, can I?

Hmmm....Or can I....This could get interesting...

But truthfully, Chase has started on his "boost" treatment. No longer is he getting full head and spine radiation, but just the tumor bed (the origination point), and the two spots on his spine. So the sessions are supposed to be shorter, and he only has 4 more to go until he's DONE! Since Monday's a holiday, he'll be done on Friday, the 23rd, and I think he'll be home on Saturday!

16 down, 4 to go!