Time Flies...

Hi Everyone!
Once again, I find myself behind on simple tasks.  Aly and I have been busy doing the necessary things to get settled here.  We keep thinking about things we don't have here, necessities or things we've forgotten to bring along and have done a lot of errands.  We also went downtown for the monthly art walk.  It was not as fun as we thought it would be as all the spots they had art were very spread out around downtown.  Much of it was also inside buildings and seemed hard to find.  The theme was about pets, so many people had their dogs along with them.  Aly did get her arm painted.  She didn't want to have her face painted.  She also found a cute hat.  Then Grandma Jan and Grandpa Jack came for a visit.  They arrived on Thursday.  We showed them around our apartment and then we jumped in the car with them and continued on to Sanford, Florida where our Japanese friends, the Watanabe's live.  They greeted us all, wearing Rally 4 Aly shirts.  Their son Kaz is in kindergarten and my folks attended grandparent's day for him as his grandparents live in Japan.  After attending Kaz's school on Friday morning, we continued on to Orlando.  We checked into a hotel near Sea World at about 1:30pm.  We went and had a late lunch and then visited Sea World.  We had a two day pass and I'm glad we did.  On Friday, things were not going our way.  Aly was so looking forward to riding a roller coaster, but she was one inch short of being tall enough!  What a bummer!  Then, at the end of the day, we sat down to watch the Shamu show and as we were waiting, a strong thunderstorm rolled in and just didn't want to budge.  We waited for 1/2 an hour but they canceled the show due to the lightening.  The park closes at 6pm, so that was our last opportunity to see that show on Friday.  On Saturday, things went better.  We made sure to watch the shows first.  We saw the dolphin show, then Shamu.  They also have flamingo shaped paddle boats that we took a spin in.  We finished the day with a water ride that got us wet, and a little souvenirs shopping.  By then, we'd all had enough walking and hot sunshine.  We got in the car and drove back to Jacksonville.  Yesterday, we took Grandma and Grandpa to the beach.  Grandpa helped Aly fly the kite she bought.  Aly also has learned to boogie board, so she showed them how fun that was.  At one point, a lady came up to me and handed me a shark tooth.  She had seen Aly (it is obvious Aly is going through medical issues with her scar on her head, and no hair).  She told me she saw Aly and she prayed that she would find a shark tooth just for her.  She said she then looked down and found one and she brought it to me.  That is the 2nd time while we've been down here that someone has given us a shark tooth.  I'd like to know the trick on finding them on the beach!  But it was very touching.  On Saturday evening, we went for a swim here at the pool, and a couple of men asked Aly what the scar was about.  Aly is an amazing advocate and is not shy to talk about the ordeal she's been through.  She told them she had surgery for a tumor.  They were very impressed and told her she was a very strong girl. 
Anyways, Grandma and Grandpa headed for home this morning.  Aly starts her doctor appointments and starts the radiation treatments on Wednesday.  We are still waiting to set up some tutoring while she is here.  I am anxious to get that going, but we are waiting to hear from others as usual!  Please keep your prayers going.  Please pray that this radiation will not cause adverse side effects.  We are concerned because it is such a delicate area they targeting.  Please also pray for continued healing of her eyesight.  It has not improved at all.  We are seeing an eye doctor on Wednesday.  I can certainly tell that Aly is more hesitant in her activities.  She always wants someone in front of her to help guide her.  She has no vision on the sides.  Yesterday, she had stopped and turned to talk to me and then she started moving again and ran into a post.  It is very hard to watch her struggle.
I'm sure she'd love notes or cards from anyone willing to send mail.  I know she is missing having kids around.  She wanted to call Mitchell today, but remembered it is school time.  It has helped to have the Skype and she has enjoyed talking with those who have it.  Talk to you soon!  Thank you all for the continued support!