Feeling Settled

 While we still have to wait until Wednesday of this week to know if the kids are accepted into the study, I did learn from Xiao xiao that the powers that be at the Pharma company have made an exception to the weight requirement and Jenna will be allowed to participate if all other benchmarks are met!  This is great news!

We are at a Residence Inn in Newark, because every hotel in Palo Alto is filled with fans and teams at the NCAA Women's BBall Finals.  It's a quick jaunt over Dumbarton Bridge (the kids still get a kick out of it); and with traffic it takes 30 minutes to get to the clinic. We got there on time today (we were lost and late and flustered last time) and we were out of there in an hour!  The visits this week are quick ones; with blood draws and a check of vitals and off we go.  Both kids were ultra brave today for their "arm pinches"...not a tear to be seen.  Patrick hid himself under the chairs in the waiting room of the clinic; making me wonder if I'd have to create a scene prying him out.  The promise of a trip to McDonalds after his blood work was enough to set him free.

Poolside with Grandma Juanita and Tucker-the-Dog

Grandma Juanita is here with us and she is so helpful.  She stayed at the hotel this morning with Tucker (we brought the dog with us to this pet-friendly hotel), and she finished all the laundry before we made it back from our appointment!  Before heading to the pool for fun, Grandma spent time with each of her grandchildren (separately) doing homework.  I must admit that it is very convenient, when the kids are going to miss 22 days of school, to have a woman who taught Kindergarten for 30 years tutoring them!  She is so patient and creative with Jenna and Patrick!  I am so grateful for her help.



Brave days call for big treats. 
Lunchables?  They were over the moon!



We had a picnic by the pool today for lunch. I typically don't go for Oscar Mayer Lunchables, but as you can see today I made an exception.  Late this afternoon we headed into beautiful Palo Alto to walk along University Avenue and peek into a few shops before dinner.  We discovered a quiet, expansive Business Park on the way home where the kids were able to ride their bikes and blow off some steam before bed.  Tucker got to play fetch, too--so all creatures were happy.

Thanks to family and friends for checking in and for the well wishes.  We are all getting the hang of it!

Love TJ