Surprise!

Well it was sad to leave Leavenworth today and head back to the big city. Would have loved to spend a few extra days! Maybe when my new breathers are good to go we can make a trip back. Lots of hiking trails, even saw a sign for zip lining! Now that would be a blast!!! But most of all I really enjoyed spending some one on one time with my mom. We made some pretty cool memories that neither one of us will forget! Had to buy a couple souvenirs to remember our trip by. It’s always been a tradition of ours when ever we go some place new we always buy a Christmas ornament and my dad collects bottle openers. Well we struck out on the bottle opener, but we did find a really cool Leavenworth, Washington Bavarian themed ornaments to hang on our Christmas trees this year. Before we left town I had to have one more gelato frappe, oh my I think I have a new addiction!! So good!!!

As we bee bopped down the road, you follow the river the entire way. Reminds me of driving to Diamond Lake and how you follow the North Umpqua River. Such beautiful scenery! Made for some neat photos!! We pulled off the road in several places to take pictures. Our last stop was at Stevens Pass ski resort. They had a light dusting of snow up on the hills but not much. Took some pretty cool pictures of the chair lifts and the mountain tops. I can’t wait to get home and get my camera set up so I can start editing photo’s. It’s going to be fun!!

We stopped in Monroe for a quick bite to eat. Walked into Taco Time placed our order. As my mom was getting ready to pay she told the cashier we were from Oregon could she do tax exempt. The lady said no we can’t on foods, but we can give you a senior discount! I was trying so hard not to laugh!!!! Well on the bright side the senior discount covered the cost of the sales tax! Ha ha. Then after my mom paid the cashier gave her, her change and says “yeah I know Oregon I grew up in Tillamook!” Small world!!! I also shared an elevator this evening with another gentleman from Eugene, Oregon! Too funny!

We hit the 3:00 south bound rush hour traffics. It was stop and go for a long ways!!!! I don’t know how people can do that everyday! I would go nuts!!! We finally made it to the apartment a little after 4:00 o’clock or so. Hauled all of our stuff from the car up to the room. When I walked in the door I noticed I had some mail waiting on the table for me, so I quickly set my stuff down on my bed so I could open it. My two silly four legged furry children keep sending me get well cards. It makes me tear up when I read them. I miss them like crazy!!! The last time I saw them was towards the end of January. My dad had brought them to Mercy and I got to see them for a little while. I’m ready to be licked all over by Callie and I am more than ready to scratch Maui’s rump and throw the frisbee for her. Okay back on the mail subject!!! I also received a thoughtful card from my Aunt Sharon it was a cute one. Jwood surprised me and had dozen hand dipped strawberries covered with sprinkles! Because we all know sprinkles are for winners!!! Ha ha. I had to sample one right away, very tasty!!! Then there was a envelope on the table, I opened it up and read the letter. What truly amazes me is this lady is 81 years old lady lives in Broken Bow, Nebraska. She has sent me a letter before (while I was in step down), then this hand written letter today along with a money order to help donate to our cause. I have never met this lady before. But I am ever honored and touched she reads our daily blogs, she said “she truly enjoys keeping up with our progress.” This makes it all worth while! I get so excited when I get comments left on my blog. It totally makes my day! Actually to be completely honest as soon as I wake up I check our website for any comments that might be posted. Love starting my day off on a positive note! I am also amazed at how many people read our blogs daily!!! If my journey can help at least one other person then I know I have done my job. People tell me your an inspiration, or your such a strong woman. I just want to help others who might be going through a similar situation. On the outside people with CF appear “normal”. But once you open up and let others hear your story, or even witness first hand your daily struggles, people do not have clue and we need to fix that! I think it would be pretty interesting travel around schools, conventions or whatever bringing awareness to Cystic Fibrosis and my journey. It’s been one incredible/amazing journey!!!! Something I would love to share with others!!!! 🙂

After we got our stuff unpacked we kicked off our shoes for just a few minutes, when in walks Kerry, Ken Wood and Robert Jack! It was soooooo good to see them! I especially enjoyed my “ken-o” hug!!! I think we both got a little teary eyed. Well I know I did! Ha ha. It had been way to long my friend! He and Robert came up for the weekend to pick up wine, Kerry rode back with them so that’s cool. All five of us walked across the street to the Brazilian Steakhouse for dinner. Although I’m I still have six more weeks to go before I can have a glass of wine, everyone else had some pretty tasty wine with dinner, while I went with the traditional stand by Coke Cola on the rocks! Ha ha. We had a delicious dinner followed by great company!! :). Robert and I had a pretty good conversation going at dinner. We were just talking about how crazy the last six weeks were, to what they can do with modern medicine. I throughly enjoyed listening and participating in our conversation. Afterwards I thought to myself I just carried on a pretty lengthy conversation with a person. Not once did I cough, nor was I extremely short of breath from just trying to talk! No I don’t do that anymore!!! I have energy, I can carry on conversations but most of all I rarely and I mean rarely cough!! This just goes to show you miracles do happen! I’m so glad I can share my story/journey with all of you! Or anyone for that! Ha ha

Well it’s way past my bedtime! Hope everyone had s great Friday!

Until next time………

~Jen~
“Just Breathe”