Ups and Downs

It has been a month of ups and downs. Trying not to let the downs totally overshadow the ups.  That is why we still went yurting at Ft. Stevens.  Life goes on no matter what and it was a planned trip for the making of the memories.  It was a break from the routine and the sadness.  I have two little kids who don't know or understand all the things that are happening, but they know something is different.  And naturally what do little people do when they don't understand.  Whine, act out.  We survive it all.
So to recap......Dave is ill.  Really ill.  Cirrhosis of the liver.  He sees the specialist in about three weeks and until then we don't have any definitive answers.  But we know he keeps filling up with fluid and that can't be good.  He is again for the fourth time at the hospital.
Audrie is in her third set of swimming lessons.  Theresa, her teacher, says she is doing so well and becoming so powerful.  Lucked out that I had a bunch of days off this month and got her to her lessons since Papa is sick.  He usually does it while I am working.
My friend, Karen, has her own battle.  Kidney cancer.  Came last year and has now spread this year.  Just makes me sad.  She is such an upbeat person and I have known her for so long.
Mike came down and worked some for Dave.  Doug has stepped up to the plate.  It is really good to see his boys doing these things that they can do.  Doug made a delicious quiche today for Dave.  We all do what we can.
We had our beach trip to create memories for the littles.  And while it is sad that it isn't quite the memories I planned, it is still good memories for them.
Today is infant loss awareness day.  So for Carey and Treva we remember the babies they lost.
Today Autumn Justine joined the world weighing in at 6 lb 14 oz and 19 inches long.  Makes me a great aunt again.
And today is Adrianna's birthday.  Happy 7th little girl.
It is just up and down and up and down.  That is life and it is what it is.