1 year Scans - It's time.

We arrived in Memphis yesterday night.  It was a smooth flight here with no delays.  The best part is that Kayla and I both have friends here with us. We decided to get a rental car so we could get out beyond the St Jude walls and show them a little bit of Memphis.  We are so glad to have wheels here. It really makes it nice!

Today we got to see Kayla's best friend from St. Jude, Angiel!  It was sooooo great to see her, her mommy and brother.  To be able to hug them in person again and just sit with them was very special.  Angiel looks so beautiful.  She just started 6th grade!  The look of surprise on their faces when we showed up was priceless!!!

Audrey, Kayla, Angiel & Markus (the big 3rd grader) haha!!! 

After our visit with friends we drove over to the Target house to tour it and do some crafts of course.  We painted an awesome painting for Kayla's room. She has no idea, but her dad is painting it a beautiful turquoise blue to surprise her when she gets home. Ever since Hawaii, she really wants a "tropical" room.

Kayla finished the day getting all checked in through A/T where she got her IV in place for tomorrow's appointment.  They did some lab work so that we can get all the results needed on her thyroid.  We had the fabulous Miss Jackie. She was so great. No blown veins.  No double sticks. No numbing creams/J-tips - and NO tears.  Audrey held her other hand and they just stared at each other.  The girls formed a bond that was beyond any that they already had. It was really really sweet!!!

 Here we go... the neck vein and the eyes say it all... 

OUCH!!!

The look of relief knowing the worst is over for today

And just like this... they are true BFF's forever. <3

The awesome "Miss Jackie" 

For almost a year while we were here, Kayla dreamed of showing her friends at home this amazing place where she received her life saving treatment.


So today, Audrey and Kayla were running through the halls giggling and skipping and just enjoying every second of it.

The walls are just as cheery as always. So many beautiful smiling faces warmly welcoming us with hugs galore to give us strength.  This really truly is one of the most amazing places on earth.

 Dinner at Huey's

(famous for their tooth picks on the ceiling. This is how they get there!)

This nice guy and his horse, Blue, were dropping a patient and their family off at the Grizzly House after what must have been a fun stroll just as we got back from dinner. Now that's awesome!

So, tomorrow at 6:45am we will walk over to the hospital where Kayla will under go the all important Contrast MRI.  Please keep those prayers, thoughts and candles blazing.  She seems to be in good spirits. My stomach is in knots and as always, we can't get the results soon enough. The thought that at any moment your life could be turned upside down once again is something that can't be explained. So we just breathe... and wait.

We will know results for her MRI on Tuesday.  I will update tomorrow night with her endocrine results. Thank you to all of you for your kind emails, texts and FB messages. I read them ALL. It really means so much!