Masquerade Ball

This week has been a week of friends and fellowship for us!

I have written so many times on our journey about the blessings. This life we lead is so full of heartache and pain and struggle and yet the blessings are just as plentiful. We have been able to experience amazing experiences, create once in a lifetime memories and meet the most beautiful, generous people.  My favorite song is called "Beautiful Heartbreak".  Part of the chorus says, "Every fear, every doubt, all the pain I went through; Is the price that I paid to see this view..." This view for me has been incredible thanks to the people we have met along the way who have become a part of our family.

Last Saturday I got a text from our friends, the Glenn's letting us know they would be in town for the night. This is the family we met on our Kidd's Kids trip to Disney in June. They have become dear friends and the kids LOVE to get together. They live about 2 hours away so we take every opportunity to meet up. After almost two months of illness, hospitalization and pain this meet up was exactly what Alex needed for his soul. I saw smiles like I haven't seen for the first time in a while. We didn't even really "do" anything. The kids played cards and we went to Bass Pro shop, but it was really just about time together. Alex only lasted a few hours, but it was such a great morning together. Even though our kids have had different medical diagnoses and paths, the understanding of a life that is so different from most creates bonds that are extraordinary.

We left Sunday with plans for our next meet-up. Little did we know that we would get an email Monday morning inviting us to a Kidd's Kids fundraiser Saturday Night. We quickly put our heads together and started figuring out dress and masks to attend the Masquerade Ball. We decided once again to make the most of our time and meet for dinner beforehand. I don't have pictures of dinner, but it may have been the most fun part of the night for the kids! They laughed and talked and Mad entertained their end of the table being crazy Maddy. The Ball was awesome. We didn't make it through the whole thing because Alex started to not feel great, but had a blast while we were there.

This may be my favorite picture of the night. These two warriors are so alike in so many ways.

The trip to Disney in June was Incredible and I will always look back on it with such unbelievable memories, but these friendships are what i am truly grateful to Kidd's kids for.

Ali

PS- Alex's pain is slightly better (around a 5). We are having an ultrasound tomorrow morning and will repeat labs in hopes that we can finally restart feeds.