Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Well, off to school again today! Emily has really made the rounds! After visiting NTES she visited her old preschool class at Topsail Presbyterian Church and joined them for chapel. She really enjoyed this time and got a great big hug from Mrs. Melissa and Mrs. Brenda. They were so happy to see her again!

Another request Emily had for coming home was to eat at the Smokehouse Restaurant in Holly Ridge. So, that’s where she got to have lunch! Mrs. Sherry wasn’t there today and I know she hates that she missed Emily. Don’t worry, Emily will be back soon!

This afternoon the raging forest fire was going on near Lowes and Eddie took Dawn & the kids back up there to watch the fire planes dump water over the area. When they got there, the fire was contained and there wasn’t much to see, thank goodness for that as many residents were very worried about their homes and animals.

About 5:00 Emily wanted someone to play with because Trey & Walker didn’t want to play with girls. Dawn & I strolled her up to Aunt Cheryl’s where she and Madison played on the swing set, slide and then pretended to be serving us from the playhouse “drive thru” window. I ordered a cheeseburger but they said they didn’t have any, so I settled on make believe french fries and a banana split instead! So cute! While we were playing, Gina from Lowes brought her 2 labrador puppies up for a visit and Emily thought they were so sweet! Before we knew it, it was time for her to go home and get “hooked up” to her fluids. She didn’t want to quit playing but knew what she had to do. So, she insisted on pushing the stroller instead of riding in it but her little legs got tired after a little ways and she got in for a ride the rest of the way home. I got a great big ole hug before she went inside. The little energizer bunny was definitely tired tonight!
I stopped by later tonight and she and Trey were sound asleep. The house was quiet as a mouse! Dawn & Eddie had the van loaded so that she & Emily can get an early start back to Durham in the morning as soon as Trey heads to school. They will go straight to the clinic and spend most of the day there for labs, possible transfusion, etc. Then back to the apartment where maybe she will rest up from a very busy Welcome Home week! She plans to be back next weekend for the Pender County Relay for Life activities where she will cut the opening ceremonies ribbon and lead the Survivors Walk. We hope you will all join us at Topsail High School for this most worthy event! If you’d like to to walk on Emily’s behalf, please let me know and I will gladly sign you up! We need walkers on the track from 7:00 p.m. Friday 5/4 – 12:00 p.m. Saturday 5/5. Don’t forget the beautiful & heartwarming luminaria service at 9:00 p.m. Friday night. You may also still purchase luminarias for this event, call me!

YEAH EMILY you have richly blessed all our lives this past week and we are so thankful that you were able to come “homie home”!!! We can’t wait to see you again next week!

Love, Stephanie
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This morning Emily had to take a little “me time” and rest after a very busy 4 days. After having lunch with Mommy & Daddy, they picked up Adelaide to come play for the afternoon. They had so much fun playing outside in the warm sunshine and I’m sure shared lots of little girl giggles.
Emily said she wanted to go to Max’s to eat while she was home. She was delighted they went there for supper tonight! Max and the staff were equally as delighted that she visited while she was home!

Stephanie

I gotta tell you, Emily is packing all she can into this trip home. She is definitely making up for lost time and as tired as she must be, keeps right on going like the Energizer Bunny!
Today she was able to visit Mrs. Martin’s classroom at North Topsail Elementary and enjoyed it immensely. Then she wanted to attend her dance class with Ms. Heidi at Just for Kicks Dance Studio in Hampstead. Emily put on her dance attire and off to class she went holding onto the bars and doing her best to catch up on the latest dance steps. Afterward she went home and played outside with her neighborhood friends. For those riding by it must have been such a delight to see her back at home and playing!
Love, Stephanie