TAYLOR'S JOURNAL

7/25/08 - I was finally able to ride my horse a few weeks ago. I'm trying to get ready for a show, but it all depends on how much I can ride and how I feel. The week later, I got really sick and threw up for five days with a really bad headache. Finally the nausea went away, but I still have the headache, just not quite as bad. On Sunday, my mom and I went to see Phantom Of The Opera. It was really neat, but some parts were a little scary. The chandelier part was neat and the actors' voices were awesome. I really like the music and dancing in it. There's a some pics below. I also went to one of my dance classes (ballet) on Tuesday and I made it through the whole class! I got tired, but I did it. I'm going to try to go again today, it just depends on my stomach because I'm a little nauseous today. Last night we had a blast. I was able to go behind the counter at our friend's restaurant, Kenrix. They let me help Ken make the sushi plates for all of the people there! It was awesome. I'm going to go back and help again next week. I love sushi and really liked learning how to make it. My mom took some pictures of me and Ken. She and dad were laughing and smiling ear to ear watching us work. It was very fun. Mom said I could learn how to do it and could make dinner for her a dad once I know how. Here are some pics of Ken and I and my masterpieces.

7/8/08 - I had a really fun weekend over the 4th of July. We went down to Coronado to Mick and Pattie's house and watched the parade and then had a BBQ. It was really fun. My dad took Katie (their granddaughter) and I to the beach to play for a while. Then we went home and over to our neighbors' house for more food and fireworks. We got glow jewelry and it was really neat. On Sunday I rode Tyler for the first time in a really long time. My mom said I rode really well, though I got tired and sore pretty easy. I felt pretty yucky today and spent a lot of the day throwing up and sleeping with my mom's dog, Diva. My mom thinks it's the oral chemo that I'm taking. I'm not sure what it is, but it's no fun throwing up at the grocery store :o( I did have some fun when I got home. A friend of ours from Hawaii sent me a really big box full of beautiful things from Hawaii and some really yummy-looking candy and cookies and coffee. I can't wait to try some of the new origami and to find a place for my wind charm. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow because I want to ride again if I can. Thank you to all of you who keep sending messages. I know it must get kinda boring sometimes, but I really like to read what you have to say. I hope I'll see some of you at the dance recital this weekend!

MOM'S JOURNAL

7/11/08 - Dogs - Yes our day was filled with dogs today. Four-legged, fuzzy faces all smiling at the activities around them. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is holding a fundraiser this weekend and since Taylor is a Make-A-Wish kid, she was invited down. It's called Wags for Wishes and it's held in Chula Vista. It was a very long drive from Ramona, but I have to say it was well worth it. We had a blast! Taylor had a great day today and we decided to take my JRT, Diva, with us to the fun. They had two different pools for the dogs to both practice and learn to jump into the water after lures, and an official jump dock complete with video measuring of the jumps. Diva only made it to the puppy platform, but she swam several times and did well enough to swim out, fetch her ball, and bring it back, which was great for a first time dog, or so I'm told. Taylor then got to be a guest handler for some of the super-star jumpers. One of her dogs, Cady, jumped over twelve feet and they won second place in the junior division! She was elated. (See pics below) She and Diva also participated in the dog agility class together. They were superstars. Diva was the head of her class learning how to negotiate two consecutive jumps, the doggy tunnel, the short bridge and the long bridge all with Taylor's help in just one hour. Taylor had a blast and Diva had a smile on her face all day. We were both surprised that she was a total flop at the lure race. Granted, they were using plastic bags instead of squirrel tails, so I'm pretty sure that would have made a difference. As it was, she was totally bored with the bags and much more interested in the other dogs there. If anyone lives close by, it's a great day and all of the very modest fees for the classes go to support Make-A-Wish. Parking and admission are totally free. It was a great day. For five hours we totally forgot that cancer was a part of our lives. Yes, it was a really great day.