B - I - N - G - O

Tonight was the big Bingo night at RMH. It was a lot of fun, but Uncle Mack lost about $500! Just kidding.... It was cool, a great way to socialize a little while also collecting some good loot. :) There were a bunch of donated toys up on a table (enough for all of the kids to have at least 2), and this is a fun and fair way to distribute them.

They have a very sweet announcer with a bad microphone (everything that started with "thirty" sounded like she was saying "forty" and vice versa), and one of those ping-pong ball machines where the air blows the balls all around until one gets sucked up into the tube... It was just like watching the Florida lottery on TV when they first started the lottery back in the 1800s... Back when Uncle Mackie was a youngin'. After someone wins, they keep playing until 6 or 7 people have won on the same game, to ensure that everyone gets to say "B-I-N-G-O" at least once.

They played 5 or 6 different times with different objectives - the postage stamp, popcorn, blackout, etc. There was one game where she just called out numbers, and if she called your age, you won. They called "35" and Daddy won a prize. But Sarah and I really won that time because everyone at RMH now knows he's the oldest of all 4 of us. I don't think they had a "0" so there was no way Gracie was winning that time.

We won 3 times total, so Gracie got a new baby einstein dvd, an over-the-crib mobile that will hopefully help her sleep, and a bathing kit to have fun in the tub (she loves the tub). YAY!

After B-I-N-G-O we had to say good night to our friend Wyatt, and his mom and dad (Nicole and Todd). They will be going back home to Pensacola on Sunday, but chances are slim that we will see them again. We wish them well on the rest of their appointments, and hopefully Gracie, Sarah, and Jim will be able to catch them in Florida sometime once they get home. I love that when we were saying goodbye they called me "Uncle Mack." :)

Rylie (the one who had insurance troubles) was admitted to the BMT today. We saw her daddy, and could see the nervous excitement to finally have the ball rolling. She starts her chemo tomorrow, so will be tracking one day ahead of Gracie. We also have another RMH friend with a different condition who was admitted on Wednesday and started his chemo today, so 2 days ahead of Gracie. Another great thing about RMH, when you will be spending as much time in a hospital as we will, it's nice to know a few folks around you who are not on staff there. It will feel good not to be all alone.

Uncle Mack is heading back to Chicago tomorrow for a few days, but will return early next week. I imagine Sarah will be pretty occupied for the next several days, but she will try to update you all when she can squeeze it in. If not, I'll call and have her dictate to me so you all know what's happening. Tonight's goodbye was sad. Next time Uncle Mack will see Gracie she'll be in the hospital. When I left she was trying to help mom and dad get the video conferencing set up to talk to Noni and Muntz. Technical difficulties.

Oh! I also helped mom and dad change her dressing, and her rash looks MUCH better. In fact, you almost don't see anything. In other health news, the nurses took some snot from her the other day, just to check for any bacterial or viral infection (a cold). After 3 days the cultures still look clear, so she is healthy and in great shape!

Please wish us luck tomorrow and put Gracie on the top of your prayer list. Thanks so much again for the support.