July 1, 2009 Wed (We're in Ocean City - ignoring cancer for now)

We got to the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation's retreat house here in Ocean City, MD around 5 pm on Sun and we have not stopped moving since.  It's great to feel like "old times" again and not even think about cancer 24/7!  We used to go to OC every summer, but did not go last year because of Kaden.  We keep asking him if he remembers seeing the sights here, but he says no.  He's been here 3 summers... the last trip he was 2 1/2.  It's all new to him again.  He loves playing in the sand and runnning from the waves.  The last time we were here, both kids hated the sand and wanted to stay at the pool.  This time, we have no pool, but are allowed to use the pool at another hotel.  The only thing is we would have to drive there.  

The weather has been great so far.  They have lots of activities available that we signed up for and then we were given a schedule for the days.  Marty and Kade had all you can eat crabs Mon while Payton and I stayed on the beach looking for shells.  Tues, we had a family dinner (steak & shrimp) where we did the cooking and cleaning.  Today, we have dinner at an Italian restaurant, and then professional pictures taken on the beach later on.  Thurs, we have all day (8hr) passes for Jolly Rogers - mini golf, rides & water park.  They also have multi go-carts tracks.  Fri, we go on a pirate ship adventure and then later that evening, there is a deck party with a magician and a cookout.  We also have mini golf, OC Rocket (huge speed boat), and museum passes, as well as, food coupons.  There were other activies available too.  The Believe in Tomorrow Children's foundation has been really good to us!  It's amazing what they do for the families of sick children.  We stayed at their Canton apartments with Kaden's transplant/100 day stay and numerous times at the Children's House.  Marty even has his pay check set up that he gives them a donation every pay.

On our own, we've went to the famous OC boardwalk and walked around a couple times.  There are numerous playgrounds on the beach along the boardwalk and the kids kept us hopping through the crowds as they sprinted between playgrounds.  They even rode on some amusment park rides at Trimpers on the boardwalk two nights now. 

The kids are on the deck playing games with our neighbors, the Hongs.  We met them at Johns Hopkins in October.