Stanford Weekend

Last weekend- Hannah, Dayne, and I flew to Sacramento for Hannah to have some testing done @ Stanford University.  We flew in a few days early so Hannah could ride Harley's with Papa.  (really for a visit w/ Nana and Papa!) :)

Papa and his "Harley Chick" as Hannah named herself.  She's so glad he's taking his Harley to our family reunion in a few weeks so they can reunite again.

In the meantime Papa... hope you can survive without your harley chick.

On our way to dinner one night... like the boots?

Hannah before church on Sunday.  Nana gave her this darling dress, and of course she curled her hair and did it 1/2 up, 1/2 down... her favorite!

Sunday evening, we drove 3 hours (in traffic) to Palo Alto to our hotel.  And Monday morning bright and early we started the testing.  Hannah participated in a study for Turner Syndrome Girls.  This is a neuroimaging study where they examine the brain during different activities.  Hannah took lots of tests, played games, gave them some of her blood, and sat VERY VERY still in an MRI machine for 3 hours total.

Here she is right before her first time in the MRI machine.  She was a little nervous.

I had to stand on the other side of the window and I could only take pics w/ my cell phone... so they're not too clear.  But this is Hannah talking to Matt... one of the researchers.  He was reassuring her that it wouldn't hurt and that she could do it!!

Here she's double checking EXACTLY what is going to happen and when.  As long as she knows what to expect, she handles it pretty well.

Sweet Matt was helping her into the machine and positioning her just right.

He even held her foot the whole time so she would know he was there.  She adored him.

These are the socks they gave her to wear.  Look familiar dad?  Can you say knee surgery?  TIGHT!

This is Kristen, another researcher.  She spent a ton of time with Hannah doing "practice MRI's" and explaining all the things she needed to do.  She was SOOO patient with her.  Hannah loved her too!

Dr. Bria... she is the Doctor who is heading up this part of the study.  She asked Hannah lots of questions, played games with her, and even gave mommy some homework!  Lots of it!!

And Matt, her MRI foot holding buddy.  This was after she finished her last scan of the whole trip.  She was so relieved.  She did SO well, we were so proud!

Nana went with us over to Stanford to help take care of Dayne.  But we didn't get any pictures of her.  BUMMER!

Then on Tues. night, we drove the long drive back to Nana and Papa's and our Riverbank friends came to visit.  This is Aliya, Hannah, and Claire.  They were BFF's when we lived in Modesto.

Still able to have tons of fun together!!!

They were all born within 3 months of each other.  They went to preschool together, and would have gone to elementary school together if we hadn't moved.  Claire and Aliya still live by each other.  Hannah misses them!  Here they are eating Papa's banana cake.  MMMMM!

Cute girls.

Cute mamas!  L-R: Jessica, Julie, Becca, and Jen  LOVE these ladies.  For sure my closest friends in Riverbank.  Miss them too!  Thanks for making the trip to come see us!

Moms and daughters.  We also all had another set of kids together.  Becca had Curran first, then Jen had Melanie, and I had Barrett.  Curran is our little buddy in heaven, and Mel & Barrett were raising a ruckus at their respective homes.

Becca and Jules... miss you girl!  Becca is Curran's mom (and mom to 5 other cute kiddos too!)  So hard to live so far away!  I just know our little boys would all have SO MUCH fun together.  Move to TX!  :)

This picture shows EXACTLY how Hannah and I felt at the end of the trip!  It was non-stop!!  Lots and lots of activity.  We had to get up at 3:45 am on Wed. to go home.  SLEEPY!!

The trip was SO worth it.  I am so glad we went.  The testing done at Stanford will help others as well as Hannah.  They will give us the reports in a few months.  It was so fun to see our friends and especially Nana and Papa.  Thanks for everything everyone!  Miss you already!