Exciting Week!

And they are gone!

This week has been pretty exciting!  It all started on Monday when you finally had your "tubes" removed.  Your surgery ended up being at 8:30 am, so it was an early start to the day.  You were excited to get going and couldn't wait to get them out.  Usually when you are sedated, you wake slowly and are quite grumpy.  However, this time, your dad and I could hear you coming back to the recovery room telling everyone that your "tubes" were gone.  Once you had dad and I in your sight, you quickly lifted up your gown and said, "look, look, my tubes are all gone!"  I was so overwhelmed and choked back tears so you didn't think I was upset.  I couldn't be more happy for you.  The "tubes" were such a physical sign of everything you had to endure and it was a barrier to roughhousing, baths, sledding, swimming pools and other fun activities.  You were finally free of these "tubes" that had been holding you back for so long.  You downed three apple juices and then many containers of jello so the nurses were okay with letting you go.  You walked so proud out of the recovery room, ready to show your family and friends that you were finally free!



After a quick snack, we headed back to Unit 1 (Oncology) to say "hi" to some very special people.  You couldn't wait to see what nurses were working and who you would see.  From the moment you saw the nurses station you were already back to your old ways.  You even asked the nurses if you could help them work.  We also had the opportunity to visit a new little friend, Dominic.  It was great to see his smile and walking around his room.  During your last chemo treatment, we met the Rooney family, they are also from Medicine Hat and Dominic is currently undergoing treatment for AML. Dominic will undergo a bone marrow transplant next month and we will be keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers as he goes through this new treatment.  He may be little, but he is a huge fighter!!

The best part of the day was coming home and seeing signs and streamers decorating the house.  Uncle Dusty, Auntie Tannis, Emersyn, Aspen, Gracie and Abbi had decorated banners with encouraging and celebrating messages.  You were so excited and couldn't stop jumping up and down.  Your sisters quickly returned home and you whipped up your shirt so fast to show them that your "tubes" were all gone.  The were so happy for you!  Again we all celebrated with you...I don't think the celebrating will ever get old :)

This week you went to your first birthday party, without your sisters.  You were so excited that you were going on your own and that your sisters needed to stay home.  I think you even rubbed it in a bit!  It is a risk, being around other kids, but knowing the family well and that it would be in a large area we decided it would be worth the risk.  There was a bouncy castle and now with your tubes out, you took full advantage.




Tonight was the icing on the cake!  You had a bath!!!  Your last bath was 10 months ago and you have been saying for months that you couldn't wait for your "tubes" to be out so that you could have a bath again.  It is crazy to think that just a plain old bath could be so exciting, but it was yet another sign of normalcy.  It warms my heart knowing that you achieved one more goal.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom

One more sleep!

Just wanted to a write a quick update as we are currently on our way to Calgary to get you Broviac removed tomorrow morning.  It has seemed like a life time waiting for this day and now we are only one sleep away.  We are staying and Uncle and Auntie's house in Calgary tonight as we need to be at the hospital by 7 am.

I am excited to have your Broviac removed, as it is yet another physical reminder of the journey coming to an end.  I know that it is not ever really over, but at least for now we can live with monthly appointments, blood work and then tests every 3 months.

You are very excited too!  You tell everyone, "I get my tubes out and then there will be no more dressing or cap changes!"  These weekly, sometimes twice weekly, procedures have been become part of your routine.  It will actually feel weird not keeping track of all your medical changes, as well as supplies.  The "tool box," which houses all your supplies as well as the "emergency kit" have become part of all of our lives.  It is not bizarre to hear Abbi reminding to us to grab the emergency kit as we leave the house.  You are also very excited to have a bath and also to go swimming.  I cannot wait for your wound to completely heal so we can all experience these favorite things.

Tonight I will go to sleep anticipating the day ahead of us.  I am still anxious, worried and scared every time you are sedated and this time it will be for a longer period of time as you are actually have a surgical procedure.  I always pray that all will go smoothly.

Here are a few pictures, I took quickly this morning of your Broviac.  Every morning would start with a white t-shirt, so we could pin your Broviac up.  I can't wait to get you ready and not have to put a white shirt on!!!

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom

Just wanted to add one more I had on my phone...

Happy New Year!

Jan. 7th, 2014

I have tried to sit down and write this post a million times, but with the craziness of the holidays and feeling under the weather, time has been hard to find. Anyways, Happy New Year!!

I am happy to say that we spent the holidays celebrating as a family and it felt so "normal" and in this case "normal" feels amazing!  Christmas has been our first holiday, since you were diagnosed, that we didn't need to worry about whether or not you would be in the hospital or if your counts would delay the protocol. We did play it safe, in case you had issues with your line or a fever that needed you to be admitted, but we managed to stay away from all hospitals.  I can't explain how amazing it felt to have us all at home only thinking about how we were going to celebrate the holiday season.

Santa did come and spoil you and your sisters.  You were so excited with your new tractor and wanted to drive it right away.  The remainder of Christmas day was spent with our extended families and playing with new toys and cousins.  We did all our traditions...cookies for Santa, early morning cinnamon buns, breakfast with all the family and matching jammie pants (thanks to Nanni).  Knowing that we were all together felt so good.  The only tradition we weren't able to do was going to church on Christmas Eve.  We just could not risk exposing you any germs so we had a quiet Christmas Eve night, which was also nice.  During the holidays, the girls spent a lot of time skating in the backyard.  Your are not a fan of skating, just yet, and you seem to tire easily, but you do enjoy grabbing a shovel and making a mess of your dad's backyard.

Sickness did not stay away from our house, I have been fighting a cold since Dec. 20th and continue to fight it today.  I did go and see my doctor and he ordered a CBC to make sure your WBC (white blood count) was high enough to fight off anything you may catch from me.  Your WBC was 4.3, which is good.  I just try to stay away from you as much as possible and Lysol wipe all the areas you like be in, just in case.  So far, so good, you have managed to stay healthy!

We are still waiting to hear back about your monthly appointments.  Things were left through all the holidays and we are hoping to have you seen soon.  We do have peace of mind with your recent CBC and knowing your counts are all good.  Next month you will need to have all the tests done again, in Calgary, just to make sure you are still cancer free.  You are also on the countdown for your surgery to have your broviac removed.  You are scheduled for Jan. 20th.   Everyday you remind me that very soon you can have a bath and go swimming because your tubes are coming out.  Your dad and I realized that it has been a year now since you have been in a swimming pool.

I have attached some pictures from Christmas.  You can see from the pictures that your hair is coming back nicely.  We are actually able to go out and not have people stare when you decide to take your toque off. You are very excited that your hair is coming in and can't wait for your first haircut.  I am not too sure if I will be able to actually take you for a haircut, but time will tell.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom