Rachel was thrilled to receive Waldo, her new Dachshund puppy! I'll let her post more pictures and info, but here are a few for now, so everyone can see what a cute little guy she has.
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Monday, January 31, 2011
PUPPY!
NEW PUPPY WALDO!!!!!!
Rachel was thrilled to receive Waldo, her new Dachshund puppy! I'll let her post more pictures and info, but here are a few for now, so everyone can see what a cute little guy she has.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Rachel was thrilled to receive Waldo, her new Dachshund puppy! I'll let her post more pictures and info, but here are a few for now, so everyone can see what a cute little guy she has.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Clinic News
Sorry it has been a few days since clinic and I am just now posting. I am happy to report that this week's appointment was the first good one in a while. It was a lot more positive, they said everything looked good...my labs looked good and I am on track. We're getting ready for day 100 stuff, which includes a pulmonary function test (where you test your lungs, and get to blow in a tube til you feel like you are going to burst) and a bone marrow aspirate, which they will test. They will be looking at the cells to see what percentage is the donor's cells and what percentage is mine. Ideally, we want to see 100% donor cells due to the fact that my cells tend to be cancerous haha. So there is my little update for the daay... Pray to see donor cells ! Thanks for all the support. I know we are receiving good news for a reason, and it is finally helping me to see light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for the prayers!
Rachel
Rachel
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
CLINIC 1/1911
Rather than make you all wait until Sunday (when I usually post), I'll tell you a bit about Rachel's clinic visit yesterday. The good news is that her platelets went up from 109,000 to 133,000! That was the good news! Thanks for all of your prayers.
They are still concerned about her intermittent nausea and were hopeful that by now (day +77) she would be done with it. Her liver enzymes were also a bit elevated today, so they are stopping her TPN (IV nutrition) and just giving her fluids with some magnesium in it. This means that she is supposed to double her food intake this week...which is tricky when you don't really have a normal appetite. But she's going to give it a try.
It's hard to hear the doctors say two weeks in a row that she is not where they would like her to be at this point. It's even harder to see the fear in your daughter's eyes when they say that. I know she is scared about what all this means. We just keep telling her that she is making progress--even though it might be slower than we'd all like. She looks and feels better than she has in a long time (other than a silly head ache the past couple of days.)
My goal this week is to keep reminding myself that regardless of what the doctors are saying, I know who is really in charge of Rachel's healing process. I know He is very aware of her and that we have to be patient and trust in Him.
--Marie
They are still concerned about her intermittent nausea and were hopeful that by now (day +77) she would be done with it. Her liver enzymes were also a bit elevated today, so they are stopping her TPN (IV nutrition) and just giving her fluids with some magnesium in it. This means that she is supposed to double her food intake this week...which is tricky when you don't really have a normal appetite. But she's going to give it a try.
It's hard to hear the doctors say two weeks in a row that she is not where they would like her to be at this point. It's even harder to see the fear in your daughter's eyes when they say that. I know she is scared about what all this means. We just keep telling her that she is making progress--even though it might be slower than we'd all like. She looks and feels better than she has in a long time (other than a silly head ache the past couple of days.)
My goal this week is to keep reminding myself that regardless of what the doctors are saying, I know who is really in charge of Rachel's healing process. I know He is very aware of her and that we have to be patient and trust in Him.
--Marie
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I can't think of a post title
Hey everyone. I thought I should post since it has been a while since I have posted myself. Things are going better, I am very excited for every ounce of progress I make because it feels so much better to not be throwing up every day. As far as energy goes, that is getting better too, but nothing is quite 100% yet.
I spend my days pretty bored, but am excited for all the tv shows getting started again. Not to mention THE BACHELOR!!! hahaha ok this season is crazy entertaining. It is always fun when there is a psycho girl on the show.
I got an exercise ball for christmas, and on a good day I will even bounce around on that a little bit. And Adam and I have been going on walks every now and then, which is good. Well, those are just some random things that have been going on. I go back to clinic again tomorrow, so we will let you know how that goes. Thank you all so much for the prayers and support, I can't believe how many people are praying for me and it feels so good to know that. Thanks so much!!
Rachel
Monday, January 17, 2011
UPDATE AT LAST
Rachel is making great progress this week as far as eating is concerned! She has only thrown up once this whole week! She has started requesting things randomly when they sound good. Some of these include pasta fagioli soup, chips and salsa, and tuna fish sandwiches. (No--not all at the same time! That would be disgusting!)
She still has no desire for desserts--although her dad makes a mean chocolate shake that he's talked her into a few times. We can tell that she is feeling better overall. Her clinic visits have gone well. (We go up once a week to Primary's.) One thing that has the doctors a bit worried is that her platelet counts keep dropping. They should be just going up at this point. So we'll hope they've turned around when we go up on Wednesday.
She's been excited to see her hair coming back in nicely along with eyebrows and eyelashes! Thanks to all of you still checking the blog! I know we've been boring lately...but we've decided in the cancer world---BORING IS A GOOD THING!
She still has no desire for desserts--although her dad makes a mean chocolate shake that he's talked her into a few times. We can tell that she is feeling better overall. Her clinic visits have gone well. (We go up once a week to Primary's.) One thing that has the doctors a bit worried is that her platelet counts keep dropping. They should be just going up at this point. So we'll hope they've turned around when we go up on Wednesday.
She's been excited to see her hair coming back in nicely along with eyebrows and eyelashes! Thanks to all of you still checking the blog! I know we've been boring lately...but we've decided in the cancer world---BORING IS A GOOD THING!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Day +66
You've probably noticed that since coming home, we have slowed down on our posts. Please don't hold that against us! We appreciate all of you following Rachel's progress! We will try to post at least once a week to give you an update. I'm sure you understand how nice it has been for all of us to be home...together...under one roof again.
Rachel is on day 66 since her bone marrow transplant on November 4th. Her progress is gradual--but we're moving in the right direction. She is still not eating enough on her own to be off of her IV nutrition. But once in awhile she surprises us and asks for a tuna sandwich or a piece of bacon! Fatigue is still a battle, but she gets stronger every day!
She actually got to attend her first hope kids event yesterday. "HopeKids provides ongoing events & activities and a powerful, unique support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions. We surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope can be a powerful medicine." Our local chapter is headed up by C.R. and Amy Oldham, two of the most amazing people around! Yesterday's event was a movie up at Jordan's Commons. They reserve the whole theater for "hope kids" and their families once a month. We got to see Disney's "Tangled." It was fun for Rachel to get out of the house for awhile.
We appreciate all of your continued support for Rachel. We hope she feels well enough to start working on her school work soon. We've pretty much taken the 2nd term off for transplant. She's planning on "catching up" in the next few months. Even though she won't get to attend school with her friends, she's planning on completing her junior year working with our district tutor.
Have a great week!
--Marie
Rachel is on day 66 since her bone marrow transplant on November 4th. Her progress is gradual--but we're moving in the right direction. She is still not eating enough on her own to be off of her IV nutrition. But once in awhile she surprises us and asks for a tuna sandwich or a piece of bacon! Fatigue is still a battle, but she gets stronger every day!
She actually got to attend her first hope kids event yesterday. "HopeKids provides ongoing events & activities and a powerful, unique support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions. We surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope can be a powerful medicine." Our local chapter is headed up by C.R. and Amy Oldham, two of the most amazing people around! Yesterday's event was a movie up at Jordan's Commons. They reserve the whole theater for "hope kids" and their families once a month. We got to see Disney's "Tangled." It was fun for Rachel to get out of the house for awhile.
We appreciate all of your continued support for Rachel. We hope she feels well enough to start working on her school work soon. We've pretty much taken the 2nd term off for transplant. She's planning on "catching up" in the next few months. Even though she won't get to attend school with her friends, she's planning on completing her junior year working with our district tutor.
Have a great week!
--Marie
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday Thoughts
Since we got out of the hospital, we've just been enjoying our time together during the holidays. It's so good to finally have all of us under one roof again! Rachel continues to improve slowly. Nausea is still her worst enemy--it comes and goes. We consider it a good day if she makes it through without throwing up at all. The dr. says that bone marrow transplants really mess up your stomach--especially in teens. So we keep hoping this is all "normal".
We can't wait until she has an appetite again! It has really been a struggle for her to eat. Thank goodness she is still getting TPN (IV nutrition) at night. Even though the progress is slow, we are still so grateful that she is home with us. We have really been able to focus on what is most important this holiday--family, serving each other, and remembering the birth of our Savior--the greatest gift of all.
Thanks to all of you who continue to shower us with kindness, prayers, smiles, hugs, and hope! We hope that 2011 brings joy and good health to everyone.
--Marie
We can't wait until she has an appetite again! It has really been a struggle for her to eat. Thank goodness she is still getting TPN (IV nutrition) at night. Even though the progress is slow, we are still so grateful that she is home with us. We have really been able to focus on what is most important this holiday--family, serving each other, and remembering the birth of our Savior--the greatest gift of all.
Thanks to all of you who continue to shower us with kindness, prayers, smiles, hugs, and hope! We hope that 2011 brings joy and good health to everyone.
--Marie
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