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Sunday, August 29, 2010

* 5 * Peeps * 12 * Times *

Here is our * 5 * Peeps * 12 * Times * photo for August.  I am super grateful to have another family photo!!  Emilie is still home (2 weeks as of tomorrow), fever free and doing well.  Her next chemo treatment is tentatively scheduled for Friday and her last LP showed that her spinal fluid is clear of cancer cells!!!!  Nicolas is home from "Nurse Nana's" and the house is full of wonderful noise.  He lost his first tooth while at Nana's.  Nana told him that the tooth fairy that visits her house only leaves a quarter, so he brought his tooth home to place under his pillow because he was hoping for "20 bucks"!  Paul is busy with football and baseball.  He is enjoying football although I am not liking the bruises he comes home with.  
Life is good!  Really, really good!
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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Words

Word art using Bendaroos by Emilie.
These are the words of a girl with leukemia.
These are the words of a girl who must use a wheelchair because her legs are not "working".
These are the words of a girl who has thinning hair.
These are the words of a girl who spent the majority of her summer vacation in a hospital.
These are the words of a girl who will not start school with her classmates and friends.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:8 (The Message)Photobucket

Sunday, August 22, 2010

"Normal" Is So Overrated!

**Update  8/22 @ 2:13 pm**
Nicolas' blood test came back NORMAL!!!! Thank you Jesus!!!
We have redefined normal in our family.  Actually, everyday "normal" takes on a new meaning.  Today our "normal" is....
Nicolas is still sick with a fever and some "junk" in his lungs and is now on a second antibiotic.  We requested a blood test just because we are overly concerned.  He is still banished to Nana's where he is well taken care of, loved and nourished.  My mom is and always has been a great nurse; lots of sodas, popsicles, saltine crackers and TV. Nicolas has been living with my mom for almost a week and just told my mom today that he hasn't seen his mom in FIVE days. Makes me sad!  Please pray that Nicolas' blood test comes back fine and that the second antibiotic works.  Please also pray that Nana stays healthy and sane!
Paul's "normal" is living here during the days and then going to our local motel to swim and spend the night with Grandma Marlene.  She has been here for a week helping out and is now at Costco with Paul getting things we will need for the week.  Paul has been going to football during the week, mowing our lawns and hanging out with his friends.
Emilie's "normal" is actually pretty normal for Emilie.  She continues to do well at home: no fever and no sickness.  She had a visit from the Make-A-Wish organization this morning and is so excited for her "wish".  Emilie continues to have a great attitude and is so full of spunky goodness despite not being able to walk.  She sings and laughs almost all day.  Amazing!  I just love this girl and her attitude encourages and inspires me every day!
Eric and I have never been normal...enough said!  Really, I have been having a difficult time with Nicolas being sick, Emilie's challenges, not connecting much with Paul and generally being totally out of control.  The "funk" has finally departed and a first hospital memory came to mind.  The early morning that we were admitted to LPCH intensive care unit we had a very sweet, comforting nurse that was wearing a bracelet that read "Be still and know that I am God".  That was the first thing I saw when she examined Emilie.  Amongst the chaos, God let me know that He was there with us!  This is a verse that I need to have tattooed on my arm!

Be still and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

All You Need Is Love and ...

Art!
Today seemed to be a good day to break out the art supplies and create. 
A quick update....Emilie was readmitted to Stanford on 8/10 for a lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspirate and a round of chemo.  She was admitted earlier than planned due to her counts being "good".  We spent a mere 6 days in the hospital and are now back at home.  The results from Emilie's procedures have come back negative and we are so grateful!  She is doing great regarding the leukemia and we are still praying that God restores her legs to "soccer status"!  Oh happy day!  Our Frosting, however, decided that he was going to get sick.  He has been banished to Nana's for recovery.  Stay tuned for the next update.

May God, the source of H O P E, fill you with J O Y and P E A C E through your F A I T H in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Good, The Bad and The Chicken Pot Pie


The Good....Emilie's counts recovered quickly after her last chemo treatment.  We are also thrilled to have had 14 days at home with NO fever!
The Bad....Really, not so bad.  Since her counts are up again, her doctors want to start her next chemo treatment right away.  We have gotten fond of "home".  We are off to Stanford tomorrow morning for a 1:00p.m. bone marrow aspirate and lumbar puncture, followed by R & R at the lovely Bass Center!
The Chicken Pot Pie...Emilie has been havin' a hankerin' for Nana's chicken pot pie.  Nana came through with the fixin's and left the pie crust for Emilie to assemble on the pies.  She did a great job rolling and making a "floury" good mess.
Check back for updates and please keep praying for great results from her procedures, pray that her legs will be restored to "normal" and pray that her next chemo treatment will go smoothly.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Home At Last!


Home again, home again, jiggity jig!  Oh, what a happy day it was when the docs told us we can go home for a while.  It was initially discussed that we would be moving to the Palo Alto Ronald McDonald House which was "okay", but Emilie's doctors thought she was doing well enough to go all the way home.  Emilie has been home for 12 days now which has been wonderful.  I was a little super nervous at first and worried about everything.  Worried about fevers, worried about administering the IV antibiotic, worried that I wouldn't hear her in the night, worried that the house wasn't clean enough, worried about the boys getting too close to her...Yes, I am a little nuts!  We have made the adjustment pretty well considering Emilie is still not able to walk.  I should actually say that Emilie has made the adjustment pretty well in that she is so positive and patient.  Her upper body is getting really strong which makes our job of moving and helping her with daily tasks pretty easy.  We have stayed home with the exception of our 4 visits/week to Stanford for clinic appointments and physical therapy appointments.  Emilie's counts are still very low and we didn't want to bring her out to a crowded, germ-infested location.  She is itching to go shopping, but that will have to wait a while.  Sadly, Paul came down with a high fever on Wednesday, so we banished him and Nicolas to my mom's.  It has been hard for the whole family with the boys being gone.  They so want to hang out with Emilie and just "do life" at home rather than at the hospital. 
Emilie will have her next bone marrow aspirate and lumbar puncture on Tuesday with her next chemo starting Friday.  Please pray that her results come back negative and that her next chemo treatment goes smoothly.