Week 2 Begins

Week 2 started today with no concerns. Avery's counts went back up and are hovering in the 800-900 range as they were before. The 4th round really does a number on the kids and her body is having a tough time recuperating...course you wouldn't know it from the looks of her! She has another black eye, compliments of her glasses and a good brush with the floor. Today she also got herself a nice bloody lip from a similar incident. Whoops!

Therapy is going well. I only wish her walker was here already so we could work with her at home each day. She really enjoys the walker and walking in general....definitely motivated to move! Today we climbed through the tunnel and of course she was smart enough to climb all the way to the end and promptly turn around to go back again! She loved it.

One of her new favorite things to do is walk her baby in her stroller and give everyone kisses. She is learning to point out the babies parts....eyes, nose, ears. And she likes to sing the Beach Boys Barbara Ann....gets the "bob bob bob" part going really well. She's also taken to smooching the phone when daddy calls -- I think she knows its him the moment I answer.

We had a good weekend with Steph and Pam Rosacker. They took us out for a really nice dinner and we ate till our bellies burst! We also drove down to St Augustine and saw the sights. The oldest city in the US was very interesting but in 98 degree weather -- we didn't last long. Man Florida is HOT! Angie arrived late last night and we plan to make a fun week of crafts and chatting.

Jenn

Counts Dropped

Day one of Radiation went well....she was a trooper of course and woke up fairly happy and ready to play. She had OT and PT at the new clinic and used the walker for the first time. She absolutely loves it and we can't wait for hers to come in so we can work on walking more and more. She had another radiation session today and it went just as smoothly. Her recovery time was short and she was back to her normal self by 1 pm. We found out some rather annoying news though....her counts have dropped to below 500 -- neutropenic levels which means we are on high alert germ patrol and apartment lockdown again. We really had hoped we wouldn't have to do this again, but unfortunately that last round just hit her hard and she is having trouble bouncing back. Her platelets and hemoglobin are doing great, but the anc (white blood cells) is just not what it should be. We will meet with Dr Bradfield tomorrow to discuss her counts and options (if there are any) for helping her increase the reproduction of cells. Most likely this will be a wait and see kind of thing. We are really bummed as we had hoped to go meet our friends at Paychex here in Jacksonville this week and will have to post pone that visit until she is ok to be around crowds.

Luckily we were able to have some fun this weekend with Aunt Patty....she of coursed spoiled Avery rotten and we had lots of fun! Avery absolutely loves her new Tinkerbelle chair....just like Daddy and his recliner! She spends hours climbing in and out of it. It's a riot. Aunt Jill and buddy Carter arrived yesterday and are entertaining us for a few days. Carter is only 4 months old and was born exactly a year and a day after Avery -- Jan 22nd -- which we think is really neat. Avery is amazed by Carter and spends her time leaning over his chair staring at him and then of course climbing in his chair when he isn't around. It's really cute.

Well better get back to the laundry....poor Carter has acid reflux and urps a lot!!

Jenn

My New Recliner!

Nana Patty arrived on Thursday and we are having a great time. Not only does she give me lots of snuggles and loving, but she bought me the best toy -- my very own Tinkerbelle chair. I can't get enough of it and have spent all day climbing in and out of it. I feel like such a big girl! Mommy is super happy that I am working so hard to sit in it and balance (since it actually rocks).

We start the radiation on Monday morning, followed by a few therapies in the afternoon. It appears we will be going to the Proton Therapy Center every morning about 10 am and it will take about an hour for the radiation process, followed by recovery time. Radiation will be 5 days a week, for six weeks. Once finished with that, Mommy and Daddy will drive us back to Memphis -- via the Alabama route as they aren't getting anywhere near the Gulf again...and we'll spend a week or so back at St Jude going through all the tests and follow up appts again.

Love

Avery