Clinic Day.

A quick visit for blood counts, which are great! Of course we can't just leave the clinic because Mimi is a little social butterfly and there are always crafts to be done. Mimi has some leg pain, one day starts at her ankle next day knee and sometimes to the hip, it last two or three days but it goes away on it's own without any pain meds. We will just watch it for now.

Today's Counts:
WBC - 5.49
Hgb - 12.5
Platelets - 170
Neutrophil - 3930

Mmmm Cherries!

We have been having lots of fun in the sun and visiting the local fruit store almost daily. This afternoon while I went to work the girls were at Jess' and the five girlies ate large amounts of fruit. Iza was very excited to get cherries today and even more excited when Babcia showed the girls the cherries can be worn as earrings. We have also visited the library a couple of times and found some great books, Tilly and Friends Books quick enough for Magi and funny for everyone, we also got The Jester Has Lost His Jingle Mimi has me read this book to her every time we are at the clinic so I thought Iza might enjoy it as well, it is a great story about finding laughter and happiness inside yourself.

I also wanted to mention the Walk In the Park, our team is doing AWESOME!!! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. There is still time to join and walk with us we are hoping this week to get t-shirts made.

SuperSib Pillow!

Iza Got SuperSibs Mail today, she was very happy to go to sleep on her new pillow.

Rainbow Rice.

I have found a blog that makes rainy days into happy fun days! Pink and Green Mama has some great crafts to do with your kiddos. I bought a giant bag of white rice and I could not wait to dye the rice with the girls. The best thing is all you need is rice, hand sanitizer (we have alot of that) and food coloring. They loved it! Everyone was involved in the whole process of mixing the food coloring and mixing up the rice. A great way to learn primary and secondary colors. I gave each girl a baking pan to make their own mixes. Iza's was mostly pink, Magi's was mostly blue, and Mimi's purple rainbow stripe was favorite. I saved the rice and I think next we will make Rainbow Rice Eye Spy Bottles!

Magi's princesses were having a beach party.

Mulan going surfing on Rainbow Rice Beach.

Sometimes it is JUST a Marker.

Around midnight I went to give Mimi her nightly chemo pill and as I was getting her on to my lap I noticed the palms her hands were dark, and she had blotches on her arms. I panicked a little, turned on the lights, usually I just use my phone as a flash light to give her her pill. It looked very odd, redish and blotchy. I brought her to the bathroom and washed it all off with soap and water.


Just a RED MARKER.


So last night the Onc On-Call did not get a call from us and the Childhood Leukemia book stayed on the shelf unopened.

Day Three of Steroids.

Not bad. Maybe because we live with a two year old who is a professional at throwing wicked awesome fits. So when Mimi has a steroid induced moment it doesn't seem so bad or maybe I can't really hear it over the two year old. Mimi does have her moments but has done really well being able to control her emotions and being able to talk things over, I am so proud of her.

Another thing, during the 5 day steroid pulse Mimi usually can't sleep too well so at some point during the night ends up in our bed. Normally not big deal but she has been grinding her teeth while she sleeps, the sound of it hurts my teeth! Last night even Magi said "What's that noise??" (Oh yes she somehow made her way to our bed also.)

Clinic Day.

All is well. Counts are good Mimi feels and looks good. Today she also started steroids, hopefully this week will be uneventful. I am crossing my fingers whatever Iza has going on, with random sneezing and coughing, she will keep to herself.

Today's Counts:
WBC - 3.4
Hgb - 11.9
Platelets - 217
Neutrophil - 2400


Random Magi Funny:

Me - "Magi eat your carrots they are good for your eyes."
Her - "MY eyes are BLUE and I like them like that, So I am not eating carrots"

Who am I to argue with this broccoli eating child... LOL

Play!

This weekend we went to see another play at the Eric Carle Museum. We are making up for all the plays we missed during our last hospital stay :) The play Hensel and Gretel was put on by Berkshire Theatre. It was great! Fun for the adults and great for the kids. It was impressive how each cast member played more than one character. Once again all the girls got to check out the backstage and try on some of the costumes. I love how the girls end up doing the plays at home after.

Hensel, Mother, Hannah, Mimi, Gretel, Iza and Father.

Happy Mommy Day!

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.

A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.

~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

Weekend Fun!

We haven't been out much due to low counts but Sunday we packed a mask and lots of antibacterial wipes and went to see a play at the Eric Carle Museum. Goldilocks and the Three Bears by the Castle Hill Theatre Company what a great show, a fairy-tale favorite with twist! The cast stayed after the performance to talk with the kids and we even got a back stage tour, all the girls truly enjoyed it! The day was nicely finished off with fast melting ice cream, giggles and lots of rolling down the grassy hills at Atkins Farm. Thank You to MacaroniKid where we won tickets to the play!

Clinic Day. Sunny Day.

This morning was a count check, since last week ANC (neutrophils) were at 290 which put her daily chemo pill on hold. Today ANC was not great but high enough to continue her MP6 (Mercaptopurine) and weekly dose of Methotrexate.

We also went over to get an x-ray. Lately Mimi has been complaining of her heel hurting, it does not effect her "monkeyness", but she does complain and I have also noticed she walks and runs funny. I will call in the morning tomorrow to get the results from the x-rays.

On the way home she asked "So, how many neutrophils do I have today?" I told her and she replied "Oh 900 is more than 290! so that is good, so I have to take my pill at night right?" Mimi hears the nurses and doctors talk about numbers and it amazes me how she listens and remembers all the information.

After clinic today we went to a park and she ran around keeping up with her sisters and friends but was wiped out on the way home!

Today's Counts:
WBC - 2.2
Hgb - 12.5
Platelets - 150
Neutrophil - 900

Purple Sock Monkeys!

A Walk in the Park

Six Flags New England

June 13th

8:30am

Join Us!

Our TEAM Page

This year we will be participating in the 2010 A Walk in the Park All contributions will benefit Cure Kids Cancer and Children's Miracle Network. 100% of the funds raised will go to our local Children's Miracle Network hospital (Baystate Children's Hospital) to help support pediatric cancer programs.

We have told Mimi about this walk and the reasons for it she was very excited to have a team name. Purple is her favorite color, Daddy watches the Red Sox, and Mommy calls us monkeys! So that is where our team name came from :)