Monday, May 10, 2010

Day 4

Hives not so bad today. The doctor thinks the hives are from the chemo she had prior to transplant and is not too concerned about it. She said they should go away eventually. We can still see them, but they don't seem to be bothering Natalie as much as they bother us to see them on her.

Natalie ate some ramen noodles and pineapples today. I'm so glad she has not lost her appetite for food completely. When she was waiting for the ramen to cool down, she smiled and said, "Yum, that smells sooooo good." She is still on IV nutrition to assist with her nutritional needs until she starts eating normal meals again.

She read her book for 2 hours this morning and played a little DS. She read the whole City of Ember series and finished the last book today. We need to think of some good new stories she will like. She has read practically every children's chapter book out there--Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Nancy Drew, Roald Dahl, Judy Moody, Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Little House, Kate Kazoo, Box Car Children, Rainbow Magic Fairies,etc. I started skimming through "The Mysterious Benedict Society" to see if the story would appeal to Natalie. It's a little interesting so far. I just have to sell it to her like I did with "City of Ember" and "A Little Princess". Sometimes she doesn't care if I like it. That was the case with "From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler". I loved that story and told her the characters reminded me so much of her and Sean. I even showed her the Newberry Medal on the book. She didn't care and just said she didn't want to read it. Then she told me the medals on books only means that the adults who give the medals out like them and it doesn't mean that kids will like them.

They are giving her Benedryl around the clock to keep her hives at bay so she is sleeping right now.

I can tell Natalie is starting to get bored. It's okay. I would rather take boredom than excitement any day back here in the transplant unit. Natalie said the most exciting day so far back here is hands down the day of her transplant.We hope that stays the most exciting day until we leave here for home.

7 comments:

Tracy said...

Hi Tammy,

Wow..Natalie has read all the great books out there! At least some of the books that we used to read when we were growing up. Did you tell Natalie about those long weekend trips that we used to take to the library after Chinese school?

What about Island of the Blue Dolphins or The Secret Garden? Andrew Clements is another great author for Childrens' books. I remember reading all the V.C. Andrew series when we were growing up, so maybe you can share that with Natalie.

Cameron and I read Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler two years ago. It was a great story but it does require patience at the beginning. I'll see if I can think of more authors to share with Natalie.

Love,
Tracy

Tracy said...

Tammy,

You can give me Natalie's Junie. B. books. when I am down there this weekend. Ava really likes listening to Junie B. stories, and she remembers all the silly rhymes and songs. I've been reading Fudge and Ramona Quimby stories to her but I think she still prefers book with pictures. Too bad I can't get any ideas from Cameron. He is into Alex Rider and all the Science Fiction or Young Adult books. Maybe Alex Rider stories for Natalie? Cameron got his teacher and some girls from his class to read books by Alex Rider. They like what they are reading so far.

Tracy

Unknown said...

Hi Tammy,
I LOVE that Natalie is such an avid reader. My students and I have really enjoyed the Mysterious Benedict Society series -- the beginning is a little slow, but once you get past the 1st chapter, it's pretty entertaining with lots of twists. We also enjoyed The Percy Jackson series (way better than the movie), and the Sisters Grimm books, too. Other books we liked: Number the Stars (Lois Lowry), The Giver (Lois Lowry), The Great Good Thing (Robert Towney), The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo), Holes (Louis Sachar), The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Avi), Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (??), The Alex Rider series (Anthony Horowitz) and all the Harry Potter books.

Will try to send some your way...
Would she like a pen pal? I have a couple of 8-9 year old girls in my class who love art and reading,too. :) Let me know,
Gina

Unknown said...

HI Natalie, it's Tracy's small group friend, Ling. We send our love to all of you and continue to pray for healing, no infections and strength for little Natalie.

I have more book suggestions. Sorry if they aren't new though.
- The Littles, a series by John Peterson
- The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
- Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
- Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis

Love from Seattle,
ling

Anonymous said...

I will give Natalie all of the Percy Jackson books, so you don't need to buy them.

Cameron :)

PS My mom said they were the Alex Rider stories. Alex Rider is not the author, its the series.

Anonymous said...

PRESS AVA LEE AVA KATE LEE

HI EE-EE AND NATALIE

Posted by Ava

Unknown said...

Has she read all the Little House on the Prairie series? I loved that series when I was little, and she's already read several of them. Also the Wrinkle in Time series, the Chronicles of Narnia, Fudgemania and other Judy Blume books (Otherwise known as Sheila the Great). If you googled childrens' book lists, hundreds of other titles would come up.