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.