We've had quite an adventurous weekend. We went to the hospital yesterday for a blood draw and dressing change. Then we went to Japantown afterwards to grab some good food and had a picnic in the car. After that, Natalie really wanted to drive across the Golden Gate Bridge home so we did that.
Natalie's ANC is a little over 1300 so we are planning to go back to the hospital tomorrow to start her last round of chemo. Please pray for the biopsy as well as her last chemo treatment to go really well.
As part of her last round of treatment, Natalie needs to get two shots. We finally sat down with her and told her about them because we didn't want her to stress out over it for weeks. Of course, she asked us lots of questions about it--how big is the needle? Is it like getting a flu shot? Does she have a choice where they give the shot? Can she pick the nurse to give the shots to her? We didn't have answers to most of her questions, but she was okay with that. I am sure she will ask the doctors when she is at the hospital tomorrow. She handled it better than we expected. She has grown so much from when she was first admitted to the hospital. I think also because we are getting her a little treat that makes getting the shots more bearable for her.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
750
is the number from the blood draw today. Not enough for Natalie to start chemo tomorrow. It's going the right direction, but slowly. We are happy to have more time together. It's looking like next Tuesday that Natalie starts her last round of chemo. Natalie is a little sad because she was looking forward to seeing her friends from the hospital tomorrow. We were also all hoping to be done with treatment by Grant's birthday, May 16. That's probably not likely now. In the big scheme of things, we are happy to be together and to see Natalie with energy.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
640
We went to UCSF Hospital on Sunday to change the dressing on Natalie's central line. The nurse also drew some blood to see where Natalie's counts are at. As of Sunday her ANC is 640 so we are waiting to do another blood draw Wednesday to see if she will make it to 1,000 to start her last round of chemo this Thursday. If her counts are below 1,000, they will shoot for next Tuesday to start.
This is the longest time that we've been home as a family since Natalie was diagnosed. It's been really nice. We've been spending great time together as a family and the kids have been really happy.
We've noticed that Natalie's bone marrow is taking longer to recover than the previous rounds of chemo. We've been told it's because her bone marrow is really tired from all the chemo, but will eventually recover.
Natalie's appetite is stable. She got sick of fettuccine after eating it day and night for 3 days. She moved on to eating the ham and cheese kid's sandwich at Quiznos for 3 days. Now, she wants waffles and pure maple syrup only. It's strange how she clings on to one thing and eats it until she gets sick of it. She's drinking like a fish again so we are happy about that.
We'll keep you posted on if she starts chemo this week. As always, please pray that she does amazingly well with this round of chemo
This is the longest time that we've been home as a family since Natalie was diagnosed. It's been really nice. We've been spending great time together as a family and the kids have been really happy.
We've noticed that Natalie's bone marrow is taking longer to recover than the previous rounds of chemo. We've been told it's because her bone marrow is really tired from all the chemo, but will eventually recover.
Natalie's appetite is stable. She got sick of fettuccine after eating it day and night for 3 days. She moved on to eating the ham and cheese kid's sandwich at Quiznos for 3 days. Now, she wants waffles and pure maple syrup only. It's strange how she clings on to one thing and eats it until she gets sick of it. She's drinking like a fish again so we are happy about that.
We'll keep you posted on if she starts chemo this week. As always, please pray that she does amazingly well with this round of chemo
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Fettuccine
Natalie's appetite has improved since Sunday. Fettuccine seems to be the new dish she loves to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's high in calories so that's good. She needs the calories. I try to make a fresh batch for her every day. Natalie helps with sprinkling the parmesan cheese in. We also baked a yellow cake from scratch on Monday night. She's been nibbling on that with some milk.
Our Easter
Easter was good. Saturday, Tammy and the kids baked sugar cookies. Then Tammy and I stayed up until about 11pm putting together Easter baskets for them. Tammy and I were going to go to church Sunday, but Natalie has not been her normal self when she is at home. She does not have the appetite she has when her counts are high. Both Tammy and Natalie were worried about leaving Natalie home with just Tammy’s mom not knowing where her counts were at. When we left the hospital, her ANC was 410, but it has a tendency to go up and down. We decided to stay near the kids.
Easter morning, the kids ran downstairs and found their baskets, then ran back upstairs to ask if they could eat candy before breakfast. No, gotta wait. Tammy’s mom made breakfast, then we puttered around before we went to UCSF. Natalie needed her dressing changed on Sunday. When we called the hospital to let them know we were coming in, they said they wanted to draw some blood to see where her counts were at as well as do the dressing change. Natalie and Sean decorated the cookies and we brought them for the nurses. We got into UCSF about 2pm and stayed a couple hours, chatting merrily with Robin as she changed Natalie's dressing. Robin also brought Natalie a slice of ham and another nurse gave her a chocolate cupcake, which Natalie slipped to me. Robin mentioned that she made scalloped potatoes, but they were gone, so we didn't get any. When Robin was out, Natalie said she didn't want them anyway, but after I explained that they were cheesy potatoes, she changed her tune! Natalie wanted to stay at the hospital longer, then we reminded her that we still had the Easter egg hunt at home.
We picked up some Yummy Yummy special fried rice, then Natalie wanted to see the You See Sushi storefront, so we drove back that way. Finally got home about 5pm, then Tammy jumped right into cooking scalloped potatoes. Tammy’s mom made 5 spice chicken, using organic chickens. While the potatoes were browning, we had our Easter egg hunt. Natalie didn't want Sean to get a head start, so we hid a dozen eggs for Natalie in her room and a dozen in Sean's room. We cut them loose and they had a grand time.
Ate dinner, did dishes, gave Sean and Natalie a bath, then put a movie on for the kiddies. What a day! We are so glad that we got to be home together for Easter.
We also found out that night that Natalie’s counts had dropped to 270. Her counts are still low so it’s looking more like we go back to the hospital next Tuesday for her last round of chemo. We are praying that her counts go up. We are enjoying our extended time home as a family.
Easter morning, the kids ran downstairs and found their baskets, then ran back upstairs to ask if they could eat candy before breakfast. No, gotta wait. Tammy’s mom made breakfast, then we puttered around before we went to UCSF. Natalie needed her dressing changed on Sunday. When we called the hospital to let them know we were coming in, they said they wanted to draw some blood to see where her counts were at as well as do the dressing change. Natalie and Sean decorated the cookies and we brought them for the nurses. We got into UCSF about 2pm and stayed a couple hours, chatting merrily with Robin as she changed Natalie's dressing. Robin also brought Natalie a slice of ham and another nurse gave her a chocolate cupcake, which Natalie slipped to me. Robin mentioned that she made scalloped potatoes, but they were gone, so we didn't get any. When Robin was out, Natalie said she didn't want them anyway, but after I explained that they were cheesy potatoes, she changed her tune! Natalie wanted to stay at the hospital longer, then we reminded her that we still had the Easter egg hunt at home.
We picked up some Yummy Yummy special fried rice, then Natalie wanted to see the You See Sushi storefront, so we drove back that way. Finally got home about 5pm, then Tammy jumped right into cooking scalloped potatoes. Tammy’s mom made 5 spice chicken, using organic chickens. While the potatoes were browning, we had our Easter egg hunt. Natalie didn't want Sean to get a head start, so we hid a dozen eggs for Natalie in her room and a dozen in Sean's room. We cut them loose and they had a grand time.
Ate dinner, did dishes, gave Sean and Natalie a bath, then put a movie on for the kiddies. What a day! We are so glad that we got to be home together for Easter.
We also found out that night that Natalie’s counts had dropped to 270. Her counts are still low so it’s looking more like we go back to the hospital next Tuesday for her last round of chemo. We are praying that her counts go up. We are enjoying our extended time home as a family.
Friday, April 10, 2009
We're Home!
Sorry for not updating yesterday. We found out that very morning that Natalie could go home so it was a whirlwind for us to pack all her stuff and get her situated at home. Boy, does she have a lot of stuff!
We've been enjoying our family time together at home. Sean was leaping with joy when he saw Natalie at the door. Natalie LOVES her new bed and the elephant quilt that Mary made for her. She spent most of the day in her new bed playing with Sean and their stuffed animals.
We decided to dye Easter eggs last night. That was really fun for both Natalie and Sean. Natalie had forgotten how fun it is to dye eggs. We think it was because last year we didn't stick with the tradition because we were in Niagara Falls for Easter. The year before we were in Seattle so it's been a long time. Of course, Sean was really rough with his boiled eggs since it was his first time. It was a miracle he didn't crack any.
Today, Easter packages came in the mail for the kids from their grandparents and Uncle Herb and Auntie Linda. They are both happily eating and playing with their Easter treats right now. We are doing well. We're praying for no fevers so Natalie can stay home until next Tuesday!
We've been enjoying our family time together at home. Sean was leaping with joy when he saw Natalie at the door. Natalie LOVES her new bed and the elephant quilt that Mary made for her. She spent most of the day in her new bed playing with Sean and their stuffed animals.
We decided to dye Easter eggs last night. That was really fun for both Natalie and Sean. Natalie had forgotten how fun it is to dye eggs. We think it was because last year we didn't stick with the tradition because we were in Niagara Falls for Easter. The year before we were in Seattle so it's been a long time. Of course, Sean was really rough with his boiled eggs since it was his first time. It was a miracle he didn't crack any.
Today, Easter packages came in the mail for the kids from their grandparents and Uncle Herb and Auntie Linda. They are both happily eating and playing with their Easter treats right now. We are doing well. We're praying for no fevers so Natalie can stay home until next Tuesday!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Counts Are Up
Natalie's ANC is at 270 today. Please pray it goes way up tomorrow so we can be home together for Easter!
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