Clinic March 2011 (part 2)

Millie goes to clinic every 28 days for her regular check up and for her Vincristine. I say "regular" because we have been at the hospital way more then that this past month. Anyway, she ended up having 2 March appointments so that's why the "part 2".

Things seem to be looking up. Her liver enzymes are so close to being back to normal. Dr. Barnette would have started back on her oral chemo but her dang ANC dropped again so she will be off it for another 2 weeks. It's now down to 200. We haven't seen her get this low in a long time and once again we have no idea what's going on. We were given a couple different reasons but all of that seemed to be an educated guess. It's frustrating to not know why things are happening. Amelia did seem to be feeling better. I say DID because her appointment was on Thursday and now she's been on steroids for 4 days and she's a disaster. The poor girl breaks my heart when she's on her steroids. She is so emotional and as a 5 year old she doesn't know how to handle it. Hell, I wouldn't know how to handle it. Being at a 200 ANC means that we have to be incredibly careful with her. If she were to get a fever at all she would be admitted immediately. NO THANK YOU! They steroids will help her ANC come up so they are good for something ;)

I'm jumping around a little bit, but I'm so tired and when I'm tired my brain doesn't work properly. All in all clinic went well. Millie did fabulous as always. Brady was even able to join us which was excellent. Dr. Barnette seems to think the liver problem was a virus (even though they couldn't find anything) and hopefully they will be able to put her back on her oral chemo in 2 weeks when she gets retested once again. They did give her Vincristine through her port because she's on a schedule and the rest of her counts were looking better.

Before I get into the pictures I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you out there praying for us and thinking of us. I have had so much support this past month and I can honestly say I have needed it. My Relief Society in my church has been amazing. They have brought meals, covered my lesson, stopped by to bring treats, and dropped off little notes. A friend from high school that I haven't seen in years sent flowers, other cancer moms that are going through a difficult time as well have brought me dinner, neighbors have come by to see what I need and brought flowers, and gifts for Millie. My mother in law has made me meals, my fam has babysat Austin, the list goes on and on. I am overwhelmed with the love we receive.

Brady and I have also been very involved with trying to help get donations for the HopeKids charity dinner and I have had people coming out of nowhere and putting together amazing packages for them to auction off. I am truly stunned and eternally grateful. I have had so many people ask what they can do to help and I don't know what to say, well I do know what to say, but it's not the easy answer. I need help with HopeKids and I am so grateful for those of you out there working on projects for all these kids or gathering donations. HopeKids is AMAZING! If you ask Millie about her Leukemia she will tell you she likes it. Of course she doesn't like her Leukemia, she doesn't really understand what that means. What she does understand is that she has been able to do some amazing things and meet amazing people because of her cancer. She has made friends that she wouldn't otherwise know. She can see the blessings that have come from her cancer. She is beyond her years in wisdom. For her, HopeKids makes her life normal. She is not alone. She can play. She can have fun. She can have HOPE.

Not sure where all that came from, but there ya go. I HEART HopeKids.

Now for the pictures!

Millie getting her port accessed. She does extremely well. She doesn't flinch or ever make a peep. You can see the pain in her face as the nurse is pushing the needle in, but she is one brave cookie.

Mill didn't want me to take a picture getting her chemo so she kept putting her hand up. I couldn't resist posting it. I love the marker all over her cute little hand. (ps, she wasn't sad about getting her chemo. she was teasing me. that's what she does, teases).

I got one anyway...

Millie's Hair Update:

I snapped this one of her going back in the house and I love how much you can see all her curls and natural highlights.

Clinic Stats:

Height: 106.5 cm

(yes, it's less then before, I guess I better make sure they are more accurate)

Weight: 16.6 kg (HOORAY! It's going back up)ANC: 200 (NOT GOOD)

Liver Enzymes:

AST: 48

ALT: 98 (still a little high)