Week 8

There has been such a change with Cheyenne over the past week.  A change for good.  After she got home from the hospital, her energy has continued to pick up, and her appetite has increased.  She is still hooked up to NG feeds during the night, and then gets up and grazes all day.  She didn't have very many taste aversions this round.  Her new favorite food is cheezwhiz sandwiches (that she makes her self).  We were able to go to the beach for a couple hours on monday.  The kids had a blast! 



Cheyenne and Grandma



 The kids have also spent alot more time outdoors this week.  The cooler weather has made such a difference.



On the trampoline





Hitching a ride



Resting on the grass with Daddy

 Today Cheyenne went in for her outpatient chemo and fingerpoke.  She is neutropenic, so we will be sticking around home for awhile.  We were nice and early so we were seen pretty quickly and out by 10.

Thank you also for your prayers for my brother-in-law, Roy.  He had a 5 way bypass heart surgery on tuesday.  He is recovering well.

We are home

Hello all,  Cheyenne was discharged this afternoon.  She was admitted thursday night and she settled in.  She seemed to really have alot of energy and so we spent quite a bit of time doing crafts and playing.  Usually she curls up in her quilt and watchs TV.  Up until yesterday evening she didn't have any complaints and then around bedtime she complained of nausea.  But she was so good about it, actually I find it rather humorous because she has figured out how to breathe through it and if you had your back turned to her you would think you were on the labour and delivery.  This morning she woke up sick and up came the NG tube.  She tried to convince David that she didn't need it put back in, and she would eat and drink and even take her medicine in her mouth if we didn't put it back in.  When that angle didn't work, she informed the nurse that if she was getting it put in then she wanted that nurse to do it. 
Last night though the night she spiked a fever, and her heart started racing so they hooked her up to the monitors.  By this morning her heart rate was normal and temperature was good, so they said that she could come home.

Tonight Cheyenne was still quite perky and requested to go see Uncle Roy.  Roy is awaiting quadruple bypass surgery in the coming week.  She climbed up on the bed and was inspecting his 'sticky' heart monitors and all the leads.  Over the past week she has been giving him advice.

• Don't worry Uncle Roy, the nurses are nice, you just have to do what they tell you and take your medicine too.
• Mom, we better buy him a balloon(she gets one when she does overnight stays) it would make him feel better and help him be happy.

Please keep Roy, Sarah and family(7y,5y,2y,1week) in your prayers. 

On to Cycle 3

This morning Cheyenne had her bloodwork done and her physical assessment also.  Her body has done a great job of rebounding and her bloodwork was awesome.  She was admitted tonight and will be receiving her chemo tomorrow. 
Today on the way to Cheyenne's appointment we were listening to her Steve Green CD.  One of the songs is based on Psalm 139 verse 13&14.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

This song really made me stop and think about how intricate our bodies are and how if one thing is out of sync it effects so many other things.  This is so noticable as she gets her chemo treatments and her bloodwork changes accordingly.  It can sometimes be mind boggling thinking about how many things they are monitoring for (heart, kidney, liver, etc) and yet we all take it for granted and go on oblivious to the precise detail of our body .  To know that God has created us as such intricate beings makes me feel so small, so helpless, and yet so loved.   To know that he hears my pleas, can be so humbling.

We are very thankful for all the family, friends and neighbours who have been so helpful and caring in so many different ways.  Thank you for continually bringing our little girl before the Great Physician in prayer. 

Home-july 29

We are home, and still neutropenic, so having to be extremely cautious and watchful of the fever returning.  As of yet they do not know the cause of the fever.  Cheyenne goes back to the clinic on Thursday.  She will have her bloodwork done and depending on the results, will let us know whether or not she will be admitted Thursday night to start her third round of chemo.  Please pray that her blood count will increase so that she can start her next round of chemo as scheduled.

week 6- A fever

Well, we almost made it through this chemo cycle without an unexpected hospital stay.  Wednesday Cheyenne was so perky, was up and about feeling herself.  She spent some time outdoors playing.  Then yesterday she slept alot, and lounged about.  When she asked me for her medicine early and wanted to be hooked up to her feed early so that she could go to bed I knew something was up.  I took her temperature and realized she had a good fever going on.  So we came down to emerg last night. They told us within half an hour that they would be moving her upstairs, but they had some bed changes to make.  We still aren't quite sure whats going on.  So far all that we know from her bloodwork is that she is neutropenic(this means a private room).   They are culturing her blood to see if they can find the source of the fever(infection).  Cheyenne has quickly made herself at home, Cassidy too.  I'm glad they have each other for company, it takes Cheyenne's mind off of herself.
Until Cheyenne has been fever free for 48 hours they won't discuss discharge, and if her blood culture is positive then it would mean a longer stay.  At present she is on IV antibiotics, and she has received her chemotherapy for today.  On the bright side, I was able to go upstairs and visit my adorable new nephew, Brantley, and my sister Sarah.
Thank you so much for keeping our family in your prayers.

week 5

Cheyenne went for her week 5 treatment on Friday ( i'm sorry it has taken so long to post).  She also went down Tuesday to get her bump checked out because it had burst open.  The surgeons are keeping an eye on it and we are keeping dressings on it to prevent infection, but no decisions have been made yet as to whether or not they will remove it shortly.
Friday morning we headed down early, with high hopes that we would be one of the first to be seen and get home by 11.  We were at blood clinic for 8.  We had a new lab lady, I won't even go in to detailes about how wrong it went but every parent in clinic friday complained about her, so it was BAD.  We were up to clinic by 8:30(they start seeing you at 9) and were #3 so it wasn't to bad.  Chemo took a little bit to come up from pharmacy, she had her port accessed, and were heading home around 11:30.  Cheyenne's bloodwork was pretty good but we are expecting her immunity to get low this coming week.  She is feeling well, she has her periods of lethargy but that is to be expected.

July 16

I know I have taken a few days to update but it has been slightly crazy around this household for the past few days.  Cheyenne started her second round of chemo friday(3weeks in each round).  She did relatively well, then again we are slowly figuring out what her preferences are and little things can go a long way.  We were fortunate and were able to have a private room this time.  This works well not only for the extra space for Casssidy's playpen but you don't have to worry about disturbing room mates if Cheyenne is up through the night. 
Cheyenne was able to come home saturday around noon.  Our nurse knew that Cheyenne does better once home and the doctor was able to visit her first for rounds.  By the time supper rolled around we were all back together.  Then the kids are so excited to see each other that it is hard to get them settled into bed. 
Finally got them all asleep and crawled into bed...BEEP, BEEP, BEEP..Cheyennes NG tubing kept kinking meaning it would set the alarm off(8x during the night).  Last night wasn't as bad(3x), but tonight it took about 30 minutes to get the pump to stop beeping and saying there was a blockage.
Yesterday Cheyenne's bump(tumour) started to have some serous(clear) drainage, Today she bumped it while playing and it started to bleed.  Actually the skin started to separate.  I notice it and didn't say much, however Wyatt had to inform her "your bump is popping".  And the hystrics started....
Seeing as the office was closed by the time this took place, I will call first thing in the morning to let them know this has happened.  In the meantime I am to keep it clean and dry (and infection free).
To all who have prayed for us over these past months, thank-you.  Please pray for Cheyenne to have peace with the changes that are taking place faster then she is able to adjust at the moment.  We are set up for homecare, but at the moment, it is terrifying for Cheyenne to have new faces continually.  Today she met Jen, who we will hopefully be able to always have.  I know that I am able to do most things she would require, but it is still nice having that extra set of hands.
In the weeks to come, as Cheyennes immune system goes up and down, I would please ask that anyone stopping in, please call first.  A simple cold could prove dangerous for her.  I would also ask that if anyone has come in contact with the chicken pox, and could in any way be in contact with Cheyenne, PLEASE let me know so that we can keep her at home.  Chicken Pox is a serious illness for someone on chemotherapy and could require her to be hospitalized.
Thanks