Here are a few pictures from the beam signing Thursday. I put them on here out of order and I am to lazy to fix it. :) Have a happy weekend. :)
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
First Day of Chemo - Beam Signing
Makenzie got a follow up MRI on Tuesday. Everything looks good. There is a little bit of fluid that is leaking up through the hole created for placing instruments to remove the tumor. It is collecting on the outside of her brain, between the outside of the brain and her skull. It has been building up since surgery. We are watching that... if it continues to build up then she may need a second shunt placed to drain that fluid off. We will get another MRI on July 8th to check on that.
The neurosurgeon gave his OK to start the chemo so Kenzie started the chemo pills (Temodar)last night. So far, so good. She did not get sick from that pill. We are praying that she will continue to tolerate this medicine well and that it will be effecting against what remains of her tumor. Please, keep her in your prayers as she takes this chemo. She will take it 5 days a month for at least a year.
Makenzie and mom also went down to the children's hospital this morning for a beam signing ceremony. They are expanding the hospital. Many kids who are or were patients at PCH placed their hand prints and signatures on two special white "beams of hope" that will be a permanent part of the new hospital. PCH really is a great place. Like they always say at fundraisers, you hope you never need it, but it's nice to know it's there.
We have had so many people help us out in so many ways over the past few years and during the last month or so. We'd love to send thank you cards to each and every person, but there are too many people... and I am sure we are not even aware of all the people who have done something to help us out. We had people watch our kids for long hours while Kenzie was in the hospital (mostly Grandmas, Grandpas, and Rachel). We had more good food brought in that we knew what to do with. Many of you visited Makenzie in the hospital and brought her (and her brothers) gifts. We have many many people, some who don't even know Kenzie that well, fast and pray for her. We've heard of kids in her primary at church who have never fasted before fast twice in one week for Makenzie... that really amazes us and we appreciate it. We've had people organize and contribute to fundraisers to help with the expenses associated with medical bills, travel expenses, and all that goes with battling major health issues. We truly appreciate all the support we've received from so many of you.
The neurosurgeon gave his OK to start the chemo so Kenzie started the chemo pills (Temodar)last night. So far, so good. She did not get sick from that pill. We are praying that she will continue to tolerate this medicine well and that it will be effecting against what remains of her tumor. Please, keep her in your prayers as she takes this chemo. She will take it 5 days a month for at least a year.
Makenzie and mom also went down to the children's hospital this morning for a beam signing ceremony. They are expanding the hospital. Many kids who are or were patients at PCH placed their hand prints and signatures on two special white "beams of hope" that will be a permanent part of the new hospital. PCH really is a great place. Like they always say at fundraisers, you hope you never need it, but it's nice to know it's there.
We have had so many people help us out in so many ways over the past few years and during the last month or so. We'd love to send thank you cards to each and every person, but there are too many people... and I am sure we are not even aware of all the people who have done something to help us out. We had people watch our kids for long hours while Kenzie was in the hospital (mostly Grandmas, Grandpas, and Rachel). We had more good food brought in that we knew what to do with. Many of you visited Makenzie in the hospital and brought her (and her brothers) gifts. We have many many people, some who don't even know Kenzie that well, fast and pray for her. We've heard of kids in her primary at church who have never fasted before fast twice in one week for Makenzie... that really amazes us and we appreciate it. We've had people organize and contribute to fundraisers to help with the expenses associated with medical bills, travel expenses, and all that goes with battling major health issues. We truly appreciate all the support we've received from so many of you.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
New Baby
Meet Hayden Paul...
Just a quick CONGRATULATIONS to my brother's cute family. They just had their first baby. He is soooo cute!! The kids are so excited to have a new cousin. This is the first baby we have had on my side of the family since Brayden. 4 years. That is too long. He is tiny, sweet and adorable.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Happy Times
We have failed to update the last few weeks. We are trying to find our summer routine. It has been fun having Chris around. The boys and Chris are busy playing Wii Cabella's Legendary Hunts. Brayden got it for his birthday and the boys are hooked. They are so cute being in there with their dad getting excited about shooting animals. It is a pretty cool game. There is a rifle that goes with it and that just makes it really fun.
Kenzie's MRI didn't go thru. Mix up at the hospital. They were going to start chemo this last week and then decided to wait last minute. Her neurosurgeon wants the MRI before we start. The profile came back on the tumor and it recommended the same drug that her Dr. wanted to use. It is called Temazolamide (sp?). It is a pill that she will take at home. She takes it for 5 days and then will have the rest of the month off. They are also talking about putting her on Celebrex because it reduces blood flow to blood vessels. Her tumor that was removed was filled with a lot of blood vessels. It looks like this drug has fewer problems that a lot of other Chemo drugs. Hopefully this will be the one to shrink it or destroy it. Kenzie is doing really good about the whole thing. Me on the other hand...total stress case. Since we don't know how she will react to this drug it makes me on edge. We really appreciate all the help that has been given to us. We are grateful for all the prayers, fasting and love given on our behalf. We are truly blessed.
Today was a fun day. We are starting to get our house in order. We told the kids one room a day and then we can go swim as a reward. A SUPER CUTE friend of ours is out of town and is lending us their pool. It is an awesome pool with a slide. The kids had such a great time. Me and Chris even got in despite the cold water. It took me about 20 minutes to get in. Here are the kids from today. I could not get one good picture with all the kids. I do like fun picture and I guess this is just as they are... A Circus :)
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