Another Milestone for Madi

Today marks another milestone for little Miss Madi! Chemo ended about 5 months ago.  Now that cold and flu season are winding down, we are hoping to finish her IVIG treatments this month.

This is pretty major! Why? Because if her immune system is working well enough on its own, and she no longer needs to receive IVIG......   she no longer has a need for her port!! That's right!  No more port means no more restrictions and fewer worries.  Our little girl can really be a normal kid.  (Well, as normal as the rest of the family, anyway.) She's already had blood drawn from her arm a couple of times to make sure she can do that.  (The girl has some great veins!)  So, no worries there!

So, either in May or June we will have some extra blood work done to see how her little body is doing on its own.  From there, we will be able to schedule her appointment to remove the port and get on with life. Timing is perfect with summer just around the corner, too! Say a few extra prayers for us as we see how the next couple of months go.  I'll be keeping you all posted!

A Little Update On Madi

Madi's been doing well!  She's about four months out and sometimes it's amazing the difference in her.  If you asked her before treatment ended how she felt, she would always say 'good' or 'fine'.  And really, she did - compared to how she had felt for the previous months during heavy treatment.

Now you can ask her how she feels and you'll get 'REALLY good!' as a response.  It's a great and unexpected change!

She's able to keep up with her siblings a little bit better these days.  And she's always up for any activity.  The timing couldn't be more perfect now that the weather is warming up.

Madi is still being monitored closely by her group of doctors.  Something that definitely gives Dad and Mom some extra piece of mind.  Blood work is done every two weeks (for now).  She is also receiving her IVIG (immune therapy) to keep her compromised immune system strong during cold and flu season.  We also give her supplements that have been cleared by her doctors.  

So, once a month we head over to the treatment center for several hours of IVIG, art therapy, playtime and candy for the little ones.  I go fully prepared to do some work - although, I rarely get much done.

Other things that have been progressing for Madi?  At six months out from the end of treatment, Madi will have the option of getting her port out.  To say the least, she is looking forward to it.  It doesn't bother her, unless it gets bumped, but it does come with some restrictions that would be nice to not worry about any longer.  In order to get that port out, she has to be okay with getting blood drawn from her arm.  Once she found out what was required, she was ready to start practicing.  

This girl doesn't seem to be intimidated by much of anything!

Being a mom, I certainly have concerns as we move forward.  I liken it to being a first time parent and going straight to panic mode whenever anything happens.  You probably know what that's like, right?  "The baby has a fever!  Should I call the doctor?" or "I know head wounds bleed a lot, but is this too much?" or "Does that cough sound worse today?  Is that a wheezing sound when he's breathing?"

Only mine sound like this now.... "She just fell asleep in the middle of the day.  Is it because she had a sleepover a few days ago, or is she getting sick?" and "Hmmm.... is she looking pale or is that her normal coloring?" and "How long has that bruise been on her leg/arm/body?  What color is it?  Does it look like it's healing?" and my favorite "Where did that rash come from!"  It's a new place for me to be when my usual MO is "Suck it up, sweetie!  It's just a {fill in the blank}.  You're going to be fine."  I'm learning to adjust!  

There's been some crazy energy swings lately, so the doctor humored me and ordered some extra blood work.  At this point, everything continues to look good.  Keep praying she continues to do well and can leave this part of her life in her past.  Thanks for all your concern and continued request about Madi and her health!

  

a small step back

Things have been going along pretty smoothly for several months now. It only seems right that we should expect a few small setbacks here and there.  Nothing major going on, so we are grateful for that.  However, her energy levels have been inconsistent and her numbers are fluctuating.

Examples?
-Two weeks ago her white count was at 10,000.  Thursday it was at a whopping 1,000.

-Last Friday Madi slept until 11:30 am, got up for a potty break and drink, and then promptly fell asleep again until 4 pm.  All day her temperature fluctuated between 99.4* and 100.2*.  (Very thankful there was no need to head in to the hospital.)

-Thursday she was finally cleared for then new year to get her IVIG treatment.  I asked the nurse to please run her numbers for us, just to see how things were going.  Results show her ANC is at 480 - a far cry from the 1500 they like to see.

I am glad we know to keep her home from school and a little protected until her numbers rebound a bit.  There's a nasty stomach bug going around right now, and it would be best to avoid that.  I'll take her back in Monday afternoon to see if things have improved after having her off her 6-MP for a few days.

So, enough with the yuck. (Although, prayers are requested for Madi.)  We have been having some fun around here even during the nasty cold weather.  Kevin and I decided to enroll the kids in swim lessons.  Our kids already know how to swim well and are extremely confident in the water.  This is more to help them with technique.  Plus, it's great physical therapy for Madi and exercise for all of them!

Madi FINALLY lost her first top tooth.  It's been hanging on for months!  Long enough that her permanent teeth are already halfway in hiding behind those baby teeth.

This exciting event is almost a year to the date of her loosing her first tooth.  Oh the difference a year can make!

Another exciting event is the fact that Madi turns 7 today!  Such a blessing to be able to celebrate her life and watch her grow in so many ways.  She still has several more months of medication, treatment and monitoring, but her little body has started to gain weight and inches once again.  We couldn't be happier with the person our little girl is turning out to be.

So.  Even though there has been a step backward after so many months, we have plenty to be thankful for in our lives.  Hope each and everyone of you are able to see the good in your life even amidst the bad that happens!  Love to you all!

happy new year

Here's to a happy, healthy and productive New Year for us all!  Thanks for all the support over the past year.  There is no way we would be where we are today without all of you helping to hold us up during this time in our life.  We thank God for you all!!!

fashion show

Recently, Friends of Kids With Cancer hosted a fundraiser and asked if Madi would like to be a part of it.  This was a great opportunity for us to give back just a little to a group that has given so much to us and other families.  Plus, it was a lot of fun!

 Some 'thank you' gifts for participating.

 Practice run.

 The lunch menu.  (Really good!)

 A short video of her walking.  As you can see, she kept her eyes on me the whole time.

 Formal wear.

 Lunch finale - dancing to "What does the Fox Say?".

 Sacked out in our room between shows.

 Behind the scenes waiting for her turn.

 A visit from Fred Bird.

Her favorite outfit of the day.

The day was full!  We had to be at the Ritz Carlton (yep, swanky) at 9am to start the day and didn't leave until about 9 that night.  There was a break from 2-5; but, she spent part of that in the hotel pool.  There were some separation anxieties to deal with before each show, but we were able to work out a compromise each time.  (The evening compromise meant I didn't get to eat supper.)  Kevin wasn't able to make it to the lunch show because of being out of town.  However, he did drive 5 hours to get there in time for the evening show.  She positively glowed when Kevin walked in our room just in time to change clothes and head right back out the door.

All the kids did such a great job.  There were 50 tables with 12 people per table... and.... both shows were sold out!  Amazing!

We're so glad Friends of Kids gave us this amazing opportunity to help them raise money to help some very special kids have a more 'normal' life while being treated for a horrible disease.  Madi is learning how to make a difference at a very young age!

it's been a while

I can't believe it's been a little over 2 months since I last caught everyone up to date on all things Madi.  I still hold to that old adage "no news, is good news"; so, things have been going really well lately.  This seemed like a good time to get some information out, though.

Our summer flew by and moved right into school fairly smoothly.  Madi started her First grade year on Aug. 13th and then missed the entire day on the 14th due to a scheduled LP, vincristine push, IVIG therapy and regular labs.  A long day for both of us, but I think it actually helped to have a day with Mommy to ease the transition into full time school.

There have been a few bumps along our little road, but we are working to overcome those.  Madi has a wonderful teacher this year who is working with us to keep things as 'normal' as possible.  Most kids at this point walk their little selves right up to the bus, find a seat to sit in, head to school and then head to their classroom as soon as the bus driver lets them off.  Our 'normal' could go that way.  Or, our 'normal' could go like this: walk down to the bus stop, see bus coming, panic, turn around and hold on to Mom for dear life while crying hysterically and refuse to get on the bus.  Mom decides it's not worth the fight and decides to take Madi to school.  We get to the drop off line at school and Madi refuses to get out of the vehicle, so Mom drives around to park and walk her in to the front office.  Park the car and have to physically remove Madi from the van (of course she is in the back seat), carry her screaming into the building, head down the hall to her classroom where her teacher kindly pries her from my body and holds her until I get out of the First grade hall.  Separation anxiety at its best.

That scenario is extreme, but it has happened a few times.  (Mostly in the first several weeks.)  There's no rhyme or reason to when this will happen, so I have a tendency to hold my breath until she puts her foot on that first step of the bus.

We've done several things to help make her feel more comfortable leaving me during the day: 1. She wears one of my rings on her bracelet while she is away; 2. She gets hugs and kisses before getting on the bus; and 3. If she gives me any trouble at the bus stop she has to come home and spend the evening in her room.  I know the last sounds a bit harsh, but it has made the biggest difference in our mornings.  It also allows her to make a choice instead of feeling completely out of control of the situation.

Another thing that has been a huge help is seeing a pediatric psychologist the group Friends of Kids with Cancer set us up with.  Dr. Lingg has been wonderful!  She not only works with Madi through play, but she takes time to talk with me about concerns and gives me pointers on how to navigate this time in Madi's journey.  She has even worked with our older two to help them better understand what Madi is dealing with, and also give them an outlet for their frustrations.  A win/win for our family.

So.  Enough with the problems - on to the fun stuff!

Madi is doing great.

Medically, she is now on a monthly schedule instead of a weekly schedule with going to the Pratt Center.  While we absolutely love all the medical staff there, this is another milestone in Madi's journey to celebrate.  Her numbers have also been excellent anytime labs are preformed.  Good labs free Mom and Dad up from worry of needed transfusions and extra trips in to the center.

Physically, Madi is pretty much back to her old self.  She still has to stretch the back of her legs, but they aren't nearly as tight as before the summer started.  Spending as much time as possible at the pool and playing outside with friends have been great physical therapy.  Plus, she really pushes herself to keep up with everyone else when playing with a group.  She is actually starting to gain weight and grow again.  It's nice to see her leg muscles filling out and having to put a few clothes away that are finally too small to wear.  Although, not much is put away for long, since little sis is wearing the same size in most things.

Other fun stuff....

We've been made aware of a much bigger world than we were a part of before Madi's diagnosis.  This has happened on so many levels, it's hard to articulate all areas.  One area is that of non-profits.  Kevin decided to partake in several 5K's this past spring.  He was able to raise about $1500, thanks to the generosity of our friends and family.  And our family was able to be part of the St. Baldrick's fundraiser this past spring.  Both of which were amazing experiences for us.  Our most recent fundraiser experience was Art from the Heart to benefit Friends of Kids with Cancer.  I'm not sure how many works of art were included in the silent auction, but it was so much fun for the whole family.  All the artists were kids who are currently undergoing treatment or are cancer survivors.  Madi even had a work of art in the auction.

Yes, we bid on it.  No, we did not get it.  Someone out bid us at the last minute.  Next year.

There were a couple of activities for the artists and siblings too.  Madi, being an artist, got to blow a glass ornament.

There was also wax hand making, provided by My Handyworks.

Gretchen with another sibling friend

Now, I don't expect everyone to suddenly run out and give huge sums of money to cancer research - even though that would be a great place to put your money.  However, I would urge everyone to find a group or organization to give to  - even if it is just your time.  As we have discovered over the past year, a little can mean so much!

still going

Madi had a great time at Camp Rainbow.  It was an overnight camp for kids 6 to 13 living with cancer or other blood-related disorders.  I only got a couple of calls that week to let me know she was homesick.  The counselors also had a scare when Madi slept for 14 hours one night.  A quick CBC showed there was nothing to worry about.  She did last the whole week, though!  Huge accomplishment for a 6 year old who has never been away from home by herself.

Madi with Cara and Hannah, her counselors

The kids and I headed in to my parents' place for a few days after camp was finished.  We had a lot of fun catching up with my parents and some of the people I grew up with.  There was also a LOT of swimming.  Our 3 yr old son decided to take his little floaties off and learn how to swim.  I now have 5 kids who can keep their noses above the water all by themselves.  Makes time at the pool a little less stressful.

The day after we returned, Madi had to go in for treatment (vincristine and methotrexate) and a CBC.  She also started steroids for 5 days.  Steriod week is never an easy one, but we seem to be learning some tricks to make the time a little more bearable.   Naps seem to be the best help, but what kid wants to take a nap?!

July is going to be another busy month for us.  Different kids have different activities they will be a part of.  Thankfully, nothing is scheduled that overlaps.  Before I know it, I'll be purchasing school supplies and getting ready to meet our teachers for the year.  Time seems to be going by much too quickly for the fun stuff and not fast enough for the not so fun stuff.  Still, life is good!

last treatment of '12

Madi had her last treatment for this year on the 18th.  Her numbers have remained up enough to keep receiving her treatments, which is a huge blessing.  She's been more tired lately, which is understandable.  I've also noticed a bit more bruising, which we just have to keep an eye on to make sure they show signs of healing.

We've been very proud of her determination to still go to school as often as she can.  I rarely ask her how she is feeling of a morning.  Maybe that sounds a bit callous.  However, I've found that if she doesn't think about it or dwell on the possibility of not feeling well,  she feels good most of the time.  As with most 5 yr olds, she isn't shy about letting me know if she truly doesn't feel well.  After treatment on the 18th she was too worn out to finish the school day.  I guess she knew what she was talking about.

Along with being more tired than usual, Madi is a bit more emotional.  Little things will get the tears flowing.  I've also had to calm some small fears and help her to realize she won't break if she does get hurt.

Who can blame the little girl?!  (Although, the whining can be a bit excessive.)  We are trying to minimize her desire to manipulate family situations to fit her wants.  I'm sure we give in a bit more often these days, though.  When you have 4 other kids, you toe the line to limit the potential for resentment.  It's something that is very hard as a parent.  We also have to be careful that we don't allow the other kids to get the upper hand and work situations too much to their benefit.  Some days are easier than others.  Some days I feel like I'm caught in a meat grinder.  Fortunately, we have some really good kids with compassionate hearts who are willing to learn how to best serve others.  Lots of extra learning experiences for all of us.

On a separate note - Kevin and I were the recipients of an anonymous gift the other day.  We did want to be able to extend a huge 'Thank You!' to whomever and let them know how much we appreciate this.  It's been set aside to use toward gas after our holiday travels are done and we are once again going back and forth to the Pratt Center.  Such a blessing!!

lessons from the dr.

Amazon

... When you think things are bad,

when you feel sour and blue,

when you start to get mad...

you should do what I do!

Just tell yourself, Duckie,

you're really quite lucky!

Some people are much more...

oh, ever so much more...

oh, muchly much-much more

unlucky than you!

(© Dr. Seuss 1973)

physical therapy

Madi got to add physical therapy to her 'to do' list for the week.  Laying around for a little over a month depleted her leg and core muscle strength to the point that a little help was needed.  Last week she refused to do about half of what the therapist asked her to do during her evaluation.  Lovely.  This week went much better, once I got her detached from my leg, and she was even talking at the end of the session.

 Most of what Madi is to work on centers around propulsion - jumping, skipping, climbing stairs/rock walls, running.  She also gets to work on balance and a lot of exercises to help her tummy and back muscles firm up- wheelbarrow, crab walk, balancing on one foot.  Today was a lot of fun for her and she seems excited to go back next week.  Hopefully, that will be the case when that day roles around.

Sawyer slept through most of the appointment.

Since some of the schools are polling locations, the kids had the day off.  I'm often grateful that we have some pretty well behaved kids.  (They still will be little stinkers at times, but, overall, they give us little trouble.  In public.)  Many times it is just easier for me to load all the kids up and take them with me rather than find a babysitter.  Easier, not quicker.  Voting went so well, I treated the kids to their choice of drink at McDonald's.  Did you know drinks easily add $8+ to our total?  Yep.  Big treat for my kids since they usually get to choose water or water.  :)

I had one gentleman come up to me, complement me on how good the kids were and then promptly tell me he wouldn't trade places with me for anything in the world.  Ha!  That's quite all right.  I'm happy to keep my lot in life.  Very happy.

the past 2 weeks

The past two weeks have been fairly uneventful - at least as uneventful as we can get around here.  We've been grateful Madi has had the energy to attend school a couple of days each week.  She has her moments of not wanting to let me out of her sight, but they are getting to be fewer as time passes.  She even rode the bus home from school the other day.  Big stuff!

Madi had Lumbar Punctures and Intrathecal Chemo on the 18th and 24th.  It's amazing how strong little ones can be.  She has been in good spirits after each procedure and walked out on her own both times.  Which was very helpful since I had the two littlest ones with us.

Part of our times was spent in the room with Madi.  They did such a good job for me: I just make sure I have the TV on and snacks on hand.

 The rest of the time was spent in the playroom down the hall.  It's really nice that both the doctor's office and the Test and Treatment area realize that we parents have kids other than just the patients we bring in.  Madi even felt like spending some time playing in the room before her last procedure.

After each procedure, Madi can take a little while to wake up.  But, she looks adorable while sleeping off the anesthesia.

We just completed week 3 of a 4 week plan.  Week 4 is an easy week for Madi since all we have to go in for is a CBC this coming Thursday and continue her 6-mercaptopurine pill 'til Nov. 7th.

Tuesday we will be headed over to a physical therapist to see what she might need to do to maintain her muscle and dexterity for the next couple of years.  Kevin and I are very hopeful that the therapist will be surprised with the progress she has made on her own.  (She is now walking up and down the stairs with little help from us or the stair rail.)  Even better, the elementary has a physical therapist that comes in each week that can work with her, if needed.

Starting Nov. 8th she will have 8 weeks of Vincristine and Methotrexate once a week.  She will also continue to have blood work done each week - CBC/CMP/lipase.  During this 8 week treatment, she will only have to have one LP.  (yea!) There will also be more potential for her to be neutropenic, but we will deal with that if/when it happens.

Did you know this will take us all the way up the Jan. 3rd?  Crazy!

Everyone has been a great source of encouragement and help to us already- thank you so much.  Please keep lifting Madi up in prayer.

first day of school

That's right.... Madi is back at school!!!  How amazing is that?!

I loaded all the kids up and headed to the school Monday morning to drop the oldest 3 off for the day.  I fully expected to get a call from the school saying Madi was ready to come home around noon, but she made it through the WHOLE day.  She was even able to tough it out Tuesday, too!  Today her cold has finally brought her down with a stuffy head and sore throat.  I'm so proud of her for pushing herself to do all that she is able!

For those days Madi isn't able to make it in, we are doing a few things at home to keep her learning skills sharp.  Soon she will be able to participate in the Homebound Schooling our district provides.  (I cannot say enough good things about the school and faculty at Geggie.)

Tomorrow we have another LP scheduled and chemo will be administered at that time, too.  Keep up the prayers, they definitely make a difference. 

working hard

We've had a busy week, but I don't really feel as if we have gotten much done around here.  There's been a lot of running around town and several errands completed.  Doctor's appointment on Tuesday and LP on Thursday.  Flu shots on Thursday afternoon - don't even get me started on that one.  Today was a good day to just relax, get a few things done around the house and enjoy a pretty easy day.  When the older girls got home from school, it was time to head outside with some friends and work those big muscles.

Madi's strength has become next to nothing due to the medications and all her body has gone through.  She has a lot of trouble getting up off the floor and struggles going up the stairs.  (If she goes up stairs by herself, she has to crawl.)  We are so incredibly proud of her determination to keep her independence, though.  She is not content to just sit back and let us do everything for her.  She only calls for help if she absolutely has no other choice.  We love the fact that she is a fighter - in big and small ways!  She is setting such a good example for so many.

did you know we have other kids?!

Silly question perhaps. But, with our focus on Madeline at this time, it can be hard to give the others the attention they need.  This is something we are working to balance in the family.  It really helps that our other kids are very concerned about Madi's welfare and don't seem to be upset with the situation - too often.  :)

Anyway.  We thought we would share Liv's 4th birthday with you.  While birthdays are typically low key around here, this was especially.  We decided to take her over to the American Girl Doll store and let her spend her birthday money on the doll of her choice - Julie.  We then came home with a cake and celebrated before bedtime.  Since today is Wednesday and things tend to be crazy getting out the door in time for church services, celebrating a day early made sense.

Happy Birthday, Liv!  We love you very much!

~~~~~

In other news.  Several people have asked us about our financial situation.  We are very blessed to have great insurance through Kevin's employer.  Medical bills are starting to come in, but there is an out of pocket cap on both medical and prescriptions.  I set up a page titled 'donations' so everyone could see some other areas that might be worthy of your donations.  The first two are families that we know personally who are struggling.  The rest are organizations we have been on the receiving end of.  Funny how you never realized how important it is for the blood bank to have blood and platelets until your child is in need of them.  Did you know platelets are only good for 5 days?  Kevin is going to be giving on a much more regular basis now.  :)

Also, please say a prayer for Madi.  Right now one of the side effects of her medicine is severe constipation.  Many tears have been shed this morning because of the pain she is in.

changes and a little prep work

Things have been changing.  It's not necessarily good or bad, it's just different.

Steroids have given our little one a belly and some chubby little cheeks.

The treatments of Vincristine make her hair fall out.  We got down to about 1/3 of her hair left and decided to just cut the remaining hair.  Now we no longer have to sit and brush her hair several times a day to keep it from knotting up while she is sleeping.

She also has a massive increase in appetite.  We joke that she is like a little pregnant woman: she gets hungry, she wants something very specific, and she wants it now.  She has woken me up a couple of times in the night wanting food.  Tacos, pizza, yogurt and ice cream are the most requested items.

Another change, is her personality.  We can't wait to get our talkative 5 yr old back.  Right now she is so quiet she rarely says anything unless it is to ask for something to eat.  Several parents have told us they 'got their child back' after the steroid were ended.  Looking forward to it!

Today we spent some time at the doctor's office.  Our first phase of treatment is 28 days long - beginning with a lumbar puncture and bone marrow sample and ending with a lumbar puncture and bone marrow sample.  Madi is currently on day 24.  To get ready for her procedure on Thursday, we needed a number check to see what she might need in preparation.  All that was needed was one bag of blood.  And, since it was 'munchy Monday', she got to have a Steak 'n' Shake cheeseburger during her transfusion.  Happy little girl!

 Be praying that things go well on Thursday, please.  I'll update as soon as I can after we get home.  Have a great night!

a 'normal' week

We have been trying to find a balance in our lives between taking care of a child who is ill and keeping things normal for everyone.

Going to the park I found by taking a wrong turn.  We spent some time swinging...

 and then sitting on Papaw's lap on the bench after my legs fell asleep in the swing.

 Trips to the mall.

 Getting a new hat and new doll can really wear a person out.

 The other two kids were still wound up and ready for the next stop.

Yesterday (Thursday) was our treatment day.  She is really doing a good job adjusting to the routine at the doctor's office.  We check in, wait for them to have a room ready, prep and then access the port, blood draw, chemo in, wait for blood results and then either get necessary blood/platelets or de-access the port.  She is still afraid of the needle hurting when initially accessing the port, even though she tells us afterward that it didn't hurt.  She also DOESN'T like anything sticky on her skin - no tape, no band-aids, not even Press 'n Seal.  We can avoid most of the sticky stuff, but the needle is a must.  Fortunately, (or unfortunately) she will get used to this with time.

According to yesterday's blood results, Madi is no longer neutropenic.  She scored a 527 on that scale!  A nice change for her to be able to eat all the fresh fruits she loves.  We will also need to head back in on Monday to make sure her hemoglobin and platelet numbers are where they should be in preparation for her lumbar puncture and bone marrow sample procedure on Oct. 4th.

Keep praying!

L is for ......

(originally posted on this too)

School has started and we've been trying to get into the swing of things.  You know - waking up at a good time, getting dressed instead of wearing our pjs or swim clothes all day, keeping up on the laundry, signing papers that need to be returned and getting that nasty homework done on time.

I've been looking forward to having 3 (!) kids in school this year.  Hard to believe!  Do you know how easy 2 kids can be?!?  I have a list of projects that just keeps getting longer and longer.  Things like painting and rooms and presents and just miscellaneous fun 'stuff' to do.

With our third child in kindergarden this year, we've been getting to see all the 'new' things through her eyes.  She brings home her paper from school and shows us all the 'homework' she gets to do.  We get to hear about her teacher and all the new friends she gets to make.  We get to learn that L is for things like Lollipop, Letter, Light and Lemon.

On Tuesday Sept. 4th, my husband and I learned that L is also for Leukemia.

Madi - 1 week before diagnosis

Our beautiful little kindergardener had some blood work done that morning to find out the cause of the bruising and lethargy she was dealing with.  By 2 pm we had a call from our pediatrician telling us to go meet with a pediatric oncologist and be prepared to be admitted to the local hospital.

A whirlwind started as soon as we were finally admitted to the hospital.  Thankfully, we were blessed with some wonderful and understanding nurses.  One nurse in particular, Ms. Janet, became Madi's buddy and cared for her in more ways than just making sure medicine was taken on time and vitals were as they should be.

All these new, and somewhat scary, situations and experiences for our little girl to have to endure.  Being poked and prodded by complete strangers, being carted to different treatment/procedure rooms, having a port put in, having to take 'yucky' medicine and just feeling crummy overall really started to take a toll on her by Friday.  That morning she looked at me after taking her medicine and said, "I really don't want to do this anymore."

We have been home since Sunday and coming home never seemed sweeter.  Our lives are busy with one more thing added to the mix, but we have some wonderful friends, family and even strangers surrounding us with love and support.

The point of this post is not to make you feel sorry for us.  While this isn't the diagnosis we wanted, the prognosis is excellent.  We found through testing that Madi has ALL, a very common and treatable form of Leukemia.  Her age, gender and several other factors are in her favor.  She is responding well to treatment so far and is having few side effects.

The point of this post is to ask for prayers.  Many, many prayers.

We are keeping our minds on the positives and not dwelling on the negatives.  We really are okay.  While we know there are many rough days ahead, focusing only on the bad will make this whole experience even worse.  Kevin and I are taking any opportunity and making sure something is gained or learned by some or all of the kids.  Even Kevin and I are growing in many ways at this time.  Most importantly, Madi is learning at a very young age to let her light shine.

So, projects will come - eventually.  Once we get into our new 'normal', I'm hoping to still do projects and crafts to help keep me sane during this time.  (Kevin would tell you I lost 'it' a looonnggg time ago, though.)  I've got several in progress now and just need to finish up - my life's story.

Keep us in your prayers!