perfect attendance and a delay

Last week, Madi had zero appointments.  Even better?  She was strong enough to attend school every day that week.  This is her first full week of school since August!!  Out of curiosity, I looked at her attendance record online - she has missed 266 days this year.  Not the kindergarden year we had planned, but better than it could have been.

We're learning to take the bad with any good that comes our way on this journey.  Unfortunately, Madi has a delay in treatments right now.  She went in Saturday morning to get her chemo.  All of her treatments are count dependent because of the level of methotrexate she will receive.  Platelets have to be 50k and she was at 44k.  We'll be heading back in on Wednesday of this week to see if her numbers have gone up.  If not, she will receive the vincristine she needs and we will schedule another date to receive the methotrexate.  Dr. Rob has assured us that this is 'normal'.  Just a little bump in the long road she is on.

Madi has started back on physical therapy sessions.  It's amazing how much this helps her fight the side effects the medicines have on her body.  While she might not get sick, her balance is a little off, her muscles are weakened and the ligaments in her legs tighten up.  All things that can be fixed.  (We've become very grateful for modern medicine and heath insurance over the past several months.)  She enjoys the challenge PT gives her and she loves her therapist.  Win-Win.

Keep praying!  If those numbers can get up where they need to be, we can keep treatments going.

thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving holiday is upon us.  A time to reflect on all the blessings we have in our lives, extra time spent with family and copious amounts of food placed before us on which to gorge ourselves.  Tradition.

While I've always considered myself and my family to be blessed, sometimes it takes a crazy occurrence in life to allow one to see how true that fact is.  So many, many things that have been brought to our attention during our time with Madi's illness.  I could sit here and try to list all of them, but I won't.  (You can thank me later.)  One I wanted to acknowledge on the blog, though, is the support we have received from all our friends, family and even complete strangers.  There is no way we could go through this time with out everyone holding us up and cheering us on.  Thank you!  God has blessed us beyond measure!

So..... What's going on with Madi?  Her treatment was this past Monday with Vincrystine and an increased dose of Methotrexate.  She really has been handling everything remarkably well.  Her spirits are up and so are her numbers.  (Funny story - When praying one night at the supper table, Madi was, of course, mentioned.  As soon as Kevin finished, Olivia looked at him and said, "We don't need to pray for Madi anymore.  Her numbers are fine."  Amazing what they pick up on, huh?)

Madi has to wait for her blood test results before she can have her treatment.  During that time we work on school, play games, play with toys or watch movies.  This time she got to go in the craft area to paint.  A great way to pass the time!

 She also got to decorate a canvas with gems and letters.  The activities are definitely fun for her, but they also help her work on fine motor skills.  Double bonus.

 Since it was Munchy Monday, the doctor's office had Imo's pizza brought in for all of us in the office to eat.  While Imo's isn't my favorite, it was free and filling.

Blood levels:

WBC - 4.0
Hgb - 11.6
Plts - 376
ANC - 1700

Tuesday was physical therapy.  They really put her through her paces!  Treadmill frontward, backward and sideways.  She even sprinted for 20 second intervals.

Elliptical front and back for several minutes each.

A few leg presses.

A little rock climbing.  Ms. Jenn not only had her going up the wall, but also going from one side to the other.

 

And whatever this is.  She also did crunches and a lot of rolling on a ball for balance and core muscle control.

Physical therapy has been a lot of fun for Madi, which helps in so many ways.  She is excited to show the rest of the family all the things she does in her sessions and always ready to go back for more.  Her next appointment will be in two weeks, she is improving so quickly.  

Madi's next appointment is next Wednesday.  So, until then, have a safe holiday and enjoy all the blessing (large and small) in your lives.  Love to you all!

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.