BMT Day +14

Today's daily photo is brought to you by Logan, Ella, Sam, Neve, Brinlie, Ashlyn, Luke and Tanner (some sweet friends in our neighborhood). What a great photo and Ariauna is jealous she is not there swimming with you!

WBC- 0.5
Hemoglobin- 9.7
Platelets- 20
ANC- 0.3 (Yay! Finally an ANC...So exciting!)
Weight- Forgot to get it written down.

Last night I actually spent some time and packed a suitcase of stuff for Jerry to take back home for us. I had him take a few of the blankets Ariauna has collected over here, some of her bingo prizes she has earned, some of the books she has been given each week from the book cart at the hospital. Jerry leaves to go home today so I thought maybe I should send some stuff home that we are not using. I actually purposely slept in a bit today and was fully aware that I would miss the doctor rounds. Thank goodness Jerry is there to get the report. I planned to get up and get ready for the day and then to head downstairs to meet the school teacher at the Ronald McDonald House. Today is the first day of school in Minnesota and so today they were doing an Open House where you could come by and meet the teacher and show your kids around. I knew my kids would not be here, but I wanted to go down and introduce myself and meet the teacher. I took Austin and Sadie's paper work with me that I had previously filled out. I had a good visit with the teacher and talked to her about my concerns about the kids coming over here. I talked to her about Austin's AP classes he is in. After talking to her and knowing the teachers at home that Jerry talked to are willing and the teacher here in Minnesota is willing to work together, I felt even more peace about the decision of having the kids come over here.  I have done research and talked to other parents who have had children attend the school and all of them have said when they have taken their kids back home their child was above in Reading and Math because of the fact they have more one on one. Besides the teacher being there, they have retired teachers that come in all of the time and then they have interns from the college that are constantly there helping too. She is going to be contacting the kids' school teachers at home soon to discuss the kids and the curriculum they need to be working on. I then went out to catch the shuttle back to the hospital. Outside parked at the RMH was this.

This is the RMH Care Mobile, that was there today to do dental exams and dental care for those staying at the RMH house. Another amazing service that the RMH offers. I had all of my stuff done before we left, but what a great blessing to some of those families who have been here for a year. Some days I am just totally amazed at all the services the RMH offers, and I am planning on volunteering at the RMH in Salt Lake City as often as I can. While I was sitting waiting for the shuttle, Jerry called to let me know that Ariauna has an ANC today! I was so excited I could hardly stand it and could hardly wait to get there and give my angel the biggest hug. Her poor little body has been through so much and she has fought so hard. The ANC is another number that the doctors really watch to make sure the new cells are growing and it will continue to help her body fight. That is why she can not go out of her room at all until her ANC is high enough.  I am so happy that things are coming along for her. These are all things that need to happen in order for the mucusitis to get better and for her to be able to continue getting healthy. Ariauna's school teacher Mrs. Julie came in to work with her, but they only got a little bit of reading done when Ariauna fell sound asleep. I feel bad for the poor teacher, but Ariauna is fighting a tough fight inside, let alone being doped up on a bunch of narcotics. While I was gone this morning they also had physical therapy come in. This time they came in with hockey. Ariauna had never played hockey until today. Thank goodness daddy took some pictures for me. She had an absolute blast and I think her new favorite P.T. activity will be hockey. They even let her keep the hockey puck.

After playing hockey, Ariauna was a bit tired so we all tried to take a rest. Ariauna and daddy had some great snuggle time.

You can see by the picture right above that Ariauna knew the time was approaching that daddy was going to have to get on a plane to go back home. Jerry went down and got himself some lunch at the cafeteria, ate lunch and then it was time for us to say our goodbye's. My heart just broke, and I know I can speak for Ariauna and say she was just as heart broken. We have had a great five days with daddy, but it just wasn't long enough. What we wouldn't give to be able to be here together with the whole family. As you can see by these pictures, she definitely did not want to let her daddy go.

I helped walk Jerry down to the front door to meet his taxi with all the luggage, and said my goodbye's for now. I turned and walked away and could not even look back. I cried pretty much the rest of the day. I came back upstairs and Ariauna and I both had a good cry. We hated to see him go, but at the same point knew that the kids at home need him too. As much as Ariauna and I would have loved to have just laid around and sulked all night, that was not an option. It was not long and the Occupational Therapist- Lauren came in to play. She brought bowling to do and then had Ariauna make a picture using glitter glue, to make her use her hands and squeeze a lot.

Ariauna took another afternoon nap. She does an awful lot of sleeping. People see all these pictures of Ariauna up and doing all these things and think she is doing great. Which yes, for what she has been through she is doing fantastic. But what people don't see is that all of these things, literally wipe her out. She sleeps for a big chunk of each day. We talked to the kids tonight and Sadie is sounding sick. She is getting a cold and has a cough. Jaxon also started with a fever, so we are going to have to watch him and decide if we need to get him in. Amy from Child life came to visit Ariauna before she headed home for the night. She actually brought with her some relaxing music CD's and some wonderful books that are meant to take you to a happy, quiet, peaceful place. So we did a few stories with Amy. It was amazing how they do just calm you right down. We spent a little bit of time tonight doing some homework. Ariauna is still not feeling 100% and does not really care to be doing school work right now. It makes me feel bad, because she normally loves school. Later this afternoon we got a package delivered. It totally made Ariauna's day, just like every package does. This one was from the Brinkerhoff's and had some fun things inside too.

They sent her several puzzles, a nail kit, a beautiful wooden flower and a few snacks. They sent me the notebook and a snickers. Yummy!!  Thank you so much Brinkerhoff's for the sweet gift! It was great to get a package at the end of a sad, depressing day today!  It was definitely a good day for a "Pick me up".  Ariauna had a pretty quite evening and went to bed at a decent time for a change.

Today I am grateful for:  Angels Among Us!!  I used to love this song by Alabama while I was growing up. I haven't heard and listened to it much since, but as I sit and think about all the "Angels Among Us", I can not help but think of this song and the beautiful words.

I was walkin home from school on a cold winter day, 
Took a short cut through the woods and I lost my way,
It was gettin' late, and I was scared and alone.
Then a kind old man took my hand, and led me home.
Mama couldn't see him, but he was standin there,
And I knew in my heart, he was the answer to my prayer.

-Chorus-
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us, from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me, in our darkest hours,
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give,
To guide us with a light of love.

When life held troubled times, and had me down on my knees,
There's always been someone, to come along and comfort me.
A kind word from a stranger, to lend a helping hand,
A phone call from a friend, just to say I understand.
Now ain't it kinda funny, at the dark end of the road,
Someone lights the way, with just a single ray of hope.

(Chorus)

They wear so many faces, show up in the strangest places,
And grace us with their mercies in our time of need.

(Chorus)

To guide us with a light of love.

I am so very grateful to all the Angels Among Us. I am grateful to each and every one of you that are doing things for Ariauna and I in Minnesota and for all the things you are doing to help our family at home. I can not thank my Heavenly Father enough for giving me such a wonderful family, great friends, neighbors, teachers for my kids, and special friends we have met here in Minnesota. I truly feel like we have "Angels Among Us", sent down to us from somewhere up above. They come to you and me, in our darkest hours to show us how to live, to teach us how to give, to guide us with a light of love.