Updates from the hospital...

Grace is feeling much better, though it goes in waves. She has a bacterial infection, and that is what made her so sick. We kept asking the doctors how they think she got it. It turns out that those bacteria just lie dormant in our bodies, but the typical person can fight them off. Grace, however, has almost no white cells to fight off germs, so she is going to inevitably pick up everything. Her fever has finally passed and the doctors hope she'll get home soon. Possibly Monday. We hope so too-especially because today-as she had to get her Picc line rebandaged (it's a semi-permanent IV line) she told me she HATED the hospital and that today was probably the worst day of her life. That is one rough thing to hear. On the flip side, however, she was, a few hours later, giggling, smiling, and drawing a precious little picture of a sunny day in the life of Grace. What a brave girl!

Thanks from the Hospital

Just figured out the camera on the Mac

Back to the hospital

Gracie woke up with a high fever this morning. After seeing a doctor she was re-admitted into inpatient. We were told that she will be here for a minimum of 3 days to make sure she does not have a virus or an infection. We will post more when we find out. 

It's a pain to blowdry anyway!

Today we did something we have hesitated doing. We had to tell Grace and Tanner that she would lose her hair. Somehow, it was one of the hardest things to do in this whole ordeal, because we want Grace to be seen as the Grace we know and love instead of a victim of Cancer. Grace was reflective. She told us she didn't want to lose her hair. We validated that, but told her where beauty lies and it isn't in one's looks.
Her sweet brother later cried and cried. He's concerned about her being teased. But, we had to tell him that people are more good than bad, more sensitive than ignorant, and that Grace one day will be a remarkable woman who knows empathy, compassion, and the meaning of Grace by living it.
When we run fingers through her hair now, little pieces fall to the ground. It hurts, but inside we know that she is destined for big things. This is just the preparation.

Some more pics from the hospital

Gracie on the News

Channel 8 visited Grace's room with the Mt. Dew BMX team. She might be on the news tonight.

This video was taken after Grace had been in the hospital for 3 days. She had no idea I was filming and just felt like singing while she was playing with grandpa glen. At the end she talks about the IV tower. She renamed it her "second booty" or her "robot booty". Even while she was on all her medicine and feeling awful she still sings, and plays.

Today she is doing well. She went to see the doctors this morning and they said everything looks good. She has had a pretty good appetite and is also sleeping well.

Funny Grace

GRACE STILL WAS KIND ENOUGH TO MAKE EVERYONE SMILE AND LAUGH

Family...

There is something to be said about family. We have always known we were lucky. We have a really wonderful extended family. But, what really makes this even more apparent, is when you watch those who love your children the most hurt for them. Even more amazingly, those who hurt the most for our sick Gracie, put on brave faces all week to curb her fears. They made her giggle when they probably felt like screaming and crying and running away from it. They picked up the pieces where JR and I couldn't. They made sure our household was spotless-germ free, and ready for her homecoming. They made this whole ordeal bearable. We are blessed. Unbelievably blessed. Thank you so much for getting us through the hardest part of it...the beginning of this long, unsure road.

Sam...the personal, at hospital mani/pedi helper!

There are many special people in Grace's life. One that really sticks out, is Aunt Sam! She made many moments in the hospital bearable for Grace-for example, doing one of Gracie's favorite things-nails!