Eva playing

Our household has been struggling with the flu (except for Grace), but we wanted to update everyone as to what has been going on. Tanner just finished basketball and is about to start baseball and soccer. Grace has been doing well and decided she wanted to make dessert tonight. It was a delicious frozen masterpiece using strawberries, blueberries, and mandarin oranges. Grace and I also had the privilege of going to the Nike employee store, which was a lot of fun. This is a video of Eva we took tonight. She is so much fun and such a character. At one point she pauses thinking that I am going to take a picture since the video is shot with our digital camera. The shoes she proudly wears in the video are still on her since she refused to take them off and when we put her PJs on she insisted that she wear them over her footed PJs.

We have been dragging our heels to post based on the fact that we would like to still help Avarie and the Giles family. We have received a lot of help, but would love to continue. See below for more info.

Avarie Giles

One of the most amazing thing we noticed as we wandered the halls of the hospital when Grace stayed there for 1 month was that she was not one of few, but of many. It's a little disheartening to realize how many sweet little children are plagued with such an invasive illness. When your child is diagnosed with Cancer, you have this feeling that you are totally on your own and that no one understands the pain you feel. But, nothing is farther from the truth. We have met many families out there who know our plight first hand. One such family is the Giles family. Precious little Avarie is Grace's age, and has Grace's diagnosis of ALL or Acute Lyphocytic Leukemia, but unlike Grace's Standard Risk, Avarie is High Risk. I can't begin to explain the heartache this family has known, the way they have watched their child suffer, and the absolute turmoil that they have been through. By the same token, I can't begin to emphasize enough how absolutely stalwart, strong, brave, and longsuffering they have been! They are individuals to admire, to be sure. This is why our hearts go out to them. They are individuals who deserve the absolute best in life, and truly have been through the gauntlet. If you read a bit of their blog http://www.giles-avarie.blogspot.com/ you will understand what I mean. In addition to being in and out of the hospital for months on end, going through major complications, and trying to still keep up with the demands of life, Mr. Giles has now lost his job because of the faltering economy!

Mother Teresa stated, "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love." My little family has witnessed miracles by the hand of love. Your love! Each of you, dear readers, have shown us that good and love abound everywhere-in the tiniest act of love, and in the grandest expressions of kindness.

We would really love to do a fundraiser for Avarie and her sweet family. No amount is too small. If you can, and would like to you, please donate on her behalf. You can make a check out to Jenell Giles, or send cash. I will collect the money for the family, so you're welcome to email me for my address. My email is kimujifusa@yahoo.com Thanks everyone!

Chemo...

Grace's Chemo went well today. They, again, upped her dose of Methotrexate. She feels alright this evening, though tends to vomit with this chemo. Tanner was able to go with her. They really support each other! Grace will have her next round in 10 days along with a spinal tap.

Eva also had her check up today with immunizations. She's healthy and happy!

Radio voices

Grace has some fun news! News of the Doernbecher donations got around the hospital and the radio station 99.5 is interviewing her on Thursday, March 12 between 10 and 11am. They have a segment called "Hunt for a Cure" in which they share stories of children with Cancer. She's pretty excited, so listen for her cute little voice on a radio near you!
To listen online - http://www.thewolfonline.com/

By the way, Grace saw a slogan at the hospital at her last chemo treatment and she LOVED it! I think we'll embrace it around here. "CANCER FEARS ME!!!!!"

Chemo today...

Grace had her second round in Interim Maintenance 2 today. They have upped the dose of Methotrexate and will continue to do so each time she goes in (6 more weeks of Interim M). So far she has tolerated it really well. They also gave her Vincristine, which she usually doesn't tolerate well, but tonight things were ok. Vincristine is tough, though. Some side effects that we've noticed in her are jaw pain, drooping eyelids on occasion (very startling when it happens), extremity pain, muscle weakness. I really don't care for Vincristine. I just fake a smile in front of her when the push it through her port, because though I know it saves her life, its effects are so rough. The Methotrexate causes mouth sores, loss of appetite, and decreases her red and white blood cells and platelets (explains why she bruises so much).

Having said all this nonsense, she really is feeling pretty well and her numbers were good today-at four thousand two hundred. So, we're relieved to be chiseling away at the days left of her treatment-only 772 left to go.

On a better note, Grace is doing great with her piano lessons, loving art work, and amazing us with her great reading skills!

Tanner is seriously loving Star Wars and has a Destination Imagination (school team) competition this weekend. He's pretty excited! He has been doing awesome at basketball and was asked to attend the national young leaders conference in D.C. this summer. We are very proud of his hard work.

Eva is nearly over her yucky cold, poor dear and still manages to be sweet and wonderful. She loves going outside in our yard and jumping on the trampoline. When asked what she wants to dance to, she replies "lady ga-ga."

See-life isn't so bad...I just need to remind myself of that ALL the day long!