Doing good!

We are so happy that Hayden didn't get any infections this round and that we got to come home so soon! She's doing really well and even eating! I still can't believe that this was her last round! We never have to do it again!! Her blood counts have dropped rapidly as we knew they would and she'll need platelets and blood on wed. We've gotten a good handle on when and how much nausea meds to give so she hasn't gotten sick at all! I think that helps with eating, which is wonderful! The more she eats the sooner we can get off tpn! They already took her off lipids so she only has one tube at night. :) so excited to start knocking these things off our lists! We can not wait to get her central line out! Things we need to happen before we can come home are: getting the cental line out, no need for tpn or nutritional supplements, for her to engraft (WBC come back up to 2K for at least 2 days), red blood counts, hemoglobin and platelets to come up and stay up on their own without need for transfusions, and MRI and lumbar puncture under her belt with the good results we expect from them! So I'm estimating 3 weeks... We shall see! The line will be the last thing to go so we need to stick her every day for blood work and other things.
Since Hayden immune system won't function fully for 4-6 months we decided it was best to find a temporary home for drake...we need everything to be clean and him going in and out carrying germs just isn't ideal. The amazing family that we met in Galveston that has already done so much for us has offered to take him in for 6 months! Can you believe it? They are such wonderful people and have taken a huge weight off our shoulders! We are so blessed to have met them! I know they are a little nervous with drake being so big but I think he will be a great temporary addition to their family..especially with 2 young boys! Just another thing to scratch off the list f to-dos before we can home!
She has an MRI on the 27th so please keep her in your prayers that the scans show no evidence of cancer and that the scarring/effects of chemo and radiation is minimal and if there that is CLEARLY just scarring or whatever.. This has been on going for Hayden and our friends... Suspicious spots on the brain or spine that we just can't be sure about. We are all confident that the spots in their scans are effects from radiation, surgery, and chemo but it would be a wonderful feeling for the drs to say that has been no change, the areas thought to be scarring are definitely that, and there is absolutely NO cancer! And that there never will be! Lumbar is on the 3rd, o far we've been lucky that she hasn't experienced any pain, bleeding or infections from the procedure so please pray it stays that wAy and of course that her csf is negative for cancer or atypical cells! I ask that you all please pray that there is no more damage to her hearing! I can't believe that we are finished with all her treatments ( minus one more dose of chemo in clinic) and now on the path to recovery. Please pray that that is exactly what happens! Complete recovery with as few of the horrible side effects as possible! :)
Please pray for our dear friend Carli...she is experiencing lots of pain and weakness from unknown sources and is dealing with a virus. She is finished with her treatments but is still in the hospital because of these issues. Please pray that they figure out what's happening and control it fast so they too can go home and focus on recovery! Our friend Jaxon has returned home, is doing great and loving it! Praise god! Nicole now has her new line placed and is preparing to start chemo right after Xmas, she is doing great recovering from surgery and radiation! Jaylie has one round left, she is also doing great! Please keep all our friends in your prayers! Pray for no infections, especially right now so that we can all be home to celebrate the holidays with our families! None of us want to be inpatient on Christmas!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I actually got all my shopping done, can you believe it. :) just a few little things to grab! Santa got Hayden her barbie jeep and barbie dream house that she wanted... I'm sure all of you are as shocked as we are about the words barbie and Hayden being in the same sentence! :) we are so thankful to be at home this holiday... 7 months ago I wouldnt ave dreamt that things would be going so well right now, that Hayden would soon be done with this nightmare, that we would have a tree up and be making Christmas dinner, opening presents and celebrating not only Hayden's life, recovery and future health but also her smile and spirit that has never faltered! This year more than any I hope that we can all remember what this season is really about and look around to see the miracles in our everyday lives! Take some time out to think about how wonderful god is and how beautiful and precious our family friends and lives are! Merry Christmas everyone!!