Days 11, 12 & 13 (7/3 - 7/6):

Hope everyone had a great time over the Fourth of July weekend.  Oliver and Tich both had eventful times thanks to awesome family and friends.  We're going to have to have about a hundred sleepovers (already) as payback. 


My dear wife scribbled down some notes about the past few days, and I have to say, her 24/7 attendance at room Goryeb Children's Hospital room 10 yields some pretty informative notes.  So, compliments of Fern, here is her summary of days 11 - 13:

When the doctors said most of the time here would be anticlimactic - they were right.  Annie has been seemingly normal the last few days. She goes from various activities in the room (play-doh, crafts, iPad, coloring, Shopkins), naps, eats, talks about food, eats again, takes walks, goes outside to blow bubbles, etc.. 

It is pretty uneventful.  Her vitals are checked regularly.  It is a wait and watch game now.  Pretty much on a daily basis Annie's blood is drawn and a CBC done.  The counts we look at are white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and the "ANC."  Her ANC on Sunday was 500.  Today is was 150.  The doctors are not shocked or surprised as many kids bottom out to zero during this first month of treatment.  But what is means for us is that Annie has limited means to fight off any infection at this time.  Translation - she stays in the hospital.  They check her vitals, specifically her temperature blood pressure and heart rate regularly.  What we are looking for (and hoping to avoid) is a fever.  But since we are in the hospital, if she gets a fever, they can treat her immediately.

She has been nicer to the doctors and nurses recently.  When they hook her back up to her port she often mimics the procedure on the hospital doll with a port.  She doesn't growl at them anymore either.

Today when we were in the lobby she wanted to pose with one of the statues and have me take a picture?  I guess she's pretending to be on vacation or something. . . . .

                                          

So the next few days will probably be more of the same. Just chilling out in the room.  She has asked only a few times how long she has to stay here.  When she gets home she wants to go swimming.

 

We are all so thankful for the food and help, can't say it enough.  Sounding like a broken record.  Annie has made good progress on the snack bin from Sheridan Lane (she often says she wants something from it for her "bedtime" snack)

 

Next treatment on Friday and we will continue to watch her blood counts each day.  She may need another red blood cell transfusion in the next few days.  

 

I was reading in the manual of questions to ask visitors and playmates:
"have you been exposed to or have an infection? Do you have a runny nose, cough diarrhea or rash? If yes do not visit!"  Boy oh boy.  We do appreciate your visits and know that everyone will continue to use good discretion:) 

In summary - her shirt from Miss Ashley says it all "Good Vibes" keeps sending them.