A day at home...finally

Well, Ivee is finally spending a day at home. She came home Saturday, and her white blood cell count is up. She was in chemo yesterday, and then we had to go to the surgeon's office. Her stitches that hold the chemo port to her body so it won't move came out and were healing up. We had to restitch it to her. So, that was a traumatic ordeal. So, finally she is at home today. The occupational therapist just left and said that she is doing even better than she was doing last week. So, we are doing okay. Tomorrow she has an extremely lengthy appointment with the development center at the hospital. Pray that she can do well during this time. She just doesn't like strangers at all.

Hospital stay

The doctor said we'll be in the hospital until Saturday or Sunday morning, cause she wants to make sure Ivee gets 3 days of antibiotics. So far, the blood cultures aren't growing anything. Therefore, we believe that the g button infection must have been the cause of the fever.

In the hospital

I had to bring Ivee into the hospital at 11 pm last night. She had a fever of 101.4 and there is an infection around her g-button (feeding tube). She didn't act like herself much yesterday, so I knew she wasn't feeling well. We will be in the hospital at least until Friday morning. She is sleeping on daddy's chest right now, so she is getting some pretty descent sleep. I'll let you all know anything if I find out anything.

If your happy and you know it...

First, I just wanted to post a picture of Ivee pre-surgery at 7 months, and one from 11 months. Doesn't she look so good again. She got ner chunck back with a vengence! She is doing so well lately. She, this past week, reached that all important, I can clap my hands on my own, and even when prompted too stage. It is so cute, especially since "if your happy and you know it clap your hands" is her favorite song. We think that within a few weeks she'll be sitting on her own, cause she is doing so well pushing up. Balance is still an issue, but more importantly is that she won't keep her hands down to support herself. But she wants to grab everything around her.
It makes it really hard to do anything medical things, cause she wants to grab everything that I am trying to do.
She is handling the chemo okay. Had another dose today. She has to take magnesium right now. And it gives her very loose stools. Her tummy hurts alot, and she has violent explosions. My heart aches for her. And the diaper rash is getting pretty bad again. Pray that it will go away quickly and not linger like it did last time.
For good pics of my sister, Sonias, baby, click on the Baughman link to the left. And Jennifer, my friend who had the surgery is at home. Her blog is to the left also, The Busby's. Thank you for the prayers. I know I say that everytime, but you know I believe that praying has so much to do with Ivee's healing. The physical therapist comes back tomorrow. She hasn't been here in three weeks. Pray that it goes well. Well, it's late and I'm done. Love you all.

Hope and Glory

I am playing video games with my daddy... it is fun. Emmett and are still rejoicing today in Ivee's results, but we don't want to give any of you a false idea of what is happening. We can't officially say that Ivee is cancer free. Em and I believe that God will completely heal her, but she is not out of "the woods" yet. Like I said below, we will have to continue treatment for now. We can't forget that this is an aggressive cancer. We have to keep in mind that something may appear on the 6 month MRI. The oncologist said that usually the first MRI after treatment begins can be better than the ones further down the road. BUT(But...I'm always reminded of that word in context to scripture, and in this case look forward to it) I BELIEVE that my God is greater than what the doctors say. I know they have seen many cases of cancer, and many different scenarios, BUT I don't trust in science and in man. I trust in the Great Healer and Physician. I remember when they said that Ivee's odds were low (statistically) that was the first day I had actually felt discouraged in this trial. So, I will not let any one's words discourage me. I also remember all of you, and know that your constant prayers go up everyday, and I know God hears them. So, just know that I will never lose hope, and the same God who told my spirit that she would be fine from the fall and that he needed to reveal something that was endangering her life, is the same God who tells my spirit now that he is still in control. I just pray that our faith is proved genuine and that those doctors and nurses around us will see what a Great God we serve, and it will be a testimony of our faith and his glory. Love all of you, and thank you for rejoicing with us.

My New Neice

Here are new pics of my new neice born today. Her name is Haley (not sure of spelling yet). Just got the pics on my phone and wanted to share them. Blogged early of Ivee's report. It's in the report below. Keep in touch.

Offical Report

Here are Ivee and Ethan last month. He wanted to hold her. So sweet. PS. i AM AN AUNT AGAIN. MY SISTER JUST HAD HER BABY GIRL (#2), 7LBS 4 OZ. DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT NOW. WHEN I KNOW, YOU'LL KNOW. Okay, we are in the hospital today for the 2nd part of our 6 months of chemotherapy. The oncologist brought us the radiologist report. Officially the radiologist and the oncologist see no visible signs of cancer, and the spinal tap came back negative of cancer cells. So, I guess in layman's terms, Ivee is cancer free as far as anyone can tell. She still has a seroma (cyst) like place where the surgery was, but this is the fluid build up, which has gone down considerably. So anyway, it is unbelievably great news.
Emmett told the oncologist, or reminded her, that almost 4 months ago, they told us that chemotherapy would not impact the tumor at all cause it is an aggressive and quick growing cancer, and chemo never showed any signs of having an affect on this cancer. The only treatment that ever made any progress was total resection (surgery) of the tumor and radiation. She was too young for radiation. The chemo was to just get her past her 1st birthday so that they could try radiation. They didn't even like to do radiation in children under 3 years old. Only 24 cases (people) a year are found to have this kind of cancer. I remember that doctor coming in 1 week after Ivee's brain surgery to tell us the pathology of the tumor. The statistics only gave Ivee a 30% survival rate. Well, she has beat the odds and all other logical reason. I mean...look at it. All that they said would or wouldn't happen has totally proven that science is not exact. They said she had a 30% chance, that she would be extremely sick from the chemo, that she would throw up, that she would have to have radiation...and none of that has happened. The oncologist said that it is definitely a miracle, and that we were right to never lose hope.
We know what has happened. The same person who pushed her from that grocery cart back in December, is the same person who took what was left of her tumor and made it...disappear. He has had his hand in all of this from the beginning of her life to right now. She is an amazing creation of God, and he has something special in mind for my little Ivee.
Now, she will have to finish out her chemotherapy roadmap, so we will continue until June with the chemo, and then we'll have another MRI to make sure she is still good to go. I'm sure for the next few years, she'll have to have checkups to make sure all is well.
Her road is still a long one. She still can't eat by mouth, so we'll have to continue with occupational therapy to get that ability back. She still is at the stage of a 5/6 month old, so we've got to get her to the age level she is suppose to be at, that means continually physical therapy.
Life will still not be back to normal for a very long time, but I still have my Ivee here in my life, and that is more important than her capabilities right now.
THANK YOU for your prayers and commitments to us. Remember to pray for her health, cause she is still very susceptible to illness since she is still on chemo. Pneumonia and other illnesses are still a big threat to her. We are in the process of starting the stairs to the attic very soon, so that Ivee can have her own room. Pray that the finances will be there as we need them (that will take some planning and being wise on our part). Pray for those who are helping us with that project (that they will be safe and no one will cut a finger off or something). Don't forget to comment. I enjoy them so much. Love to all of you...and PRAISE GOD!

Pictures of Easter

Here are pictures of the kids from today. Don't they all look so nice! I'll be in the hospital with Ivee the next few days. Should find out more news on the MRI, and will let all of you know what is decided. Love ya, and Happy Easter.

Ivee's Unoffical MRI report

We have only heard from the oncologist on Ivee's MRI. The oncologist said the remaining tumor has dramatically reduced in size. She sees no real visible signs of any tumor at all. So that is great news. NOW...this is unoffical, and we don't know what the radiologist or the neurosurgeon may see. The radiologist is trained to look for anything out of place, but we are believing that the cancer is gone. We won't have the results of the spinal tap until next week. There could still be cancerous cells. So, keep believing in miracles. We will meet with everyone (docs) on Monday when we go in for treatment to look at the old MRIs and the new one, and we will discuss what everyone does (or doesn't) see. Thank you for the countless hours of prayer. God bless each one of you this Easter Weekend. Let us rejoice in the Lord for his gift of salvation to each of us as we remember the Resurrection. :)
Keep believing!

MRI and Jennifer's Surgery

Hello everyone. As you can see I am just splendid. I was crusin the other day, just chillin in my car seat watching Nemo. You know, even though I have seen that film well over 200 times in my lifetime, being that I am almost 11 months you know, it's cinemaphotography and lifelike realism just tickles that very imaginative part of my soul. Well, I do go on and on don't I. I get it from my sister Brittney. Well, on this particular day, I felt very lively, so the big people, I believe they are called mama and dada, took me out at my request. But, after a few hours, I did become quite exhausted. The stroller is wonderful place for a nap. So, I insisted that they go eat at Santa Fe's Southwest Grill while I got my beauty sleep. Well, I have gabbed long enough. Tata for now my sweets and I will converse with you at a later date.
Well, My Ivee can go on and on can't she. I think it is helping that the pollen season is coming to an end. First, Jennifer came through her surgery just fine. The doctors said it went way better than expected. They removed 95% of the tumors and 10 liters of fluid of her abdomen. 10 LITERS of fluid. That is unbelievable. For those of you who don't know her, or didn't get to see her post surgery, she is a very slender lady who looked 9 months pregnant. All of that was tumors and fluid. She is doing fine and in ICU as I type. Pray for a quick and full recovery.
As for my Ivee...her MRI and Spinal tap are scheduled for this coming Thursday morning at 10 am. They'll sedate her for everything, thank God. She is still doing great this week. If all goes as planned, we will resume chemo next week. I guess we won't truly know what we are doing until the MRI and tap come back.
My other kids are doing well. Sometimes it seems like there is nothing happening at all. Then other days you can tell they are affected by all of this. It is hard to know what they are feeling sometimes. And poor Brittney, who will be 11 in July...well, she is just beginning the emotions that all girls face. Her attitude is becoming wirey (if you know what I mean). You push a button, and you just don't know what emotion it will set off. Ethan, 7, is usually oblivious, but sometimes he voices his concerns. So, you know that he thinks of it, even if he doesn't always understand what is going on. Someone offered to take the baby the other day so that he could be the baby again. He said no, and they said why not. He said, cause I like her.
You know, Em and I are just still flabbergasted by all that people have done for us, and are still doing. Some gentlemen from a church down the road from our church came by Sunday. They are in a brotherhood there of retirees. They all have different backgrounds...from carpentry to electrical to other stuff. They want to help us build the stairs to our attic, and help with transforming it into another bedroom so that Ivee can have her own room. They don't even know us. They only know of us cause a friend of mines parents go to their church, and have told everyone of our little baby, and her medical condition. And God has blessed us with a tax return so we can afford to by the lumber for the stairs. We just needed someone who would know what they were doing and would do it cheap. God brought us the brotherhood from that church who is going to help for free. I guess I'll have to cook them a good meal! :) You all are such a blessing. I give thanks to God for each one of you.

Just a note. My husband says I need to proof read before I post, but who has time for that. I'm typing when I can. I told him that all of you understand me, and that is enough. LOL.

Ivee

Ivee's blood count was up this past Thursday. She is feeling great, except for the typical baby fits so common to little ones. She is acting all nutty now in her playing, flailing about, so we call her "crazy baby". She is still demanding her sweet tea at every meal. The occupational therapist came to evaluate this past Thursday. She'll come by for a while every week to help develop Ivee's fine motor skills. According to her and the physical therapist, Ivee is at the level of a 5 or 6 month old. Still waiting to see when her MRI and spinal tap are for this week. I'll let you know.
I ask pray for my friend Jennifer Busby for her surgery tomorrow to have her tumors removed. Pray for safety, the doctors hands and eyes, and that God will come through in a complete healing way. Also, pray for her husband Kevin, kids Meredith and Jacob, and her family. Pray that they will have peace and be encouraged.
Thank you everyone for your never ceasing prayers. I hope to get better on my blogging. I've fallen behind. I LOVE YOU ALL!