On Great Day

Well I don't know where to start because it has been such a great day.  I guess I will start with how she slept.  She slept from 11:30-6:00 and she was finally comfortable and she slept  very soundly.  She slept with the pressurized mask.  She asked around 6:00 if she could have a break from it.  We put on the other  and she fell asleep off and on. 

When she got up we were asking her questions and she was alot more coherent.  She could move her fingers they kept asking if she could touch her thumb to all of her fingers.  Yesterday she couldn't do that but today she did it with both hands.  Me and the nurse were thrilled.  She could not understand why we were so excited.  We told her that she couldn't do that yesterday.  She said that she could remember that.  I am so grateful that she doesn't remember what has happened the last couple of days.

After the little hand exercise we asked her where she was and how long she has been there.  She told us that she was in the hospital and she had been here for a week.  Yesterday she knew she was in the hospital but she didn't know how long she had been there.  She also thought it was January 23, 2007.  Today she still thought it was January and then she said I think that is wrong.

After all that she said that she wanted food.  The nurse went and found out if she could eat.  She came back with a menu.  Alyssa asked why she needed the feeding tube if she could eat through mouth.  We told her that they put that in last night so she could take medicine that she couldn't swallow.    She ordered mandarin oranges, applesauce , blueberry muffin, chocolate milk.  There was only a apple muffin on the menu and she wanted a blueberry muffin.   The nurse asked if there was a blueberry muffin.  They did so we waited for her breakfast.  Her breakfast came and she was thrilled to eat.  Her arms still don't work quite right so I had to feed her.  She said that it probably felt weird to feed her.  I told it was better than when you were little because you can tell me what you wanted and you didn't spit it out at me.  She took 2 bites of the muffin and she said it was awful.  The oranges is what she liked best.


After breakfast she wanted to walk so we went and walked.  After her walk her nurse asked her to make 3 goals for the day.  Her goals were to reduce her oxygen needs, take out the catheter  and get the feeding tube out.  She said that she wanted to get a shower so we were preparing to get her ready to shower.

In the middle of it the nurse had to go to rounds and she asked me to go with her.  Rounds are when all the doctors and nurses helping her come and talk about what kind of things they are doing for her.  They have determined that all of the blasts or leukemia cells are out of her body.  So the chemo is doing their job.  Most of the tests from the spinal tap are coming in negative.   They have determined that she DOESN'T have Leukemia  IN THE BRAIN.  It is due to a drug reaction.  They have determined that the ATRA is the cause so they have stopped that.  The doctor said that there are different options and they are going to do that and we have plenty of time to start that.   They are almost certain that she can get back to normal.

They have been giving her medicine to make it so she wont have seizures.   She is done with her first round of chemo.  She is only down to iv's when she has to have her antibodies.  Her IV pole's name is Frank. 

So after rounds the nurse went and found out if she could have the catheter out.  She came and took it out and she was thrilled.  We were getting ready to go to the shower when the eeg lady called and asked if they could come and do another eeg.  We decided to shower after that because they have to put goop in her hair.  Yesterday when she had the eeg she was very agitated, today she fell asleep after her friend Riley left.

While she was having her eeg I left with my dad to do a errand and go back to their hotel to have a nap and shower.  While I was gone my mom said that she had a shower and the nurses french braided her hair.  Put pajama bottoms on and ordered some more food.  Mashed potatoes, jello and strawberry shake.  She ate them all gone.  She also got her feeding tube out and her oxygen was down to 40% and she was keeping her level up above 90.  90 is where they want her to be without having to have oxygen.  She met all of her goals.  We told her she needed to make some more goals and she said right off the bat I want to go upstairs to her other room.


When I came back she was happy and talkative.  She took another walk.  I hung up a stocking on the wall and a advent quilt that I had made her a couple of years ago.  I asked Kirk to bring it when he was cleaning out her apartment.  She was so excited to see it.

 We got her to bed and she was not comfortable.  They came in and gave her a breathing treatment and put the cpac mask back on (pressurized mask).  They told her that this helps her when she sleeps so she can decrease her oxygen during the day.  She thought that was a good alternative.  She is now sleeping peacefully.

 I took some pictures of her and her favorite nurses.  When I figure out how to get them on here I will post them.  Maybe when someone comes to visit they can help me out.  My helper husband has gone home and he is safe and sound.

I am so grateful for my parents and how much of a help they are to me and Alyssa.  Also for all of the priesthood blessings that have been given to her.  I know that the Lord has his hand in all of this.  The power of the priesthood is an amazing thing.  I am so grateful that I have it in my life.  Thanks again for everything everyone is doing for me and my family.  Well that is the nightly report, here's to having a good night and even a better day tomorrow.