Well, the summer is flying by.  I'm enjoying spending the days with the girls going for walks, to the park, playing in the back yard, reading, etc...  All those things that you do with kids that are not undergoing chemotherapy.  Not worrying about all the sun screen, the bug bites and falls when platelets are too low.  Right now, the biggest thing is Abby and Hannah being in eachother's faces too much.  I think I can handle this!

I am so proud of my girls.  Today, they got to go get something with their allowance that they have saved up.  And yes, they work for it.  They get $2 a piece every Friday for unloading the dishwasher, setting and helping clear the dinner table, helping clean their rooms, making their own beds, helping take out the trash and putting their clean clothes away.  You know, maybe they need a raise (but then again, efficiency rate sometimes leaves something to be desired.)  They don't really care though.  $2 is a lot of money for a 6 and 3 year old. 

 While we were at the mall, I had 2 different women stop to ask if they were REALLY spending their allowance.  They couldn't believe how much they help out and one said Abby and Hannah should have a talk with her teenagers.  Lots of "pleases" and "thank yous" to the clerk as well.  The cool part is that they do all these things many times without being asked and very rarely do they argue with me or James about it.

I have to say, we are enjoying having a normal family.  We don't really have any summer plans, just enjoying time together.  Hannah begins 4 year old preschool this year and Abby will be starting 1st grade.  I only have one more year with a baby at home (that's only part time this year) and then I will be alone during the day.  I'm not sure what I will do with myself, but I'm sure for the first week there will be lots of tears.  After that, I guess I'll be going back to work full time.  If there's no one here, I guess I should pull some weight financially.  Start saving to send the two future doctors to school, since that are THEIR plans at this time!  Who knows, maybe the two of them can help discover a cure for Leukemia!

Well, time to clean up my mess I made cooking dinner and after I have a babysitting job to do for Abigail and Hannah.  Those baby dolls of theirs sure do require a lot of attention.

Carrie

Took Abby for her 4 month check today since ending chemotherapy.  Blood counts are great and everything is in a normal range.  Low normal, but normal.

I'll be calling tomorrow to make the appointment to have her infusa port taken out.  I believe that there is beginning to be concern about it getting infected.  Better not push our luck with it.  Probably with in the next month it will go.  Abby's not happy about the matter, but doesn't have much choice.

She lost one of her front teeth a couple days ago.  I can't believe that the tooth fairy now brings $2 for one tooth!  Talk about inflation!  There's a couple new pictures in the photo album.

Carrie

Sorry I haven't updated much lately.  Guess there's not too much to update.  Abby is doing great.  She finished Kindergarten last week.  I can't believe my baby girl is a first grader now.  (She keeps reminding me that she's not a baby anymore and I keep reminder her that even when she is 50, she will be my baby girl.  Hannah as well!)

We've been doing a lot of playing outside and catching up on time that it feels like I missed while she was in school.  Both the girls are catching up on their fighting as well.  I'm not sure how many fights I broke up today.

Abby is just about to lose another tooth.  Her top front tooth is just hanging on.  She's been afraid that she will swallow it, but I can't get her to let me pull it.  Hannah would pull it for her too, if she would just let her.

Not too much else going on.  We've had one thunderstorm, after a tornado watch, after tornado warnings here lately.  That's all it's done for about a week now and I have to say, my nerves are about shot from it!  I know if we are all asleep that we will never hear the tornado sirens, so I just stay up until the radar is clear.  It's starting to wear me down!  It's 1:20 in the morning right now and I'm trying to occupy myself until this one gets by.

Abby goes back for her 4th check up after finishing chemo therapy on Thursday.  Please pray that all is well.  I've noticed now that there is down time and that I no longer have to be as strong, that I'm having such a hard time with all of this.  Honestly, I don't understand why kids, or anyone for that matter, has to go through this.  I know that God has a reason for everything, but the memories of my baby being so sick is hard for me to handle these days. 

Hannah was only 1 1/2 years old and I have a hard time remembering her at that age because there was so much going on. (I am embarassed about this, but I guess we did what we had to do at the time.)  I love my girls so much and I would do anything for them!  Maybe what I am feeling is normal, I don't know, I just wish that we could get on with our lives and be normal.  I wish that when the quiet time comes that I didn't sit and think about how sick she was, or how terrified that I am that it will come back.  I wish that I could know that all was going to be ok and enjoy every moment of life.  No worries...

Maybe I'm beginning to be a little human again.  Seems like I had lost feeling and just took each moment as it came and removed myself emotionally.  I guess eventually it catches up, right?  I normally don't ask people to pray for me, because I'm suppose to be tough and have faith in God to take my worries and give me peace, but I need prayers.  I feel like I've not been a very good mommy lately because I'm so bummed all the time.  So please, continue to remember me and James in your prayers as well.

Also, continue to pray for healing for Brooke and Melissa who are both having relapses with leukemia.  Abby's school secretary who is having a relapse with a very rare type of cancer and has 3 children, and a good friend of our family that has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma.  He is a single father of a teenaged daughter.

Sincerely,

Carrie

Been very busy around here.  Quite the normal life we've been living....rather strange.  Not to much to say actually other than all is well.  Abby is still upset that school is almost over.  I think it is incredible how much she loves learning and school.  I hope it stays that way.

 Well, gotta get Hannah to the eye doctor to make sure her peepers are working the way they are suppose to.

Continue to remember Brooklyn and Melissa in your prayers as they are fighting Leukemia again.

Carrie

Abby had track and field day at school yesterday.  Both of the girls had so much fun.  I had a blast as well.  Abby came in second in one of the races and was very excited to get a ribbon.  This week we are off to the Dairy Farm and the zoo.  Should be fun and Mrs. Diser is letting Hannah go as well since I don't take her to day care.  We just have to follow the bus, that's fine with me since I tend to get sick on them....

Abby was so tired by the time she got home yesterday that she laid down in her comfy spot on the couch and says "mommy, I'm too tired to even go upstairs and lay down".  She was asleep one minute later.  It's so fun to watch her run and act like the other kids!

Well, that's about it.  Please remember a friend of ours daughter Melissa.  She was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 11 and is now 16 and has had a relapse.  I know this is very hard on them.  Also, continue to remember Brooklyn as she's not been feeling very well this past week.

On a lighter note, my bestest friend and her husband have begun their adoption process this week!  I'm so happy for them!  Please pray for guidance and financial blessings during this process as it is incredibly expensive.

Carrie

P.S.  New pics in the photo album

I can't believe how fast time is going these days.  Abby only has 17 days of kindergarten left.  This is still a very touchy subject with her since she pointed out yesterday that 1st graders do not get snack!  The poor thing all teared up again.  I also became aware, yesterday, that next month on June 25th we are half way to Christmas.  UUUGGGHHHH!  I'm sure you all would like to thank me for pointing this out to you!  (Guess I opened myself up for some negative comments there.)

Abby goes back to the doctor next week.  Again, how time does fly these days.  I can't believe that it has been almost a month since the last visit.  She looks forward to going and it's all I can do to get her to leave now.  She would hang out with the nurses and Dr. Al-zein all day if she were allowed to.  I think that is incredible, since one would think she would hate that place.  Guess they are just part of the family now. 

My dad should be on his way home from the hospital.  I'm sure he will be very glad to be home (he's been there for 3 weeks now).  His back surgeries went great, they have his heart under control and he was even able to walk up some stairs at the rehab facility by himself without a walker yesterday.  Please continue to remember him as he still has about 5 months of recovery left.

Things around here are pretty quiet.  Finally, having some nice days and Abby was able to wear shorts to school today!  I still say that it is bunk when there are slight snow showers the last week of April!  (I didn't even realize that it had until James told me it flurried on him at work.)  James is working on edging the sidewalk and I guess I go back to packing boxes.  I've been kind of lazy the last week and haven't accomplished much of anything.  Well, guess that's about it.  Not much to update, but that's the way I like it.  ABBY IS DOING GREAT!

Thanks again for all your prayers and please continue to pray that her body is healed and that she will never have to experience this again.  Also, continue to remember Brooklyn and the other Abby in your prayers.

Carrie

Well, I think all is well around here.  Abby is down to only 23 days left of Kindergarten.  I can't believe how incredibly fast that went by!  She was very upset yesterday when I told her that because she loves her kindergarten teacher so much!!!

She is still doing very well in school.  Considering some of the side effects from the chemo therapy was learning disabilities, SHE IS DOING GREAT!  She sat down night before last and read Green Eggs and Ham to me.  It wasn't memorized, she actually read it.  I had to help her only a couple times!

Other than that, not much going on around here.  Just ready for some nice warmer days.  I can't believe that its the end of April and it still in the 30's.  I'm beginning to feel that it is going to be cold forever!

Daddy is doing great from his surgeries and will be moved to a rehab facility as soon as a bed opens up.  Please continue to remember him since he has about a 6 month recovery period.  He may even get to go home this weekend.

Also, continue to remember Brooklyn in your prayers.  She didn't have a very good day yesterday.  Another little girl named Abby, that was diagnosed about 6 months before our Abby, will be having her port taken out Friday.  Please remember her in your prayers.

Well, guess that's it for now.  There are new pics in the photo album, taken yesterday, be sure to check them out.

Carrie

Abby had a great birthday party!  I think she was a bit overwhelmed!  Hannah is fairly confused now because she thinks she is four already.  Not very interested when I tell her that she is still 3.  Will upload some new pics later on today.

Please remember daddy in your prayers.  He had the first of his series of back surgeries Wednesday and has been experiencing some heart problems.  This needs to be under control by tomorrow so he can have the second surgery Wednesday.

Hope everyone has a great one.

Carrie

Well, today was Abby's 6th birthday.  I can't believe that she is six already!  Seems like only yesterday, I looked at that precious little face for the first time thinking what a wonderful blessing to have!  I didn't realize the journey we would face, but as I look at her beautiful little face again today, I realize again what a WONDERFUL BLESSING SHE IS!  I'm so grateful for everyday that I have with my kids.  I want to thank each of you again for being her prayer warriors!

She had a monthly check up yesterday and everything was great.  Counts are still low compared to a normal kid.  ANC was 1660 and it was the first set of blood count we have received for years that EVERYTHING was in a normal range.  Very low normal, but normal non the less.

Well, better get back to work cleaning for the birthday party tomorrow.  Blah....I really can think of things I would rather be doing!

Last time I updated I asked prayer for a little girl named Brooklyn Durham.  I am asking that you all pray for her and her family.  Her temperature has spiked tonight to 103.4.  The doctors can not find an infection, virus, etc... At this time, they believe that it is the leukemia.  She has been in a severe amount of pain.  This is her 4th relapse and they need a miracle.

See her page at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brooklyndurham

Carrie