Catching up ...

Hello Everyone,
Well, mommy and grandma have been pretty busy and haven't been able to help me to update you on what is going on since my last post. Just to update you on things, I got out of Children's Hospital Thursday, April 9th. This picture was taken the day I was released. I was smiling because I finally was taken off my "leash" (IVs) and free to roam on my own.

I have been getting my chemo each week and things are going pretty good. I have to admit that I am having more "grumpy" days, but I still have a lot of good days too.

Right now I am back at Children's Hospital. Monday was "Chemo Cocktail" day, and my counts were good so I got my treatment. I was suppose to come home today, but my stomach got upset, and I threw up. When that happens, I have to stay at the hospital for another 24 hours without throwing up before they will let me go home. Pray that I get to feeling better and my stomach settles down so I can eat and be able to go home.

Some Good Things I Got to Do
Easter Sunday was great fun for me... I got to spend the day with most of my cousins at my grandma's. We had a big Easter Egg Hunt -- see the pictures the below to see me and some of my cousins when the hunt started and we all took off looking for eggs. (Note the fun we had drawing with chalk on paw-paw's patio before the hunt!)

In the next picture, you can see all our eggs we found -- I was asking Ms. Margaret to help me open one of my eggs. In the last picture, I am showing daddy and paw-paw all the candy I got out of my Easter eggs, which I piled up in my skirt. They all thought it was funny... I just wanted to show them all the candy I got!! Notice that daddy has no hair, just like me. Daddy shaved his head when my hair fell out to be just like me. Paw-paw doesn't have any hair either. His has been that way for a while, so I guess he just lost all his hair just because he is paw-paw... he he he. Love you paw-paw!

Last week I got to go and pick strawberries. Mommy and daddy made arrangements with Ms. Heather's Strawberry Patch so we could go at the end of the day after everyone else left so I could pick strawberries. This is something mommy, daddy, my brothers and I get to do every year. It is a lot of fun.

Daddy helped me pick the berries -- I wanted to pick them all but daddy told me I have to look at them and pick the ones that are red and ready to be picked.

As you can see, we did get lots of big, beautiful, luscious strawberries!! They sure were yummy. Mom made me strawberry shortcake and boy was it good.

Well, that about wraps it up for now. That gets you up to date on the last two weeks, which I said was busy. I will leave you with my latest picture, me on the pink pony at the strawberry patch.

Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes. We will get a re-evaluation of the tumor in three weeks. We are all praying that the tumor will have shrunk even more than what the doctors expect. In fact while we are asking God, let's ask big -- that the tumor is gone!!!

Love and kisses to you all,
Amelya

Still at Children's Hospital

Hi everyone,
Well I thought I would get to go home today, but it looks like I will be at Children's for at least a few more days. Today my white cell count was low -- almost no white cells at all. The doctors are giving me some different medicine to try to get my counts up higher.

In addition, I have sores in my throat, making it hard for me to drink or eat. The doctors are giving me some new medicines to take care of that. They really want me to eat. I am trying but it is hard.

I know Daddy was disappointed that he couldn't bring me and mommy home today. But we did get to play together all day. I sure did have fun playing with him.

I will let you all know how it goes, and when I get to go back home again. Soon I hope -- I miss my brothers!

Love and kisses,
Amelya

Not Feeling Too Good Today

Hi Everybody,
Well, I am not feeling too good today. Early this morning (4am) I woke mommy up because I had a fever. Mommy said my fever was 102F. So mommy and daddy brought me back to Children's Hospital.

The doctors are not sure yet why I have a fever, but my temperature was back to normal this afternoon. Maybe it will stay that way.

In the meantime, they did decide that I needed more blood. So I got some blood this afternoon. This makes the 4th time I have gotten blood since I was diagnosed in February. Again, thanks to all of you who have donated to make sure that I have the blood I need!

The doctors said that I can still get my chemo treatment tomorrow, so that is good.

If anything changes, I will let you know. Thanks for all your prayers!
Love,
Amelya

No April's Fool ...

Hi everybody!

Yep, its no April's Fool here -- I am home again. I got my "chemo cocktail" on Monday night, and was released from Children's Hospital late last night. I am doing well and the doctors say my blood counts are good. As you can see, I am feeling pretty good today too! I am in the yard with my brother Nic. I was blowing bubbles and just having a good time playing with my brothers who just got home from school.

Thanks to everyone who has given blood on my behalf!
I really appreciate that you have taken the time to go to one of the Blood Mobiles or going to the Blood Center to donate on my behalf.

Best wishes and kisses,
Amelya