Easter Sunday

We had our break from the hospital and it went well. It was nice to be with everyone and so nice to be in the Booker's home (THANKS A TON). Cynthia made a great meal and we all had fun quizzing each other and just laughing in general. We also got some great pictures of the cousins playing in the yard. It was so nice to be out and about. We also had a bit of time when we came back that she didn't have to be hooked up to the IV so we went down to the play room and let her cruise around. She has been doing that with the IV but its so much easier without.

Tomorrow the medical drama begins again...or does it. They have to discuss when they can fit in her surgery. She will be having a "port" installed. That is a line that can stay in for about a year and is a direct line to a vein so that they can always get a blood draw or medicine in without sticking her a bunch of times. There are two types...one that has 2 tubes that come out of the skin and are always visable and another that is a small disc under the skin that isn't visable and is less likely to get infected. I think that the under the skin kind would be easier for her since she's so little and unable to understand that she can't pull on the tubes. But they have to see what the surgeons can do. While she is sedated they will also do another bone marrow aspiration/biopsy and possible a lymph node biopsy although they aren't sure if they will be big enough to get out or is it will be really hard to get one. They are doing all this to test again for the different kinds of leukemia they already ruled out. just covering all the bases. I am fine with the covering of the bases but also shocked at the ease with which I now discussing cutting my baby. 9 days ago I would have had heart palapitations if you mentioned Alivia and surgery in the same sentence. Now I find myself nodding along and agree to it. Its the best thing for her just such shift in our lives (obviously).

Pray that the white blood cell count continues to drop (69 thousand today...lowest count yet). that her organs remain great, that her spleen shrinks, an average persons is the size of their fist (imagine a baby fist) and hers goes from her ribs to below her diaper line. It is also extremely hard. They say it is packed with white cells. Pray for a positive diagnosis and that she won't suffer through harsh treatments.

Thanks for today.....
The Bookers for all the generosity they have showed us and our families (Cory talk to Bill about the food....)
The Millens for coming to visit and bring such a cute book for Alivia
The Kings for the goody bag (alivia loves opening gifts so much we just keep putting everything back in for her to open again and again.)
The Almengores for the cute picture, the great balloon (Livi points and laughes), the basket-o-fun and the heartfelt words. Bri you are so thoughtful.
the Cranmers for the books. They are so fun.
Cynthia for the Hedgehog and the yummy lunch
Uncle Andrew and Uncle Aaron for the easter basket
Mom and Dad for everything....but today for the singing frog.
Cards from Jim and Jean McClements and Karlyn Sentz
And the Hospital for the Easter Basket and Easter Pass. We feel so blessed that this is the hospital God has us in. We are taken care of in so many ways. Truly a blessing we didn't expect.

If you would like to collect the tabs from cans of soda and bring them or send them to us they collect them and get money for the children's hospital activites and the Ronald McDonald room stuff. They got over 12 thousand dollars to help support the families of children in the hospital last year. Just another way we are being blessed by the hospital.