Home at last.

I can't even believe that we are in our home. It feels so surreal. I have been rushing around unpacking and doing laundry and just trying to adjust to the idea of being here. I want to hold it loosely since we could be re-admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and see this as a break and a gift, even if only for a moment. Regardless of whether this is for 2 days or forever we are amazed, stunned, joyful, and more thankful than we have ever been in our whole lives!

We had pizza to celebrate and are just trying to adjust. On Wednesday we will go to the outpatient clinic for a blood test. If the levels are still low or lower then she can come back home. If there is any kind of spike they will re-admit us. My mom, dad and Cynthia are all coming with me so that will be a huge help. They said that it will be a long day since we will get labs before our appointment and then have the appointment with the doctor. So we are going to pray that this is a miracle and that she is ok.

For those of you who understand medical speak I will write some of the main points from the discharge papers and if you want more e-mail me and I'll send it all to you. Admission Diagnosis: splenomegaly, r/o malignancy
Principal d/c Diagnosis: splenomegaly
WBC count upon admission was approx 190,000 and hemoglobin was quite low. Bone marrow aspiration showed 1% Blasts and increased eosinaphils (correct spelling finally)....Absence of the JAK2 Mutation and an absence of the BCR-ABL CML/All-type translocation (citogenetic test results). It was also felt that this was surely NOT any kind of acute leukemia. A certain diagnosis could not be made at this time, although it was felt that some type of malignancy and there was question of JMML or an eosinaphilic process. Over the hospital stay , the WBC count decreased to 60,000, but the splenomegaly remained a prominent feature. It was felt that by 4/17, although a diagnosis was not yet certain, nothing new was being done for Alivia's support in the hospital and that she was stable for discharge. She will be closely followed in clinic...

So they still don't know what we are dealing with. I am just so relieved for this time home. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed and wear different clothes (I only took 3 outfits to the hospital).

Thanks for today
Cards from the Millen Kids, Mary Ann and Joe Kisic (thanks for the personal experience story it was really helpful), Jill Piper, The Plesnickers, Scott and Ang Stolzfus, Lynn Bassler and Sandy and Ralph Jones (the gift was so great)

The purple Heff-a-lump from the Lovelands (Brandi K. you can tell Autumn that her prayer was answered and she got a purple elephant in the mail to play with..Thanks Heather, Chris and Cameron). The Panera gift card from The Newmans, the visit and Go Dog Go book and Dog from Jeremy, April, Lane and Ava Stolzfus. And the great painting from Joanne and Mike Allen (the other gift is more than we could even think to start thanking you for in a blog...We are so greatful and can't put into words how blessed we are).

Please continue to pray that God's glory will be displayed through a miracle. And that He will continue to give us the grace to get through this.

Also please continue to write notes to the nurses! They expressed how much it meant. You can send them to me and I'll drop them off when I am there. I thought of two more that I didn't name before (Winnie and Collette)I think that this is a great way to show them how important their job is and how much it means to not only us but those who love us.

We all feel like we've been on a roller coaster...not the end of the ride yet but a sort of break. We are exhausted (physically and emotionally) and just looking forward to a day of nothing tomorrow. Maybe a day at the park. Anything that will give us time to enjoy our God, each other and Alivia being home. Blessings and much thanks to all of you for continueing to walk through this with us. I will continue to post and hopefully continue to hear from all of you. It has been so wonderful to know that you are all praying for us so diligently.