I am a mom of a cutie pie (very biased). And I wanted to share my experiences with others (including my cuties grandparents, great-grandparents, numerous uncles and other relatives). I love being a mom and can't imagine doing anything else.Day -1
Today was a pretty relaxed "day-of-rest" for us. Livi got a transfusion of red blood cells and seemed pretty tired most of the day. The red blood cells perked her up a bit but still not as active as most days. We knew that this was what to expect but it is going to be hard to watch her not be herself. Here are some pictures from our day....
Here is a shot of the picture wall. It is started but there is so much empty space. Can't wait to see more photos up there. Livi walks up to them and points to faces she recognize and those she doesn't recognize we tell her who they are and she says "yea" as if she already knew that. She can pick out Jude cause he's been up there the longest and she walkes right up and says his name. Some of the pictures make her laugh. All of them make me smile. Keep them coming.
We had a masked visitor today. Can you figure out who it is? The masked visitor didn't stay long but was missing Livi so much that we scrubbed her within an inch of her life (with pyrell) and masked and gowned and kept her distance. We were so glad to see her even through the mask.
As I mentioned Alivia was really tired for a large part of the day. She took a long nap and then it took about an hour for her to really wake up. She was really cuddly with her stuffed animals. Here are a few shots of cuddly girlie.
Tomorrow is the "big day" but as far as I can tell it will be very very anti-climatic. At 11:00 they will come into our room with a large syringe full of the stem cells. It will look a lot like a blood transfusion only a little thicker. It will be defrosted in the room (which will make our room smell like creamed corn for a few days because of the preservatives). Then they will slowly push it into one of her broviac lines over a half hour or so. Thats it. No surgery, no anesthesia, no big hoopla. Just that. Then the waiting for engraftment begins. Her counts are already really low and will hit rock bottom over the weekend. Here are the numbers for all you nurses out there....WBC- 2.3, HGB- 7.3, HCT- 23.6, Platelets- 119, Neut%-99, ANC- 2277 pretty low already huh?!
Thanks for cards from the following people... Joann, Jim and Brooke Smith, Jude Garner (and fam...loved the photos), Matt and Viv (can't believe how long ago that one picture was taken. our house looks so different and Nicholas is so much older now!!)
Special thanks to Uncle Mike and Aunt Joanne for the DVD player. Love it and can't wait to use it. Perfect timing too. We'll use it during transplant to keep her occupied. Love you guys.
Please pray that the cells start to grow and engraft as soon as they can and that the mucusitis isn't too bad.
posted by Alivia's Momma @ 11:02 PM
37 Comments:
Thanks for all the updates and especially the pictures. I eagerly look forward to reading them each day, and am so thankful that God is seeing you through this time. He has given you such creative ideas to make the time there more bearable. I'm glad the physical part is not worse although I know it is not pleasant at all.
Did you know that if you do a Google search for Alivia Haughery, you get a lot of stuff?!! There are people praying everywhere and she's on tons of blogs. I wasn't on my regular computer and couldn't remember the blog name so I did a search and was surprised.
Praying for the growth and engrafting, and I know you said it's a "given" to get mucusitis, but I'm still praying that she won't get it at all. Love, Gina
Sent the Email and just had to come back to check blog once more. I feel better about going to bed havinh heard from you today. Blessings ! The usual hugs and kisses for little lambkin and her dear attendees.
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What is marmie doing awake this late???? I, too, needed to check for an update before sleeping. I am so glad to hear that everything is going fairly smoothly. Good luck with everything tomorrow. We'll be thinking of you.
Love,
Cousin Sarah
(the deleted comment was me) I was not pleased with my late night typing inability.
Love times a million,
Sarah
Emily,
Just writing to say hello. Gretchen Mocker is visiting Leah and I for the week-end:-) We will all be praying for a smooth transplant. love, Leslie M.
Livi will always remain the funniest baby on planet Earth, duh. I am continually reassured of God's grace and the fact that He will astound everyone with how great Livi has been doing and will do.
Uncle Aaron
GIGI! You better get yourself better, and get back to that hospital. Youn's got work to do.
Every day I wait for the new posting. "What happened today Lord? Did You answer my prayers as I had hoped, or did you do something far better." My prayers right now are that He would keep every little membrane in her mouth intact--- that those old doctors and nurses would look inside and say, "Hey! This isn't right. They look good!"
You're helping us so much, Emily. Watching the Lord at work in you and in Livvy is helping me and everyone else who reads your blog. Your regular details and updates-- We really need them. It's so difficult to pray when we don't know what you need. Thanks for making it possible for us to do the work we're supposed to be doing.
It's so good to be able to see her day by day. It's so good to be able to see you and your family. It keeps all of you close to our hearts.
Now for the engrafting. I don't know how that works, but we know the One who does, so I'll be up tonight praying for that.
We love you. Thanks for your great comment, Aaron.
kristi
James,Emily,Alivi & all the rest of the family,
I will be praying for the best!
May god give you peace and may you feel his loveing arms arround you. Father thanks for being with out little Alivia and please make this work. We are so looking forward to seeing her strong and healty.
Thanks for all the up dates.
Lois S
your pictures are such a blessing...keeping you in prayers!
laura m.
i am praying soooo hard for you!!
the pictures are totally cute, i love them all!!!
Praying
Christi
I AM PRAYING !
praying for livi this morning!
it was SO good to see your cheerful face and the crew peeking through the door. it really was a blessing to SEE a little glimpse of the grace that is covering you all! the livi crew is doing an amazing job.
May the miracle so many have been waiting for begin today! A new start for Livi! Praying!
I woke up this morning with my mind full of thoughts of little Alivia and went right to praying for her and the rest of you. I trust that God will give you His all-sufficient grace and strength for this day.
Rochelle
Continuing our prayers for all of you! May the Lord continue to show Himself faithful during this time of waiting.
Love ya's,
The Freeman Family
Here's to another "birthday"! I will be praying that everything goes smoothly today!
Natalie Murdick
I am praying that day zero, Livi's second birthday, goes very smoothly and that the cells start to grow and engraft immediately and that it is a wonderful day celebrating all that the Lord is doing. Happy Birthday Livi.
I am praying for you today(Friday). I will pray for all the things you asked us to pray for. I am still praying for the Lord to heal her. No one know what his plans are, but I am praying the they are to heal little livi. I am glad your mom got to come see her. I loved the pictures too. Livi looks too cute with all her stuffed animals. Give livi some hugs and kisses for me.
Love,
moriah
Praying!
thinking of you all and praying for the "big day"! especially praying for there to be the least amount of discomfort for your sweet girl.
love,
april stoltzfus
Livi was the first thing on my heart and mind this morning. Always praying and praying.
Love you much,
Les
Emily,
Thanks for posting all the pictures of Alivia...what a sweet, sweet face. We are praying.
Love,
Meghan Mellinger
Y'all are on my mind and in my heart continually. Have a great transplant day.
All my love,
Aunt Lisa
And card/pics are on the way :-)
Praying for a completely successful transplant!
Praying against the side effects!
Mary Ann K.
Thinking of you all so much today and praying for a sweet peace to fill your room!
Praying for you now.
Emily,
You are such a good mommy for your little girlie. We are praying for your family and especially for sweet Livi today.
Love,
Becky Howell
You know those Verizon Wireless commercials where the person with Verizon is standing and behind him/her is a throng of people? "That's my network."
Alivia must have "Verizon Spiritual." I can envision behind Alivia, James and Emily her network. It fills up the land and the heavens all rooting for you and lifting you up to the throne of the King.
Tom Bueche
the Lord laid Livi on my heart again and again today. I spent the morning at my hospital, seeing some doctor's and having tests. It's incredible to think that the Lord walked with you at your hospital today, too.
(from Leviticus 3)
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD...For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.
Wow. What a beautiful day. It is spring in Alabama too. I sit here with the door next to me open to soft cool breeze and sunshine pouring in. The comments I read today are profound. The thawing of the ground and of the stem cells....new Life being created by the Creator who delights in creating it! The spiritual "Verizon" network behind Livi as far as the eye can see, the verse from Leviticus... it's all true. Does anyone else see the parralel? God's transplant in us, His Lifeblood (Jesus) injected, grafted in, accepted into our weakened (sinful?) state, to be transformed into new Life, abundant and everlasting. I am praying that God would do in Livi (physically) these next few months what he will do in each of us spiritually alongside her as we hope and pray and believe.
Aunt Marcy
We're going to fill that picture wall if it's the last thing we do! We have something really special planned for you this weekend, but it's a surprise! Can't wait to hear how today went for you guys!
Love ya!
Julie
Love the pictures of Livi with her animals. I was able to also recognize Hannah and Nicholas on your wall! (I thought you'd recognize the picture of Nicholas from your St. Patricks Day party three years ago-I also thought he AND you living room changed a lot!)The pictures you post help us see what your room and world look like...so thankful for the blog!
We've been praying as a family everyday for you...will continue!
love, Viv
praying, praying, praying :-)
So happy to see Gigi where I know she loves to be. (with you)
What baby could be that cute in these circumstances? She is a hoot. Sleep well, we will all be anxiously awaiting the good news of this next phase.
Diana B.
This is a new message from the crazy mother of four, who has dial up and it kicks me of the internet. I did not know I sent you two messages in a row yesterday. I'm crazy, what can I say!
Thank you for telling us exactly what to pray for. John and I lift that beautiful little girl up to the Lord nightly. Try and get some sleep while she does, because when she gets better your in trouble. She has a lot of lost time to make up.
We love the pictures and will be sending you some. Sweet dreams!
Love and Prayers,
Kristy Scherf
well, i didn't have anything to say - just checking in to see how your day has gone and tp find your address, so when i went back to February to that post and realized the many prayer requests that He has answered i was so encouraged! He is at work, Emily!
praying for a good night and hope the day has gone well for Livi.
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