Reese's No More Chemo Celebration

I love the Mary Bridge HemOnc clinic!!! We came for Reese's checkup today, and on her room it said "No More Chemo".  Reese skipped around the clinic the whole time singing "No more chemo".  It was sweet.  Then Reese got to pick a hat for her and her Dr, and everyone sang a song to her.  It was very special.  Reese received a certificate for completing her chemo, and a framed picture of her and Dr Irwin (who she now refers to as her friend who she loves). 

It was a special day and I had several conversations thanking the staff for being so great.  Our next appt is in a month, I can't describe how that feels.  We've gone every week for 24 weeks.  It's such a relief to know she is finished.  And yet bittersweet.  The patient in the room next door was an infant.  Yet again my heart was ripped out and ached for that baby and his/her parents. 

Thank you Mary Bridge, and particularly Dr Irwin and all the WONDERFUL nurses who have loved us so much!  You've have played a huge role in our life this year, and in Harper's whole life so far. 

CureSearch Walk

What a fun morning we had in Seattle.  All our friends and family made this such a special event for us by donating and walking with us to support Reese and all children affected by cancer.  Thank you to all for raising $3485.  Team Reese's Pieces came in 2nd place for overall money raised.  Awesome!  Although she wouldn't say her name on the microphone, she was so excited to receive her medal for being a child on treatment, and when she got the plaque for 2nd place in money raised.  Go Reese!

 

Reese gets her medal for being on treatment right now.

The Walk Starts!

Come here little peas...

So cute!

Uh Oh...she's mobile.

Well, she's slow.  But she'll get faster.  Harper is officially mobile.  I've heard of an army crawl, but never seen a face-plant scoot.  But that's how she does it.  Ella and I pulled out the game Mancala, and when she saw those little marbles, she was actually pretty quick about it!

Yikes, now what to do about all those little pieces in the house. 

No Surgery CELEBRATION!

We were shocked for quite awhile when the surgeon, Dr. Gaw, told us he wouldn't be operating on Reese.  Had we had the surgery, we would've been at the hospital for atleast a week!  With a baby.  Imagining Reese in pain after such a major incision and surgery was so scary.  But, God had other plans!

So, to celebrate we took the girls to the Great Wolf Lodge.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a hotel with an indoor water park.  Up here in Rainy-ville, an indoor water park is a pretty exciting thing.

Ella LOVED it.  Reese...well...she liked it.  She didn't go down any slides, not even the little kid ones.  But she did play in the water a lot.  They also have this game throughout the hotel that is best described as a big video game scavenger hunt using these magic wands.  No, we didn't play the game.  But we did get one of the wands so the girls could walk around the hotel making the animals talk and treasure chests open.  They had a great time with that too.  And the bed time story and show was a hit too, especially since Daddy stopped at the ice cream stand on the way!  All in all, it was a great family time.  And we actually got some sleep too. :-)

Harper in April

Here are just a few cute pics of our cutie pie.

Reese Battles Cancer

We are on week 5.  Some days you were hardly know Reese was undergoing chemo treatments.  She runs, plays, fights with her sister. Some days it's evident.  Maybe it's the sad droopy eyes, and the look of exhaustion.  Maybe it's the outburst because she can't tell us that she is feeling sick.  So far God has been so good to her and us.  Her nausea has been kept to a minimum.  We were able to stop the steroids after 1 week, so no more crazy out of control outbursts.  Heck, she hasn't even lost her hair yet, so maybe she won't. 

I am in awe of the strength of this little girl.  We always knew she was strong, but learned it on a whole new level as we watch her undergo poisoning.  She watches her IV goes in when she needs one.  She merely whimpers when her port is accessed.  She throws up, stands up and declares, "feel better".  Then goes on to start her day, no tears.  God has given Reese a spirit of fight.  A spirit that can take on any challenge the world puts in her way.  I pray she does so and learns how to lean on him during the times that she loses her fight and isn't sure how to make it through the day. 

I know she will do great for the next 17 weeks, and as we taught the girls to say, "kick cancers butt"!