bear buddy

Sometimes all I need is a hug from my big bear friend at Living Well to make my worries float away….
 

fun at clinic….over!

I felt a little like this today when I was at clinic….loopy…..tired…..kooky….and I am so relieved "the fun" is over.  It was a doosy of a day complete with chemo in my port….chemo in my spine….and my first dose of steroid for a week.   Not sure I will be smiling like this tomorrow but I certainly hope so!  And actually there were some "fun things" that happened when I was at my home away from home.  More to follow :)
 

patiently......waiting......

The anticipation is making me a little crazy but as you can see from this picture at the apple orchard....apples seem to have a zen effect on me.  Well, maybe not the apples....but definitely the apple donuts! 
So, in case you haven't heard, my fun day at clinic (aka...spinal tap and lots of yucky stuff!) got moved to this Thursday.  Sadly, there are some new kids at clinic (newly diagnosed) and the docs need to spend more time with them and give them their treatments before I can get mine.  Totally understandable.  Been there...done that.
So, this time on Thursday, you can send me some "good feeling, happy, zen, apple doughnut" thoughts as I will be having my spinal tap.  I am a little nervous about it and keep asking my Mom when clinic is.....so will be really glad when it is over.

 

facing my fears

To be truthful, jumping off the high dive is not that scary compared to having cancer.  And on Monday I will have another spinal tap, which does freak me out a little bit.  It never used to bother me (or maybe I just didn't really know what was happening) but now that I don't get them that often, they seem a little more scary.  Plus, I can't eat or drink anything for like 6 hours before my procedure and Mom has to take me out of school for it (let's just say she is not too happy about that!).  I also start my monthly dethamethasone (aka…icky steroid!) burst for one week.  I have a feeling I won't be feeling too great at the beginning of the week but I am hoping I am feeling back to myself by the weekend.  A girl has to be ready for a fun weekend!
 

 

tea with the dermatologist

See this fun rash I have on my face?  Well, the docs at clinic had NO idea what it was and so they told me I needed to go see a dermatologist.  But not just any dermatologist….one of the only pediatric dermatologists in the area.  And boy, was she hard to get into see.  But after much begging and pleading from my friend, Miss Kathy, at clinic (think Oklahoma!), I was able to get in to see her.
And she was a hoot!  Funny, SO nice, and really upset that my Mom had any trouble getting an appointmnet to see her in the first place.  One of her nurses liked me so much, she brought this cute "paint your own tea set" to me and made me promise I would let my sister help me paint some of the pieces.  How nice!  Presents at the dermatologist?  Who would have guessed?
So…..you might ask….get to the point of the whole story!  What is the funky rash on my face (and arms…and legs….and neck…..)?????
Eczema folks.  Plain and simple.
And apparently it is pretty common with kids who are immunosuppressed….lucky me!
Maybe I will bring my new tea set in next time I see her and we can have tea and talk skin problems of 6 year olds on chemotherapy.... ;0
 

 

the good ole' days

Before leukemia struck…..there were happy times, lots of hugs and smiles, and wonderful memories…..
 

 

 

And after nearly two years of treatment for this awful disease, lots has changed but....we are still smiling, hugging, and making even more wonderful memories.  

 

 

 

"A good friend is like the sun in the sky . . . You may not always see her, but she’s always there."
~author unknown

and the blue fairy says…..

It's back to chemo for me!  My ANC went from 200 to 500 in one week and so I am back on my oral chemo (which I take every night).
Let's hope the fairy puts a good word in for me to keep my counts up…up…up!
 

The yellow ribbon

In case you haven't heard.... September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month..and sadly, we are very aware of it as our little Chloe continues to successfully fight leukemia.  We are incredibly grateful for the money and research that has been put into fighting this disease, so that Chloe has a fighting chance.  One of the oncologists that takes such good care of Chloe also has an amazing foundation called the Cure It Foundation.

www.cureitfoundation.org

Please check it out and consider helping out in someway.  "Together we can Face It...Fight It...and Cure It!"

summer at the theater

I was lucky enough to see two awesome shows this summer downtown.  Shrek the Musical and the Jungle Book were both great shows….funny….exciting….and totally enjoyable. And Sally really enjoyed them, too :)
 

 

 

 

sweet! sweet! sweet!

Nothing like waking up to this sweet…sweet…sweet message from a dear friend!!
 

What is normal?

This was the conversation I had with my Mom the other night when she was asking me to take my chemo pills, " Mom, why do you always treat me like I am a normal kid?
Mom said, "Well, because you are a normal kid, Chloe."
And then I said, "But I don't know any other kids who have to take all of the icky meds I have to take each day."
I think I surprised my Mom when I said that because I had never said it before, although I had been thinking about it for awhile.
But, I actually am kind of glad that my family and friends treat me like I am "normal". 
Just don't tell anyone I said that..... ;)
 

suspended

This was actually a fun jumping activity I did at the Renaissance Faire a couple of weeks ago but what is not so fun is that my counts are way….way….way down.  I wonder if it is from all of that jumping?  Nah…I don't think so and the docs really don't know why but for now, I am not going to have any chemo until my Mom and I go back in next week to get my blood rechecked.  My ANC went from 1800 two weeks ago to 300 yesterday.  ouch!  That does kind of explain why I have been so tired and kind of sad/cranky.  We thought it was just trying to get adjusted to a new school year (and going all day to school) but it all makes more sense now.

 

all fun and games

I had my usual visit to clinic yesterday to check my blood counts.  But my very favorite doc was there and he wore this note that I made him on his shirt for awhile.  He is always up for a laugh….smile….hug….joke….or just being sillly.  That is why I like him so much!
He also asked me if I would like to be on TV.  Well, you don't have to ask me that twice!!!  The Cure It Foundation (of which he is head of) is launching a Cure it channel on the internet and so he wants me and my sis and bro to think of something we might want to do on TV.  He is such a hoot.  I will keep you posted on that exciting update….
 

fairy friends forever

 "There's nothing more calming in difficult moments than knowing there's someone fighting with you.  Be a true friend."
Mother Teresa

lots of firsts

So, these pictures were from my first day of first grade and now I am oficially done with my first week of first grade.  That is a lot of firsts!  Aunt Kristi made the cool sign, my Mom and Dad gave me a cute outfit for my Amerian Girl Doll, Sally, I stood at the 1st grade door with my buddies and waited to go into my 1st grade class and I was excited but a little nervous, too.  Whew!  I have to tell you that I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed after the first week but I am lucky that I have an amazing teacher who helped me through it and lots of nice friends who always make me smile :)