February 11, 2015

Just wanted to send a special Thank You out to the 4K for Cancer Team who will be biking coast to coast across America in an effort to raise money to enhance the lives of young adults affected by cancer.

What an amazing organization. Thank you for being inspired to ride for Lexie and using her journey to fuel yours!

Keep us posted as the ride gets closer and post the link to your blog so we can follow you along the way.

Thank you for your support in the fight against cancer. Every Mile Matters.

Keep riding! xoxo

A Note from Lexie ... February 9, 2015

Whats up everyone Lexie here!

So it has been a pretty good few weeks. I was a little sick 2 weeks ago, but it was nothing really.

What was fun was getting to go home for a week. I wasn't very productive, but it was fun. Mom and I went furniture shopping and I think we picked out some pretty decent stuff. Dad and I saw Project Almanac, which was really good! I recommend it.

Lauren, Mia, Gabi, Mike and Morgan all came to visit me which was nice ... it's always good to see friendly faces!

My wig came which I was a little bitter about because I didn't look the same ... actually I haven't really seen myself in it but huge thanks to Christina Bos and her fam for coming over and trimming it up!

I have been on a Panda Express kick for some reason. Gabi, Mia, and dad are on their way down to Cinci right now and are leaving on Monday. Kal is coming on Saturday. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and presents! You guys rock! I spent the day with Gabi watching The 100, and the evening with the lovely Meyer family and Lauren.

Speaking of The 100, I got all caught up with that show in 3 days. Shoutout to Kristen for getting me hooked on that show.

Mom, dad, and Mack bailed out on my birthday and went to Disney on Ice (I know, shady) just kidding, I'm over it.

I'm getting my blood drawn tomorrow to see if I am well enough for chemo on Friday-Monday.

Can we talk about the Walking Dead? No spoilers, but I am pretty upset with that whole episode. Well, maybe not the whole episode, but the major parts.

Going back to my birthday gifts/cards, thank you to all the chemo angels for the cards, especially Stacy Person for the flowers and Kara Jacobs for those sweet cat socks. Also thank you to Taylor Landwer (miss you chi), the University of Mississippi Athletic Department, the Sladek clan, Zack Ross (write you soon), Lindsay Shulock, Erin Frawley, the Fox fam, Barbara Jane England, Anne Skinner, Peggy Talbot, Miss Mia Coda, the Lehner family (love you guys), a special friend for a wonderful necklace, the Fitzgerald family, Kim and Kurt Schuring, Grandma Johnson and Grandma and Grandpa Meyer (I will call all you guys soon!), the Meyers (call you guys soon too ahaha), and Caitlin and the Hair Couture Designs Team (you guys did a fabulous job on my wig! it's amazing). Oh and a very special shoutout to my beautiful sister kali reagan for her great valentines care package! Love you kal, you made mom and I cry!

Thanks for keeping up with us!

 

February 9, 2015

Getting blood drawn before packing up to head back to Cincinnati.

It's been a great week at home! Literally dreading going inpatient tomorrow for 3-4 days after having so much freedom this week. Will post more about our time at home, the arrival of Lexie's wig and her birthday celebration as soon as I have a moment.

Please pray for safe travels, tolerance to chemo and that Lexie's kidneys will clear the methotrexate freaky fast so we can be discharged sooner than later.

Yes, we are literally praying for "freaky fast kidneys"!

February 8, 2015

Happy 15th birthday Lexie!

February 7, 2015

If your out and about in Wauconda today...

February 3, 2015

Thank you to the Moenning family for the awesome edible arrangement this week, we were so surprised when it arrived ... enjoyed every bite!

Thank you Kara Jacobs, Stacey Pearson, Lucy Burgess, Mindy Trogel and Bettye McMillen for the cards and birthday wishes.

We are so grateful for all your love and support!

Best therapy! So grateful for good friends!

February 2, 2015

And the puking continues ... amazingly when Lexies not bent over the toilet her appetite is still pretty good and she's able to eat and drink to keep herself hydrated.

So, so glad to have a break from the leg shots for awhile. Had labs drawn today and Lexies blood counts were not good enough to start chemo tomorrow so her scheduled was pushed back a week.

As bummed as we were to have her schedule adjusted we were excited to get the green light to head home for a week of recovery.

Please pray for healing of Lexies bone marrow and protection from all infections.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We're home!

January 30, 2015

Another rough day of puking.

Lex did not like her breathing treatment at all so that medication (pentamidine) will now be switched to IV. She will also start receiving monthly infusions of IVIG to aid her immune system. And she's starting a low dose hormone to help deal with the hot flashes she's been battling.

Sunday is her last day of chemo leg shots until April. Thank goodness ... They're horrible!

My mom flew back to AZ today so Lexie and I are flying solo for a bit .... Lexie will have another spinal on Tuesday to get more chemo in her spine then be admitted for IV vincristine and a 24 hour infusion of methotrexate. 

Please pray for tolerance to the methotrexate, that Lexie will be discharged by Friday and feeling well enough to head home for the weekend to celebrate her birthday. 

Also prayers for her vomiting to resolve and renewed peace ... It's been a rough week.

January 29, 2015

Lexie spent a portion of the evening last night throwing up and isn't feeling so great this morning. Her Igg level dropped in half and I'm wondering if she will need to start on the monthly IVIG infusions like Mackenzie needed for immune support. That could be another insurance battle ahead. And unfortunately we just got word that our Medicaid application was denied.

So disappointed, but I'm not defeated. I will continue to cling to the cross and trust in Gods constant c...are and faithful provision. He IS trustworthy!

Mackenzie has been sick with upper respiratory symptoms for the past 2 weeks. Steve took her to the pediatrician this morning and she started back on breathing treatments for her lungs. Her lungs are fragile from the radiation she had in preparation for her bone marrow transplant so she gets this often. 

Praying we can nip it in the bud so it doesn't advance to pneumonia. 

Please continue to pray for us today, the sky is grey and gloomy and we could use some sunshine. Love you all!

January 28, 2015

Yesterday was rough,

Lexie was throwing up quite a bit but she bounces back so fast it amazes me.

Clinic today was uneventful, IV vincristine in her port and 2 leg shots of L-asperagenase.

Praising God for bone marrow that recovers quickly after getting beat up. Lexies labs look great and she should be ready to go inpatient on Tuesday for the "mother bag" of methotrexate as planned.

We got word today that Lexies wig is done and ready to be shipped. I can't fathom hand sewing all that hair! So excited to see it in person and praying that it fits perfect and looks natural. Also praying it helps her feel like the beautiful person she is! God is good!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

So I learned a few things about Lexies wig...

     1. She can swim in it.
     2. She can wash it, blow dry, curl and style it including braiding, bun or pony tail.
     3. Each strand of hair was hand sewn onto the cap.
She had so much hair that if the wig maker had to purchase the hair for her wig it would have cost $20,000.00 just to purchase the hair!

Luke 12:7 "And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows."