4/10/12 Marielle surgery update

Just a quick update .. Marielle didn't get into surgery until around 3:00 this afternoon... and everything went well . She now has iv's in both hands , one for chemo and the other to draw blood . Looks like she is in for a while this time as her anc numbers are still so low and they won't let you go until they are at 500 .. hers are at 40 .. so i think they are ready to just kamp in and make the best of it ! Thanks once again for all the prayers .

Pat& Buttercup

Marielle update on infection

this was from Marielles mommy .. her latest update from her journal


O.K. So they found out what the bacteria in her blood is and have it under control. The problem is that if it comes back it will attach to any foreign hardware and that means her port. Tomorrow morning surgery is scheduled to remove the port and it will be replaced with a PICC line in her right arm. They are hoping to schedule the bone marrow test this Friday but that all depends on her ANC recovering, today it's only 40.
She will get platelets first thing in the morning then on to surgery. She is doing fabulous, we talked this through and she understands. Her friend Julianna had a PICC line, so she has seen one and can relate it to someone she knows. In a month or two they will place a new port in the other side of her chest but we are just focusing on today.
Andrea stayed with her all day and then Marielle asked if she can spend the night with us tonight, so we've had a girls night and the boys are at home having a boys night.
While I was home today Marielle and Andrea had the princess treatment, they got hand massages, nails painted, received magic wands, American Girl paper dolls and other little goodies. I was able to spend a little time with Hudson before I came back up tonight, he was excited to have Dad all to himself tonight, so didn't mind me leaving.
Now I am ready for some sleep, which is hard to come by lately, but I'm sure once I close my eyes I'll pass out.
I'll update again tomorrow after the surgery. Thanks for all of your prayers!! xoxoxoxo

4/9/2012 Marielle update

Well .. Marielle almost made it a full month without any over night hospital stays but Friday night she started running a fever so off to the hospital. Looks like she has an infection in the blood so she will be in for at least a week. Yesterday was a very busy day .. she helped Miss Sandra fill 100+eggs for the easter egg hunt! They had a big party , and her whole family spent the day with her . She was exhausted last night but in good spirits ! We thank you all for the prayers and support , we know she will get through this .. it is just such a long road ! Happy Easter everyone !

And a Big Thank You for all those bootiful eggs on my page !

Mommy & the Butter bunny girl !

Marielle update 3/31/2012

We are thankful to report that nothing to out of the ordinary (if there is such a thing when going through treatment for cancer ...) has happened in the past week or so. Marielles number still drop , she still gets chemo , platelets , and blood .. but her mood has been very up and she is studying , and doing her crafts. They will be scheduling another bone marrow test to see if the cancer has gone into remission yet , but we will let you know when that will be . Her appetite is still good , she has gotten to visit a few friends .. so for all that the baby has to go through things are some what normal this past week ! THANK GOD !

Now a wee bit of news about me... I have been feeling so good this past week and boy does mommy cherish times like these... i haven't shown any interest in toys for at least 2 years .. and i even grabbed a toy mommy was packing up to send to a pal ... mom was shocked.. i think i even shocked my self ! We have been going for stroller rides every evening , and i have been sleeping all night which i have never done in the 7 years since mom adopted me ! so for whatever reason .. we are so THANKFUL ! Mom says i have spring fever ! what ever we hope it continues for a long time !

Hoppy Easter everyone !

da Butter bunny girl !

3/17/12 MY FOOT SPA AND AN UPDATE ON MARIELLE

FIRST WE MUST TELL YOU THAT THIS HAS BEEN MARIELLES BEST WEEK SINCE SHE HAS STARTED TREATMENT FOR HER LEUKEMIA .. MAYBE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AND THE GOOD WEATHER WE ARE HAVING .. BUT WHAT EVER WE ARE SO GRATEFUL ! WE ARE ALSO HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT HER MOMMY AND DADDY MEET WITH HER TEAM OF DOCTORS AND SURGEONS AND IT LOOKS AS IF THEY WILL POST -PONE REMOVING HER KIDNEY FOR NOW . .. HALLELUJAH !!!!! LOOKS LIKE ALL THE PRAYERS ARE WORKING !!!

NOW HERES THE SCOOP ON MY FOOT SPA.. HAVE YOU EVER HAD A FOOT SPA??? WELL I HAVE BEEN CHEWING MY FEET LIKE CRAZY AND MOM SAID IT WAS PROBABLY JUST ALLERGIES... SO SHE SAID * BUTTERCUP LET ME GET A GOOD LUCK AT THOSE FEET.. * AROUND THE BASE OF MY TOES WERE ALL CRUSTY AND ON ONE TOE I HAD A PURPLE LOOKING LIKE BLOOD BLISTER TYPE /SORT OF THING.. SO YOU KNOW WAHT MOM DID .. RIGHT OFF TO THE VET .. DR.T LOOKED AT ME TOES AND SAID .. I HAVE A MILD FUNGAL INFECTION ... SO NOW I HAVE A FOOT SPA BATH 2 TIMES A DAY WITH EPSOM SALTS .. I MUST ADMIT IT IS VERY SOOTHING AND HELPS WITH THE ITCHING .. HE CHANGED MY ANTIHISTAMINE .. AND IT IS GIVING ME SOME RELIEF! MOM ASKED HOW DID I GET THIS AND DR. T SAYS IT COMES FROM LICKING MY FEET .. LIKE A YEAST INFECTION ... SO IF I WANT TO LICK MY PAWS I GO HIDE .. HHEHE.. BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR MOM TO FIND ME ! MOM WILL POST PICS SOON OF MY HOME CREATIVE SPA !!

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE ! HAPPY S. PADDYS DAY !

PAT & O'BUTTERCUPPY !

3/8 2012 A great day !

First .. let us say that Marielles first day home was super duper !!! She posted in her journal at least three times herself !!!!.. was , eating like crazy and really enjoying being home ! It was a great day ! Second... it was like spring here, upper 60's and beautiful. Buttercup got to go for a wheelie ride in her stroller and really enjoyed being out of her yard ! We came home and she got a bath .. but the amazing thing is she didn't nap at all ...all afternoon .. which was a first in a long while ... it was 10:00 pm and she was still walking around wagging her tail not even tired.. we haven't seen that in so long ... mom was thinking .. are you ever gonna go to sleep !! finally around 10:30 she finally went to sleep ... but she still was up at her 4:00 a.m. time .. soon as the time changes it will be 5:00 AM before she gets up LOL !!!! anyways .. looks like everyone had a great day yesterday ! Maybe it was the weather changing ! you know SPRING FEVER !

HUGS,
PAT & BUTTERCUP

3/6/2012 HOME SWEET HOME !!!

Finally Marielle is home .. her numbers really jumped today .. her ANI ( immune system) was 595 and her platelets were 57,000... woohooo !! we keep telling her it was the chinese food we took for dinner on Sunday evening .. LOL !!! what ever , we are so happy they are finally home .. hopefully we can keep her there !
Thank you all so much for the continued prayers .. we know this is a long road and she isn't the first .. but it is the first in our family ! What hero's these kids are that are battling cancer ! AMAZINGLY STRONG !

Love,
Pat & Buttercup

3/5 More good news !

woohoo Marielles number shot up today to over 300 !!! yipppeeee.. looks like home is in the near future ! Thanks for all the prayers .. we will continue to keep everyone posted !

Hugs,
Pat & Buttercup

3/4 Marielle update

So better news.. Marielles numbers are coming up .. Her ANI is 118 .. better than 18 but not good enough to go home..they want it to be 200 and they are most comfortable with it around 500... so a few more days in the hospital . Tonight mommy and daddy took chinese food for dinner to the hospital per Marielles request .. and boy what a buffet they had .. Marielle ate very well , was talkative and laughing !! wohooo !!! she even wanted to walk to take a plate of food to her new friend the guard that checks every visitor in and out of the pediatric ward. It was the most walking se had done since being admitted 10 days ago .. on the way back her little hip gave out on her and she feel to her knees .. it really scared her and so she was crying...she didn't hurt herself and we had her laughing in no time ! ..as we left she was asking for her night time medication which she says she hates to take,.. but she knows it is fighting to make her better , because she wanted to go to sleep .. She is a CHAMP , OUR HERO ! Keep the prayers coming !

Love you all,
Pat & Buttercup

2/29/2012 Marielle update

Marielles numbers aren't rebounding so she is in isolation ..they have pushed back her scheduled chemo in the spine for tomorrow to Friday .. Only if her numbers start to come up! I'm sure many of you know what we are talking about.. She is sleeping a lot , and is in discomfort with a few sores in her mouth . ... So Popsicles are good , as is ice cream or milk shakes ! No idea as to when or if she will be allowed to go home ...Thank you all for the continued prayers ..god Bless you all and we will continue to update !

Pat & Buttercup