Day 23

Wednesday.   Brenna came home from school today with this picture.  She was supposed to draw her favorite memory from Christmas break.  We really did have a nice Christmas at the hospital, but my heart hurts that my children, all of them, are having to go through this difficult experience.  I know they are tough.  I'm counting on their resilience.

Labs today:
White blood cells:  .8  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.2  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  44  (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:   0  ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 22

Tuesday.  Match Day!!!  I had Bryant at his 5 year old check up with Dr. Villar when we got the call from Riley saying that the results from the Bone Marrow Match came in. (We have been waiting for almost 2 weeks!)  Dr. Kopp told him we had 2 matches!!!  Preston AND Bryant are perfect matches for Riley!!  What an incredible blessing!  The chances that a sibling will be a match is only 25%.  Those are not the greatest odds.  So... incredible that we got two!!  Riley said that the doctors and nurses were giving high fives all around!  Everyone was so excited!  I hated to miss all the excitement, but we had our own celebration with Dr. Roberts and Dr. Villar.  Bryant is a miracle in his own right.  When he was born and again when he was 6 weeks old, he beat the odds.  Dr. Villar treasures our boy because of the experience we had with him. 

After the appointment, Bryant went to Nana and Papa's house for the day and I headed over to the hospital.  We were so excited about the match that we chatted with doctors and nurses and forgot to get any pictures for the day.  But what a wonderful day it was!!! We feel so greatly blessed for this miracle for Riley!!

Labs today:
White blood cells: .8  (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.4  (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets:  16  (normal 150 - 425)   one unit transfused
ANC:  0   ( < 500 = severely neutropenic) (normal 2,000 - 5,000)

Day 21

Monday.  Riley is doing well besides a funny tummy.  He was feeling nauseous most of the day.  Still hangin in tough though. The doctor gave him a patch that sits behind his ear.  We'll see if that does the trick... His friend Jon Ross came to visit with his siblings, one of which had leukemia as a child.  It is so fun for Riley to have visitors!  What good friends he has!! 

Here Riley is on his walk.  Today he did 20 laps.  10 going one direction and 10 going the other.  Just spicing it up a little :)

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.8 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.4 (normal 13.5 - 17.5) (received 2 units)
Platelets: 26 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 8 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 20

Sunday.  Happy New Year!
What a weird way to start out a new year... but what perspective we have already on what is truly important and what can go by the wayside!! 
We started out the day by watching church on skype.  Brother Weiss has set us up with that for all 3 hours.  What a blessing!

The Dixons stopped by on their way to Texas.  They are moving there.  Then we did the regular, ... take medicine, read, puzzle.  Talk with doctors, nurses, watch espn.  The usual.  Then we started to get a flood of visitors.  As long as they are healthy, Riley loves to see friends and loved ones.  His friends stopped by with his favorite salt and vinegar chips.  Ernest, Kyle, Kayla and Ethan (and Sarah on skype- she stayed home with a cough).  Kyle's mom drove them over and was so wonderful to stay and let them hang out for a while.

Lillian Norris, principal of our school, came by.  I always enjoy talking to her as she is full of positive things to say!  I do feel such support from our community.  Then Aunt Renee came by with Madie and Trent.  They came bearing the gift of xbox!  They are letting Riley use an extra xbox that they have, along with many games.  Riley is so loved!  Trent and Riley have many games lined up!!  Awesome!!  Then our friends the Tarkets came by.  How lucky are we to be surrounded by such love and support!  Riley then had his shower, room cleaned and more medicine.  The usual nightly events.  He is a little on the worn out side now and has decided to relax, watch a show and go to bed. He has decided to start watching "24" on netflicks.  Vince and I were quite addicted to that show awhile back.  That will keep him busy.

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.8 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.5 (normal 13.5 - 17.5) (received 2 units)
Platelets: 35 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 10 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 19

Saturday.  Fever finally broke early this morning.  Nothing has grown in the culture.  Yay!  Looks like his body is just freakin out because of the fact that he doesn't have white blood cells.  Still on antibiotics though, and will continue until he starts to produce white blood cells.  Feeling much better today.  Just a bummer to now be hooked up to the IV all the time.  Riley is such a great water drinker that besides chemo, he was not hooked up to the IV for almost 2 weeks. 

Then some friends stopped by.  So awesome!!  Susannah, Cheyanne and Avery.  They brought Eegees.  So nice!! 

Preston and Papa went to the U of A bball game.  A friend of Vince's game him tickets for Riley.  Of course Riley could not go, so Papa and Preston enjoyed the game.  They hung out in the VIP room and everything.  Good times.  Riley was a very good sport.  He was happy for Preston.  Good brother.

Papa and Preston stopped by here after and told him all about it.  Then Vince and the kids all came by.  It was great to see them since they have been gone this whole week. After a while Vince took the kids home.  They were worn out, and so were we.  Riley and I celebrated New Years with a horn blower and a wish maker given to us by the child life staff.  I bet you all can guess our wish and hope for the new year! ---Here's to 2012... The year to knock out cancer!!

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5) (received 2 units)
Platelets: 42 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 42 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 18

Friday.  Overnight Riley spiked a fever.  It started about midnight and has lasted all day.  They immediately took a culture to see if anything would "grow" in the lab.  They started two broad and heavy hitting antibiotics, just in case the fever is due to an infection.  Now we wait.  Even with medication, Riley's temp reached 104 degrees for awhile today.  It has been scary.
I sit here and wait and pray. 

Labs today:

White blood cells: 0.4 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 9.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 24 (normal 150 - 425) (one unit transfused)
ANC: 8 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)



Day 17

Thursday.  Riley is not feeling the greatest.  His hemoglobin is low, so a transfusion is on the books for today.  (Hang in there Riley!)

Later tonight we did "facetime" on our iphones with the Las Vegas gang.  My kids have been having a great time with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  Vince is such an amazing dad!  He is keeping life as normal as possible for our kids. 

Labs today:

White blood cells: 0.7 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 7.8 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)  (2 units transfused)
Platelets: 32 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 14 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)