December 19, 2008

6 Days until Christmas!

Date------Day----WBC----ANC--------Hgb--------PLT---- Transfusions
4 Dec------93----4.4------3,800-------9.2--------196------------N/A
5 Dec------94----3.5------3,400-------9.3--------170------------N/A
6 Dec------95----3.9----Unknown----9.9--------175------------N/A
8 Dec------97----2.9------2,600------9.8--------106------------N/A
11 Dec-----100---0.3----------0-------9.1----------31--------------N/A
15 Dec-----104---0.4----------0-------7.8-----------2-------1 Unit Platelet
16 Dec-----105---0.4----------0-------7.3---------3--1 Blood & 1 Platelet
17 Dec-----106---0.6--------168-------9.0-----------1-----1 Unit Platelet
18 Dec-----107---1.3---------90-------8.5-----------2-----1 Unit Platelet
19 Dec-----108---2.6-------1300-------8.6-----------4-----1 Unit Platelet

I awoke this morning to Spike in my Bed. Marc usually takes him to work with him in the morning so it was a pleasant surprise. He laid with me a lot on the couch last night with me so I took him to bed with us, he usually sleeps with Paige. Marc must have figured we needed so time together.

It is raining today, what was ice ice turned into a nice slush & then everything was just wet. The temperature was 34 when I dropped the kids off at school & headed to the hospital for my lab draws. I was amazed to see the sun come out for a brief smile before the rains came back this afternoon.

Our other child in the house, his name is I don't know or I didn't do it has been playing pranks on me. The latest one involves a load of whites I put in the washer. When I got home from the hospital & was putting them in the dryer low & behold there was a red hand towel in there that wasn't there when I started the washing machine. Thank god the bleach must have already ran through because nothing turned pink or I would have blown up for sure.


Sue, my RN, was scheduled off today but she came in for me. The rash & all the bruises are still there the only new ones that I can tell are on the sides of my head. Speaking of my head, in spots my hair is growing. It looks like peach fuzz only a little longer in patches. I think for every hair that grows another one falls out. I am constantly finding these little hairs in my head caps. Anyway, Sue used the Highway Patrol to get my Platelets again today, they are 4 so at least they came up a little bit. I am loving my ANC number increase, once I hit 5,000 I can quit taking the Neupogen shots, I am running out of places to shoot it because everything is so bruised up not to mention here lately they have been stinging & hurting like heck when I shoot it.


Dorene Burkhart & Viola Webber from the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Public Health Preparedness came out to the house today bearing all kinds of gifts for our family from my friends & colleagues. Everyone up at ODH has been so supportive through phone calls, prayers, visits, gifts & Finical donations. It feels so good to know that we are cared about so much. Thank you so much to everyone up at ODH & especially to Dorene & Viola for making the trip to our home, I miss all of you!

I was talking to Dorene & Viola before they left, I have to say I was having a real hard time at first even asking for help, I almost felt guilty about it because Marc & I have always taken care of ourselves. In the past we have been through some really hard times between my Iraq War deployments , Brandon & Paige's Mothers death, it was really tough on everyone but somehow we always got through it together. After many conversations with others (My sister Sharon, Aunt Lynn, Dorene & Viola, etc) It has taken awhile but I am finally understanding that it is not placing a burden on other people, that people genuinely want to help us & they will not put themselves out to do it. My sister told me yesterday "it's not like you put yourself in this situation Sandi, people want to help you & it makes them feel good doing it so quit beating yourself up about it". I have to say it can be very overwhelming at moments just how much people really do care & want to see me make it through this. I never really knew how much until now & it makes me feel so warm on the inside & I am fighting that much harder each day.

I take my ANC count increase as a sign that things are on the up & up for next week. I can't think of a better way to end this week because this week has been a rough week for me physically & mentally. I hope all of you enjoy your weekend, I plan to make the most of mine. Happy Holidays everybody!