Chemo Session 2 - Round 6

Chemo Friday morning was one of the easiest treatments Ashlynn has had.  It was the day after Thanksgiving and the clinic was very quiet.  We played in the playroom for awhile while Ashlynn's labs were being done.  Ashlynn was showing off her walking to everyone who would pay attention to her.  After we got the ok on Ashlynn's blood work, she had her 1 minute Chemo push and we were on our way.  We left the clinic by 9:40am!

Things to be Thankful for

Let me start this off by mentioning that even though this has been by far the hardest year of my life, I have more to be thankful for this year than ever before!  I don't even know where to start writing all of the things that I have to be thankful for, so I guess I will just write the list in no specific order.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

• My beautiful baby girl Ashlynn- She has been by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.  Ashlynn always has such a great attitude, she is full of life, and handles all she has to go through with such ease.  I am looking forward to watching her grow into her own personality.  I know she will do great things with her life!
• Next should be my husband Garrett, without him there would be no Ashlynn.  Thanks for being my rock when things get tough, and thanks for dealing with me when I'm acting a little crazy!
• My Dad- Wish you were still here with us, but so grateful for all of the time we got to spend together and all of the things you have taught me.  Not a day goes by that I don't think about you! xoxo.
• Our families!  Without all of the help and support from you all we never would have made it through the year.  Thanks for babysitting, coming to appointments with us, listening to us complain, and doing lots of other things to help us out.  
• Ahslynn's team of Doctors.  We are so thankful for the awesome team of Doctors who worked so hard to make sure Ashlynn will have a great outcome.  We are so grateful for Dr. Daly for figuring out what was going on with Ashlynn so quickly. 
• I am beyond thankful that Ashlynn's cancerous tumor was able to be removed before it had spread anywhere else.  Yes Cancer Sucks, but everyday I am thankful that Ashlynn will be just fine, and even better, she most likely will not even remember all of the stuff she has gone through.
• Our jobs!  Although we wish we were independently wealthy and didn't have to work, the truth is we need our jobs.  I am forever grateful for flexibility of my job, and the understanding nature of those I work with.  I am lucky to not just have co workers, but to have a 'work family'
• Mrs. Terri- Ashlynn's Daycare provider.  When Ashlynn's chemo protocol got changed and it wasn't a reality to send her back to her daycare center I was having a really hard time finding someone who I felt comfortable leaving Ashlynn with.  This was until I met Terri.  I am so thankful that I know Ashlynn is always getting taken care of. 
• All of the people who have come out of the wood work to lend a hand when we needed it.  Large and small everything has helped us out.  This year I have been reminded of the generosity of people.  So many people have gone out of their way to help us out.
• Roxy, Remi & Meow Cat.  I know sometimes you drive me crazy but I'm really do enjoy coming home after a long day to snuggle on the couch with my puppies and Meow Cat.  Heck I'm even thankful for the 'ish' (fish in Ashlynn talk) and even the Goats!

This list could keep going on and on, so I will stop there.  I'm sure I will think of some really important things I have missed, but for now this is the big picture.  In 2012 and going forward I want to try to help some other people out when they are in need of a hand.  I can only hope that I will be able to touch another life as mine has been touched so many times in this past year!

I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Early Thanksgiving

Sunday we had our early Thanksgiving with Garrett's family.  As always there was quite a crowd there, so naturally Ashlynn found the need to entertain everyone.  She showed everyone her dance moves, but was being shy about walking.  She loves to play with the dolls and the farm that Gram has at her house.  She also spent some time visiting with cousins, aunts, and uncles.  I was able to convince Shayne to take a couple nice pictures with Ashlynn.  (I may have bribed him with dessert....Anything for a nice picture).  Jess & Twila even got Garrett to take a couple family photos, and he's not even wearing any camo!  Ashlynn even enjoyed her plate of turkey and green beans- This was her first 'real Thanksgiving'  this time last year she wasn't eating solid food yet.  Wow how she has changed over the last year.  It was a beautiful day to spend with our family, and being thankful for all that we have!

Thank You to Ashlynn's Farm Hands

The past 2 Saturdays Ashlynn's Farm Hands held a fundraiser for her.  We were overwhelmed with everyones generosity.  So many people donated money, and what was even more special to us was all of the time people donated to help out with the yard work.  I think there were about 30-40 volunteers, many people we didn't know very well.  Last week after the yard work was done for the day we had a pot luck at my mother's house.  There was a great turn out for that as well.  Along with it being the kick off to Ashlynn's fundraiser it would have been my father's 53rd birthday.  I'm sure he would have been so thankful for all the help everyone has given us during the past few months.  He would have been especially proud of his 'work family' at Hutchingson Sealing Systems has kept such a close watch on our family lately, they have gone out of their way to lend a helping hand.

To all of you who have helped us out during this year (or ever) Thank You!!! My only hope is that after we get through this year we will be able to return the favor to someone else who needs a helping hand.

Chemo Session 2 - Round 5

This week Ashlynn had a pretty easy chemo treatment.  She had an 8:30 appointment which means we have to leave the house by 6:30.  This is getting a little harder now that it is still dark at that time.  Ashlynn slept almost the whole ride up.  When we got to the clinic her nurses accessed her port and sent some blood to the lab.  Even though Ashlynn had been feeling great all week, we wanted to hang around until her results came back.  The lab was pretty quick this week.  All of Ashlynn's blood work came back great this week, so she didn't need any transfusions!  While we waited for her chemo to arrive Ashlynn played with the drum in the playroom.  She was having a fun time entertaining the other families that were there.  She thought she was really funny making faces in the mirror.  Around 10 (nap time) we went back to her favorite room to relax.  Ashlynn watched some Elmo on her new iPod!  Thanks to the Howe's for sending Ashlynn and iPhone they weren't using.  Ashlynn thinks she's pretty cool and kept holding the phone up to her ear and saying "hi" and "bye"  Ashlynn was happy to enjoy some Oreo's after her rest.  She was bummed that Daddy wasn't there to eat some with her.  Overall I wish every treatment could go this smoothly!  

Fun During Early Support

Every other week Ashlynn has early support with Ellen.  Due to Ashlynn's cancer diagnosis Ashlynn qualifies for early support services.  Ashlynn's development is great, but we figured we would take advantage of some of the extra services that are available to us.  Ellen can also keep an eye on possible nerve damage from the chemo.  Right now we are working on strengthening Ashlynn's core muscle so she will be able to support herself walking.  This past week Ash has been working really hard, and walking much more.  She will only walk 3 or 4 steps at a time, but is doing that quite often.  Here are a few picture from this week. 

Chemo Session 2 - Round 4

Ashlynn had another one of her tough treatments on Friday. We stayed at David's House Thursday night, so we could get an early start at the clinic.  Staying at David's House has been working out really well for us, we were in the Lion room this week.  This is my favorite room so far.  Nana was able to come with us because she has Friday off because of Veteran's Day.  The plan for Chemo this week was to be finished by 6:30pm.  Dr. Chaffee had everything well organized, and Ashlynn's Chemo order was sent to the Pharmacy seconds after we walked through the door.  Ashlynn came to the clinic well hydrated already so we didn't have to waste time with that.  By 9:30am Ashlynn had started her Chemo.  This was much better than her last long treatment!  Ashlynn spent the day playing with Nana, and I was able to work most of the day!  We have seemed to have figured out the medications to keep Ashlynn feeling well through out her treatment, and afterward as well.  She was even feeling well enough to eat through her treatments (usually she doesn't eat for about 30 hours surrounding her tough treatments).  Overall her treatment went very well.  We were out the door of the clinic by 6:20 pm, 10 minutes ahead of schedule!  A big thanks to Ashlynn's team at DHMA.  Ashlynn did a fabulous job Friday!  Every week Ashlynn amazes me with how well she deals with treatments.  11 hours at the drs office, or anywhere for a 15 month old is a REALLY long time, especially for a 15 month old that's not feeling 100%.  As he mother I am so proud of how she deals with these days.