Sunday, June 16, 2013
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Kenna's Kindergarten Play
Here are a couple of videos of Kenna's kindergarten play: "Miss Reynolds Farm"
Kenna and her friend Kaitlin are geese, "We waddle about in the bardyard and make so much noise when we talk, that wandering goslings rush out of our way, as we babble, and cackle and SQUAK! hello...hello"
Kenna and her friend Kaitlin are geese, "We waddle about in the bardyard and make so much noise when we talk, that wandering goslings rush out of our way, as we babble, and cackle and SQUAK! hello...hello"
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Collin "talking"
Hi Everyone!
With all the relatives so far away we thought it would be fun to start posting more pictures, videos and updates on the BLOG since the website requires lots more upkeep...let us know what you think!
Here is a short video of Collin "talking" among other things....enjoy the show - the end is the funniest!
With all the relatives so far away we thought it would be fun to start posting more pictures, videos and updates on the BLOG since the website requires lots more upkeep...let us know what you think!
Here is a short video of Collin "talking" among other things....enjoy the show - the end is the funniest!
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 08.18.2004
| Date | 08/16/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 4.4 |
| RBC | 3.19 |
| HGB | 9.5 |
| PLT | 57 |
| SEG | 10 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | .2 |
| ANC | 440 |
August 18, 2004
It's been several weeks now since I've written an update. I've lost track of just how many I've missed. Things have fallen into a pretty steady routine. Kenna goes early every Monday morning for a blood test to check the level of medication. The Cyclosporin she takes is a strong immune suppressant drug
and can have serious side effects, so the dosage has to be monitored closely, as well as her counts to determine the need for transfusion. And it's nasty stuff to take besides.
Kenna and Carsyn were in another wedding this weekend for their Cousin Jeremy and new Cousin Julia in San Diego. He is Kenna's godfather, but they didn't even get a picture with him. Kenna was in such an irritable mood that she wouldn't stay still for the camera. She fell asleep immediately following the ceremony and slept all the way through the reception at the zoo. The rest of us had a lovely time.
and can have serious side effects, so the dosage has to be monitored closely, as well as her counts to determine the need for transfusion. And it's nasty stuff to take besides.
Kenna and Carsyn were in another wedding this weekend for their Cousin Jeremy and new Cousin Julia in San Diego. He is Kenna's godfather, but they didn't even get a picture with him. Kenna was in such an irritable mood that she wouldn't stay still for the camera. She fell asleep immediately following the ceremony and slept all the way through the reception at the zoo. The rest of us had a lovely time.
It wasn't until Monday morning that we found out why the whole weekend was so difficult with her. The level of that powerful drug was extremely high, but we hadn't even considered that, since it's stayed within the acceptable range for so long. An adjustment has brought back our little sweetie. She's going again tomorrow for a re-check. This chronic condition is going to continue to take it's toll for quite a while to come. We are grateful for the prayers that sustain us.
| Date | 08/18/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 3.0 |
| RBC | 3.12 |
| HGB | 9.0 |
| PLT | 13 |
| SEG | 27 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | .4 |
| ANC | 810 |
Monday, August 9, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 08.09.2004
| Date | 08/02/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.5 |
| RBC | 2.82 |
| HGB | 8.2 |
| PLT | 2 |
| SEG | 11 |
| BAND | 1 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 636 |
| Date | 08/11/04 - Hospital |
| WBC | 5.8 |
| RBC | 2.12 |
| HGB | 6.5 |
| PLT | 5 |
| SEG | 8 |
| BAND | 1 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 522 |
| Date | 08/09/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.0 |
| RBC | 2.52 |
| HGB | 7.3 |
| PLT | 18 |
| SEG | 7 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 1.4 |
| ANC | 350 |
| Date | 08/12/04 - Hospital |
| WBC | 5.8 |
| RBC | 2.12 |
| HGB | 6.5 |
| PLT | 5 |
| SEG | 8 |
| BAND | 1 |
| Retic | -- |
| ANC | 522 |
Saturday, July 31, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.31.2004
| Date | 07/23/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.5 |
| RBC | 2.71 |
| HGB | 7.6 |
| PLT | 4 |
| SEG | 24 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 1320 |
Saturday July 31, 2004
Another peaceful week. Kenna still has the congested cough. It’s lasted a long time now, but gratefully it hasn’t worsened to put her in the hospital. The meds seem to be slowly helping. She tripped over the garden hose and gave herself incredible black shiners on both knees, but those are lightening up, too.
Today Chris Coerper’s brother Kevin was married to Jenny, so Carsyn and Kenna were flower girls for their uncle and new aunt. What pros! Those of you who know Carsyn will appreciate the amazement that she allowed her hair to be gathered back and wore her dress with great grace. She seemed to “enjoy being a girl” for the day. I’ve attached a few photos.
| Date | 07/26/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.2 |
| RBC | 3.38 |
| HGB | 9.8 |
| PLT | 104 |
| SEG | 24 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 1248 |
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.20.2004
| Date | 07/19/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.4 |
| RBC | 2.97 |
| HGB | 8.4 |
| PLT | 43 |
| SEG | 19 |
| BAND | 3 |
| Retic | 0.2 |
| ANC | 1188 |
Monday July 20, 2004
Last week Kenna had a cough, so she had an x-ray on Tuesday when she was at the hospital for transfusion. The results were ok, but it hadn’t improved this week and she’s a bit wheezy. Today at her weekly checkup the doctor sent her for another one, and started her on an antibiotic and an inhaler. The result of today’s was not bad either and she has no fever, so we remain hopeful that it will begin to improve without serious complications. We’ll see how getting her to actually do the breathing treatment will go!!
The great news is that her ANC still remains hovering above 1,000 and that she continues to have some white count. White cells fight infection and are not transfusable, so they have to have been made in her own body. This is such a cause for gratitude and rejoicing. Keep up the prayers.
I forgot to tell you that last week she was again blessed with designated donors for both her red cells and platelets, which they didn’t have available for her the week before. So thank you, thank you, to all who are being so faithful about donating, or in encouraging other A+ donors for her. We can’t thank you enough. She looks so normal and healthy between treatments. It’s an awesome and spiritual thing to contemplate her complete dependence on life borrowed from another.
Last week Kenna had a cough, so she had an x-ray on Tuesday when she was at the hospital for transfusion. The results were ok, but it hadn’t improved this week and she’s a bit wheezy. Today at her weekly checkup the doctor sent her for another one, and started her on an antibiotic and an inhaler. The result of today’s was not bad either and she has no fever, so we remain hopeful that it will begin to improve without serious complications. We’ll see how getting her to actually do the breathing treatment will go!!
The great news is that her ANC still remains hovering above 1,000 and that she continues to have some white count. White cells fight infection and are not transfusable, so they have to have been made in her own body. This is such a cause for gratitude and rejoicing. Keep up the prayers.
I forgot to tell you that last week she was again blessed with designated donors for both her red cells and platelets, which they didn’t have available for her the week before. So thank you, thank you, to all who are being so faithful about donating, or in encouraging other A+ donors for her. We can’t thank you enough. She looks so normal and healthy between treatments. It’s an awesome and spiritual thing to contemplate her complete dependence on life borrowed from another.
| Date | 07/21/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.4 |
| RBC | 2.54 |
| HGB | 8.3 |
| PLT | 13 |
| SEG | 12 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 648 |
Monday, July 12, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.12.2004
| Date | 07/12/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.4 |
| RBC | 2.67 |
| HGB | 7.3 |
| PLT | 5 |
| SEG | 19 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 1026 |
Monday July 12, 2004
A whole week no crises to report. Thanks be to God. Kenna had a visit to the doctor last Thursday to check her levels and was doing well. So Adrienne and Chris decided that they could go ahead with their tentative plans to get away—together—alone—just them—for the weekend. With cell phone charged up to be available for emergencies, they left me with the girls Friday night and took off for 2 nights at the Disneyland hotel. It’s only 20 minutes away, but a world apart.
The girls and I had a great time together, but I never got a chance to even turn on the computer. Two of my sisters from San Diego came with their gentle dogs to help entertain the girls on Saturday, and Barbara and her roommate stopped by for a while. Before we knew it, Sunday morning arrived, and Mom and Dad were home. Kenna was a bit pale and less energetic so we knew her red cells were low, but her gums were doing ok even though it’s been ten days since her last platelet transfusion. Amazing.
Today we took her for her checkup fully expecting to spend the day getting“refills.” But her counts were still not down into critical levels, so we have an appointment for the hospital infusion tomorrow. Even the conservative doctor said perhaps her body is responding to the treatment! Much to be grateful for.
Thursday, July 8, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.08.2004
| Date | 07/06/04 - Hospital |
| WBC | 4.3 |
| RBC | 2.90 |
| HGB | 8.5 |
| PLT | 102 |
| SEG | 14 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 602 |
| Date | 07/08/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 4.0 |
| RBC | 3.00 |
| HGB | 8.3 |
| PLT | 41 |
| SEG | 14 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0.2 |
| ANC | 560 |
Monday, July 5, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.06.2004
| Date | 07/06/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 3.9 |
| RBC | 3.06 |
| HGB | 8.6 |
| PLT | 86 |
| SEG | 15 |
| BAND | 1 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 624 |
Monday, July 5, 2004
We were blessed with a lovely weekend. Adrienne took the girls to the Huntington Beach July 4 parade with some friends. Then we all joined a party later. Carsyn enjoyed the pool and Kenna had fun tossing the beach ball back into the water from the sidelines. This is the first time in months that she has gotten to mix with other kids except at the hospital. With her counts rising gradually and her platelets just refreshed, it seemed safe enough to give it a try.
When we were at the hospital Friday night, we met a mom who had just given birth the day before and was there with her 2 year old who has been in treatment for 2 months, so all three of them were patients that night! We only got to speak very briefly because she got a phone call, but she had such a positive attitude. She gave Kenna a lovely picture of Jesus guarding a child’s bedside. This poster was taped to the door, along with postcards from this website:
~~Ministry of Healing~~
Often your mind may be clouded because of pain.
Then do not try to think!
You know Jesus loves you.
He understands your weakness.
You may do his will by simply resting in his arms.
www.hartclassics.com
Nathan Green distributed by Hart Classic Editions
Saturday, July 3, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 07.03.2004
| Date | 07/02/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 4.7 |
| RBC | 3.54 |
| HGB | 9.9 |
| PLT | 6 |
| SEG | 158 |
| BAND | 2 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 799 |
Saturday
July 3, 2004
Remember the photo a couple of weeks ago with the chocolate residue all over Kenna’s face? This week she was happily coloring one minute and had her face and arm covered in blue marker the next. It faded with soap, but doesn’t come off. Her Daddy is calling her Smurf girl.
She again has gone a couple of days beyond a week before needing platelets. That’s great because she used to need them a day or two shy of a week. Knowing that she would be about due on Friday, we took her for blood test in the morning. She was at 6,000, but not bleeding yet, so they gave us an appointment at the hospital for Saturday at 3pm. By 7 pm Friday night though, she was definitely in need of a transfusion and the medicine intended to control the bleeding of her gums was not helping. So with her looking like a blue vampire, Adrienne and I took her over to check in.
Unfortunately, this week there were no designated donor platelets available for her. And it started off as a trying experience, because there was trouble accessing her port. It seems that the tissue around the site is getting softer since it never gets a chance to heal and the device is shifting. So the first attempt was not successful and we had to go through the whole trauma of holding her down to get sterilized and stuck again. once she was all taped down and got to walk off the stress, she was pretty congenial and we just watched movies for the evening. We finished up and got home about 1am.
Now it should be a peaceful weekend, barring any more of her tricks… maybe even able to enjoy some July 4 festivities together. Have a blessed one, with grateful thoughts for our armed forces.
Monday, June 28, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 06.28.2004
| Date | 06/28/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.7 |
| RBC | 3.81 |
| HGB | 10.8 |
| PLT | 74 |
| SEG | 16 |
| BAND | 2 |
| Retic | 0.2 |
| ANC | 1126 |
Monday June 28, 2004
We spent a couple of hours getting Kenna’s blood test and waiting for results on Friday and then the better part of Saturday getting red cells that she needed. Even though it’s a long day, it’s much more pleasant when she’s being cooperative like this time. The blood she received was again from a designated donor which is less apt to cause complications for her, so thank you very much to those who are keeping her alive with your generosity and your recruiting of A+ donors.
Today was the weekly 8am blood test to monitor the levels of drug in her system to see if the dose needs to be adjusted. It has to be done early in the morning and sent out to a special lab. The CBC that they ran while she was there shows that her counts are continuing to climb. When we asked the doctor if this was a good sign, she just hedged saying it’s very early in the treatment. We have to be prepared that this could be a false start and the course will be several years as predicted. The doctors and drugs are instruments, but only Our Father knows how to best use this difficult situation and when it’s saving grace will be accomplished.
We spent a couple of hours getting Kenna’s blood test and waiting for results on Friday and then the better part of Saturday getting red cells that she needed. Even though it’s a long day, it’s much more pleasant when she’s being cooperative like this time. The blood she received was again from a designated donor which is less apt to cause complications for her, so thank you very much to those who are keeping her alive with your generosity and your recruiting of A+ donors.
Today was the weekly 8am blood test to monitor the levels of drug in her system to see if the dose needs to be adjusted. It has to be done early in the morning and sent out to a special lab. The CBC that they ran while she was there shows that her counts are continuing to climb. When we asked the doctor if this was a good sign, she just hedged saying it’s very early in the treatment. We have to be prepared that this could be a false start and the course will be several years as predicted. The doctors and drugs are instruments, but only Our Father knows how to best use this difficult situation and when it’s saving grace will be accomplished.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 06.23.2004
| Date | 06/23/04 - Hospital |
| WBC | 4.9 |
| RBC | 2.63 |
| HGB | 7.5 |
| PLT | 7 |
| SEG | 8 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 392 |
Today was devoted to platelet transfusion with Kenna pretty crabby and unhappy with the whole procedure, probably because the viral congestion added to the swollen bleeding gums is so uncomfortable. It’s so much easier when there are two of us there to help each other comfort and distract her.
And there was a bit of a disappointment for us as well. The blood test done at the hospital today was very different than the finger stick screening that Kenna had yesterday. Though still higher than last week at 392, her ANC was not nearly as positive as it was reported yesterday. Evidently at the doctor’s office the numbers in one of the elements that make up the formula to determine it were recorded inaccurately. What a roller coaster ride this it. I’m grateful to have spiritual companions in Jesus and Mary to help keep us focused on the Resurrection like they did through the ups and downs.
She received platelets reserved for her from a designated donor just before they were to be released into the general availability. Thank you to all who are keeping the supply steady. Her red counts were also very low, so we will likely be back on Friday or Saturday to replenish those.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. The graceful support sustains us.
MJ
| Date | 06/25/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 4.8 |
| RBC | 2.72 |
| HGB | 7.5 |
| PLT | 146 |
| SEG | 12 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | .2 |
| ANC | 516 |
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Kenna's Aplastic Anemia Journey - 06.22.2004
| Date | 06/22/04 - Clinic |
| WBC | 5.2 |
| RBC | 3.45 |
| HGB | 9.3 |
| PLT | 10 |
| SEG | 19 |
| BAND | 0 |
| Retic | 0 |
| ANC | 988 |
Tuesday - June 22, 2004
Kenna’s counts continue to improve. Today she had her weekly checkup and the ANC had tripled to 988. Low normal is 1,500 and children with 500 are considered able to attend school!
Both girls have the nasty cold still lingering. Carsyn sounds terrible but seems un-phased. Kenna’s congestion is making her (and therefore also her Mom) miserable, but mercifully there hasn’t been a fever this time to send her into the hospital. It’s wonderful.
I went to the appointment and then stayed over to watch the girls while Adrienne got some errands done. Kenna also has sores in her mouth that she keeps toying with, but is not bleeding yet. Tomorrow is likely to be platelet transfusion. She used to be getting them one day shy of a week. Now the pattern seems to be one day over a week. That looks to us like a good sign too.
With joy and hope,
MJ
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