Two Brooke White fans

Well Brooke White got voted off from American Idol, and both Chloe and Addie really liked her a lot, but we didn't know how much until tonight. They are both down stairs sobbing while Jake holds them in his arms. She was a great American Idol, very sweet, grateful and a good example. We told them that we will buy her album when she does one. But I don't think it was much comfort to them. They want to find her email and send her a note. It is a sad time for the girls in the England house.

getting my grove back

Now that I have been home for a week, it has been so great, but I must say it is really hard to settle back into the swing of things like house work. It didn't help that Chloe and Addie wanted to be in the same room so now the girls are all down stairs. We are in a mess moving stuff over, still trying to unpack from all we had at the apartment and loads of DI stuff. I try but who can ever stay on top of the dang laundry, maybe I should simplify in the clothing department. If anyone has tips send them my way because I need all the help I can get.
It is fun to see the great people that I am surrounded by after not seeing them for months.

Clinic

Today went really well, she has a little GVHD but a little bit is good to get her body immune to it. So they are going to watch it and we will get some creams to help, hopefully we won't have to use oral steriods. Cord blood donors usually get a little bit of GVHD or some sort of rashes. We got some good news, her bone marrow test came back at 100% of donor marrow!! There is no sign of her cells, which is good because we don't want any of her cells there to turn into cancer and corrupt the donor cells. So that is great news. She will still be on full dose of meds and not taper off yet because of GVHD but hopefully in a month or so she can start tappering off. Her liver levels are improving which is a good sign for the GVHD, because it isn't effecting her liver, it must just be on the skin. They said the sun effects the rash so we aren't going to be able to keep her from going outside, so she will just have to wear a hat sunscreen and long sleeves and pants for awhile. Well that is our update, we are excited her BMT is finally completed with 100% and she is doing well. It is a relief!

Its a beautiful day

We have been outside enjoying good friends and good weather! Chloe, although she hurt her foot and can barely walk has been riding her bike to get around. She doesn't complain about it hurting until we get inside. So I guess it takes her mind of it. She has her clinic appointment tommorow and it is our family conference. Her bone marrow aspirate results should be back and we will see her progress. I don't know exactly what they go over so we will update tommorow.
Well I guess I am not feeding Rhen enough, his doctor wants me to give him a bit more each feeding. He is 13 pds. Maybe this will help him sleep better. He is such a happy kid but his sleep habits are less than ideal.
I am excited to get out and do some yard work and get dirty.

blessing day

It is so fun to have times like these. The blessing of a new baby in the family. He looked so handsome in white. We are all home and it just feels good.

Blessing day for Rhen...finally

We are excited to be able to finally bless Rhen in the comfort of our home tommorow, but not excited that we can't share it with family and close friends. We really want to have people be there to support us and enjoy the awesomeness of our little Rhen man, but chloe can't go to church or be around groups of people. We hope you all understand, if I could make it different, believe me, I would!

home again, home again, jigity jig

Yes we are home together and it is so stinkin nice!! Even being home one day, I feel that ordeal the past few months was a dream, but unfortunatley it is not, so now other worries begin. Out playing, will she get sick, am I letting her stay out to long, is there any animal poop on the ground, will she fall off her bike and hurt herself? It is a constant worry but I am trying to let her be a little kid. There is not a time when I am not worrying, but I try not to let it show.
We can start taking turns going to church again. We weren't able to go so we are looking forward to switching off every other week. It is fun to be home!

It is almost may and it is snowing and hailing!!

Home

It is so nice to all be at home. Our wonderful neighbors had this huge banner made for Chlo and all of the neighbors and primary kids made cards and attached them to it. Thanks everyone! Too bad it was raining this afternoon, we could only keep it up a short time because it started to get ruined by the rain.

Since December, lying in her hospital bed before transplant Chloe has been dreaming about and asking me if she could have a new bike when she got all done with her treatments. She needed a bigger one anyway and I couldn't let her down.
So i snagged one at Al's the other night and she loves it. As soon as she got out of the car she ran inside so she could get some warmer clothes on and ride. Addie has been such a trooper through all of this, we got her a new bike too. They both rode them all afternoon and are making plans for riding tomorrow. It's Chloe's freedom from IV lines and being couped up I guess.

So Chloe really wanted this marinated steak that they sell at Macey's that is really tender, some of Stacie's home made rolls and some carmel brownies. Macey's was out, so I had the butcher make some up specially for her. Then Stacie went to all the work of making these really yummy carmel brownies and the rolls. Chloe had a couple of bites of each and she was done. Apparently the hard chemo is still in her system making things taste funny or something. She keeps asking for stuff that she really likes, then won't eat it.

Elsie wouldn't get in any of the pictures today, So i threw in a couple of Rhen. First one of Rhen and his Mommy. It was nice to walk into our house and see them sitting on our couch here with us, so I had to take a pic. That, and they are both so cute. This last one reminds me of a song by the Smith's. Yeah, I'm old enough to know who the Smith's are. Actually, I'd bet there are lots of people older than me that don't know who the Smith's are. It's a good pic cause I've always thought that charming men should have slop and drool dripping off their chins - it impresses the ladies.


It's so nice to walk around the house and check on all of my kids before I go to sleep.

going away gift.

Sunday we packed my car full of stuff so that today all Stacie had to do was pack up the portable crib and misc stuff and leave. Just to make life more interesting, someone was watching her load up the car and in between her trips they ransacked it. They stole all the food we had packed, some gas cards, receipts and whatever else we had in the center console or glovebox. All of the compartments were emptied and thrown all over the place in the car. Now we don't have to unpack the food and stuff! Thanks criminal guy.

I'd like to meet the kind of guy that hangs out at the Ronald McDonald House just waiting to steal from it's tennants. He must be a high caliber individual with a lot of compassion and integrity. Probably buddies with the guy that walked through the intensive care unit and stole cameras and purses from parents - parents that were likely in the OR waiting room while doctors were trying to save their child's life. Some people are awesome.

There is no place like home...

Ever since Chloe was a tiny baby she has loved to be home. When I went to several stores after a while she would get pretty fussy, but right when I came through the door of our house she calmed down and was content. She must get that from her dad, cause if anyone knows me I have never liked to stay in the same place for very long. But I am a changed person since these last 3 years. I have had no choice. It has been dificult but you get use to not going places much, especially after 3 years. So this will give everybody an idea of how excited she is to come home. Missing the smell, the sounds of your own creaks, the safe feeling of your own bed and of coarse the sisters who are in it.
Today at clinic she was bouncing around, dancing around, smiling and happy. She knows that tommorow will be the day to come home. The doctors were asking her if she will remember where her room is. She lauged and said, "Yes!" It has been almost a half a year since she has been home so it is no wonder why when you mention going home she beams, bounces up and down, and smiles the biggest smile you have ever seen.
I choose this picture because it reminds of me the relationship my girls have.
It shows how different my girls personality is. Addie wants to be obedient, chloe just is layed back and wants to give some lovin' and elsie well she just wants nothing to do with any of it! Looking back at pictures of when my kids were little is one of my favorite things