Haylee had her monthly clinic appointment today and all went well! Dr. Abdella was happy with her counts except that her ANC was too high still - again, we were always wanting it to come up and be high and now its too high! Under normal circumstances, a high ANC would be ideal. Since she's in maintenance they want her ANC lower but still high enough to fight infections (should she need to), around 1500, to keep her bone marrow suppressed so that no leukemia cells can come back during the maintenance phase. The first maintenance cycle is over next month so they will just adjust her medications (increase the dosages) to bring down her counts a little.
It was a short and sweet appointment - we like those!! Next month, she will have a bone marrow aspiration and spinal tap to check and make sure she is still in remission. I have full confidence she is - let's face it, there is no other option!! The results take about a week to come back so needless to say, I'll be on edge until the results come back. My dad made a good point though - if she were starting to get sick, her counts would start to show us, especially her WBC. Haylee isn't looking forward to it because she has to have an IV started and it scares her. I've already starting prepping her for it and she's already shut me out. It's going to be quite a task but we will get through it. This will be minimal compared to what she's already gone through but it's still scary for her. We'll just talk about it as much as she will let me and get ourselves prepared!
Haylee's still going to school full time and is doing great!! She's in Taekwondo 2 days a week and is loving it! We are scheduled to go to Camp Sunshine's Family Camp Weekend at the end of the month and we're all excited about it. We received the email with the schedule of events and all the 'need to knows' and there will be lots of stuff going on. It will be a fun filled weekend!
Have a great week!
WBC - 6460
HGB - 12.4
Platelets - 370k
ANC - 4300
~Hope for Haylee~
September 11, 2012
September 3, 2012
Labor Day night race 2012
We continued our NASCAR weekend fun by going to the Labor Day night race on Sunday. Adam and I have never been to a night race and the kids have never been to a race at all so it was quite the experience for them since we had credentials to go down into the pits and the garage area before the race (if the kids were over 14, we could've stayed in the pits the entire time but since they weren't, we had to be out by 6pm). It was so much fun!! The kids were a bit overwhelmed by all that was going on. There were cars going in and out everywhere, crews wheeling things in and out of garages, crews getting pits ready, and appearances by drivers and crew chiefs so people were chasing them down (we're guilty of that when we saw Chad Knaus and Jimmie Johnson!). We saw Chad Knaus wondering around the garage talking to the crew and Jimmie snuck out of his garage for a quick chat with some crew members but then dipped out quicker than I've seen anyone do in a long time. Jack Roush came out and talked with fans for a few minutes but he seemed more lost than anything :)
We made it back to our seats in time for driver introductions. Our seats were awesome - 7 rows back from the track between Turn 4 and Start/Finish line (right as they evened out from Turn 4 to cross Start/Finish). We were directly across from Jeff Gordon's pit stall and diagonally from Jimmie's. We saw all of our favorite drivers go around the track and wave to fans before the race began.
The kids had no idea of how loud it was going to be and the looks on their faces were absolutely CLASSIC! They were laughing almost hysterically because they weren't sure of what else to do. The drivers got into a groove of sorts and they did alot of green flag stops. Jimmie crashed into the wall late in the race taking Sam Hornish Jr. along with him (we were gone after that!), Carl Edwards blew an engine, and Jamie McMurray blew a front tire completely off. The kids loved it and we all had a great time!! Enjoy the pictures!!
We made it back to our seats in time for driver introductions. Our seats were awesome - 7 rows back from the track between Turn 4 and Start/Finish line (right as they evened out from Turn 4 to cross Start/Finish). We were directly across from Jeff Gordon's pit stall and diagonally from Jimmie's. We saw all of our favorite drivers go around the track and wave to fans before the race began.
The kids had no idea of how loud it was going to be and the looks on their faces were absolutely CLASSIC! They were laughing almost hysterically because they weren't sure of what else to do. The drivers got into a groove of sorts and they did alot of green flag stops. Jimmie crashed into the wall late in the race taking Sam Hornish Jr. along with him (we were gone after that!), Carl Edwards blew an engine, and Jamie McMurray blew a front tire completely off. The kids loved it and we all had a great time!! Enjoy the pictures!!
Special thanks to Michelle and Paula for making it all happen for us - we are truly grateful :)
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| Jeff Gordon's garage |
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| Jimmie's garage :) |
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| Dale Jr's garage |
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| Made our way back to JJ's garage |
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| Jimmie's trailer - we're not fans, are we?! |
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| Jimmie's pit stall |
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| Danica's pit stall (Adam's a fan) |
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| Dale Jr's pit stall |
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| Walking through the pits |
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| #83 of Landon Cassill and #42 of Juan Pablo Montoya |
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| #34 of David Ragan |
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| #15 of Clint Bowyer |
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| Danica's garage |
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| #5 of Kasey Kahne |
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| Back to Gordon's garage |
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| In front of Jimmie's car/garage |
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| Ahh!! Its Chad Knaus! |
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| Chad with the crew |
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| Jack Roush with fans |
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| Caught Jimmie before he could get away!!! |
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| Our view of Turn 4 from our seats |
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| The track right in front of us |
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| Michael Waltrip in the red shirt |
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| Michael hanging out with fan and one of his cars |
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| Here comes Danica! |
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| Danica Patrick |
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| Here comes Jimmie! |
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| Ready to go!! |
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| Guess he didn't hear me! |
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| On our way out, we found this! |
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| The perfect sedative for your children - take them to a NASCAR race! The were out for the night :) |
September 1, 2012
A kickball game with Jeff Gordon and friends :)
Haylee was asked at our last clinic appointment if she would be interested in playing a kickball game with Jeff Gordon for the Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation and Kick It For Childhood Cancer Foundation during race weekend and of course, we said yes!
We had to be at AMS this morning at 9:30am to get started and it was an absolute blast!! Haylee played with other children that we knew from the AFLAC Cancer Center. It was nice getting the kids together outside of the hospital for a fun event. We got credentials to be in the infield since the game was played on a grassy area right at the entrance of pit road. After all waivers and releases were signed, they took us to the drivers meeting room to get organized by teams, get to know teammates, and wait for Jeff Gordon to arrive. Once he got there, he spoke to the crowd about what Kick It is and recognized the now 12 year old boy, Quinn, who created the foundation. He is a cancer survivor himself and also has MS. We had to wait around a bit because practice was going on on the track.
After we got situated at the 'field', the game began! On Haylee's red team was: Haylee, Beth (a patient), Quinn, Samantha Busch (Kyle Busch's wife, who took a liking to both Haylee and Mason), Jaqueline Butler (David Ragan's wife), Rutelege Wood (one of the co-hosts of the show Top Gear on the History Channel), Jeff Gluck (NASCAR reporter), Marty Smith (ESPN reporter), and a few others I wasn't too sure about. Not sure of everyone on the blue team but a few NASCAR reporters. Jeff played 10 minutes per team until the game was over. He was limited in what he could do so he played catcher unless he was kicking. He said his office didn't want him to play in case he got hurt, like a broken ankle! We would've felt so bad if he did get hurt! All was well...no injuries from anyone today! Haylee played pitcher for her team and used the soccer skills she learned to 'coach' her teammates on how to kick the ball better (and we noticed everyone on her team took her advice!). The times she was 'up to bat', she would launch the ball everytime! It was noticed by other parents as well...that's my girl!! She got into the game - going after the ball, tagging people out and she even threw the ball at Jeff Gordon to tag him out.
While Adam, Mason, and I were standing there watching, a guy who looked very familiar to us walked up and starting talking to us asking us if we had someone in the game and where we were from. We told him that our daughter was the pitcher of the red team and where we were from. A bit more conversation went on then when all was quiet, I asked Adam if he was a driver because he looked familiar. Adam asked him if he had someone in the game and he pointed out a blonde he said was his wife. Adam asked if he was a driver and he said, "Yea, my name is David. David Ragan." How cool!!!
I had an open mouth, insert foot moment with Kyle Busch's wife, Samantha (in my defense, I didn't know who she was before this moment or I would've chosen my words more carefully!). Conversation was as follows:
Samantha: Haylee, who's your favorite driver?
(Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: We're Jimmie Johnson fans.
Samantha: Who's your second favorite driver?
(Again, Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: Well, anyone with Hendrick Motorsports would be second.
Samantha: Well, what about Busch?
Me: Oh no, we're not Busch fans.
Samantha: Not even a little? Kyle Busch is my husband!
Me: Oh my god! Serious? I am so sorry!
Samantha: No, no! That's ok, really. But you like me, right?
Haylee and I: Yes, yes we like you!!
She said it happens all the time and wasn't the least bit offended by it but I felt about an inch tall for sure!! She was so nice and liked my kids (she kept wanting Mason to hug her and he wouldn't and she was always around Haylee).
We had an absolute BLAST!! It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences and we did it together :) We almost didn't go because we are going to the Sunday night race too and didn't want to make the trip twice with gas being what it is. Thanks to Nonna for that extra 'push'! Enjoy the pictures (there was tons more than what's on here but that would've taken lots more time.)!!
We had to be at AMS this morning at 9:30am to get started and it was an absolute blast!! Haylee played with other children that we knew from the AFLAC Cancer Center. It was nice getting the kids together outside of the hospital for a fun event. We got credentials to be in the infield since the game was played on a grassy area right at the entrance of pit road. After all waivers and releases were signed, they took us to the drivers meeting room to get organized by teams, get to know teammates, and wait for Jeff Gordon to arrive. Once he got there, he spoke to the crowd about what Kick It is and recognized the now 12 year old boy, Quinn, who created the foundation. He is a cancer survivor himself and also has MS. We had to wait around a bit because practice was going on on the track.
After we got situated at the 'field', the game began! On Haylee's red team was: Haylee, Beth (a patient), Quinn, Samantha Busch (Kyle Busch's wife, who took a liking to both Haylee and Mason), Jaqueline Butler (David Ragan's wife), Rutelege Wood (one of the co-hosts of the show Top Gear on the History Channel), Jeff Gluck (NASCAR reporter), Marty Smith (ESPN reporter), and a few others I wasn't too sure about. Not sure of everyone on the blue team but a few NASCAR reporters. Jeff played 10 minutes per team until the game was over. He was limited in what he could do so he played catcher unless he was kicking. He said his office didn't want him to play in case he got hurt, like a broken ankle! We would've felt so bad if he did get hurt! All was well...no injuries from anyone today! Haylee played pitcher for her team and used the soccer skills she learned to 'coach' her teammates on how to kick the ball better (and we noticed everyone on her team took her advice!). The times she was 'up to bat', she would launch the ball everytime! It was noticed by other parents as well...that's my girl!! She got into the game - going after the ball, tagging people out and she even threw the ball at Jeff Gordon to tag him out.
While Adam, Mason, and I were standing there watching, a guy who looked very familiar to us walked up and starting talking to us asking us if we had someone in the game and where we were from. We told him that our daughter was the pitcher of the red team and where we were from. A bit more conversation went on then when all was quiet, I asked Adam if he was a driver because he looked familiar. Adam asked him if he had someone in the game and he pointed out a blonde he said was his wife. Adam asked if he was a driver and he said, "Yea, my name is David. David Ragan." How cool!!!
I had an open mouth, insert foot moment with Kyle Busch's wife, Samantha (in my defense, I didn't know who she was before this moment or I would've chosen my words more carefully!). Conversation was as follows:
Samantha: Haylee, who's your favorite driver?
(Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: We're Jimmie Johnson fans.
Samantha: Who's your second favorite driver?
(Again, Haylee looks to me for answers)
Me: Well, anyone with Hendrick Motorsports would be second.
Samantha: Well, what about Busch?
Me: Oh no, we're not Busch fans.
Samantha: Not even a little? Kyle Busch is my husband!
Me: Oh my god! Serious? I am so sorry!
Samantha: No, no! That's ok, really. But you like me, right?
Haylee and I: Yes, yes we like you!!
She said it happens all the time and wasn't the least bit offended by it but I felt about an inch tall for sure!! She was so nice and liked my kids (she kept wanting Mason to hug her and he wouldn't and she was always around Haylee).
We had an absolute BLAST!! It was one of those once in a lifetime experiences and we did it together :) We almost didn't go because we are going to the Sunday night race too and didn't want to make the trip twice with gas being what it is. Thanks to Nonna for that extra 'push'! Enjoy the pictures (there was tons more than what's on here but that would've taken lots more time.)!!
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| Sitting in the Drivers Meeting room waiting to get organized |
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| Red team and Blue team |
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| Jeff Gordon talking to everyone |
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| Haylee and Beth |
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| Jeff handing out signed Jeff Gordon Children's Foundation hats...Haylee opted out of her bandana and wore her hat. |
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| clockwise from Haylee: Haylee, Jeff Gordon, Jacqueline Butler, Samantha Busch, and Beth strategizing for the Red team. |
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| More strategy talk :) |
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| David Ragan watching the game!! |
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| He was hot :( but don't let that face fool you...he had a good time eating the ice from the water cooler! |
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| Haylee getting ready to throw out another pitch. |
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| He made it on base with Carrie and Lindsay. |
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| Haylee on base with Carrie and Lindsay |
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| Pitching to Jeff... |
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| Jeff launching the ball...look at that form! |
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| Jeff running to 1st base. |
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| Jeff playing catcher for the Blue team and Haylee getting ready to kick. |
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| And there it goes! |
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| Both teams after the game. |
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| Rutledge Wood (in the glasses), Jeff Gordon, Haylee Kate, and Quinn (Kick It founder) next to Haylee |
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| Mason and Jeff :) |
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| left to right: Samantha Busch, Jacqueline Butler, Haylee Kate, and Mason |
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