I realized that I haven't posted in awhile thinking that not much had been going on. So, I sat and thought about what has transpired since the out-patient chemo. It's a little scary just how much has happened and how we must be getting used to this busy, 7 different direction life we currently live!
Enjoying the margarita cart! While Faith and I finished up the tail end of her 5 day chemo, Chandler and Kady went to Missouri to participate in the "Friends for Faith" Golf Tournament hosted by my in-laws at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. It was a huge success on many levels. In less than a months time, Shirley and Wendi organized 80 golfers, a DJ, and around 100 auction and raffle items for a rainy, October morning tee off! Their friends (ours, too) generously donated food from Buffalo Wild Wings, a previous tournament supplied leftover beer, and, my personal favorite, Dan arranged for a donated margarita cart which was worked, in part, by Kady and her cousins...only in Missouri!!!!
Faith, being the oldest, has been on a couple of daddy-daughter trips solo, but this was Kady's first shot. Chandler is a great dad and does it up right with plenty of candy and soda on the flight and good times together. She was beaming when she got home. I noticed her recently revved up animated nature has calmed some since the trip, which is a blessing if you ask me! Chandler got a chance to reacquaint with Jay, his best high school buddy, and Peggy, Jay's girlfriend. It was nice for Chandler's family to get together and connect after all that's gone down.
Chandler and I decided that we were going to try something new to help keep us out of the hospital with the dreaded fever. We instituted "lockdown" days. The chemo typically knocks Faith's immunity to it's lowest point 10 days after the first day it's administered. We have been finding ourselves in the hospital with a fever as soon as day 9. The docs and nurses say it's normal and it could just be Faith's body fighting against the tumor, or battling some sort of bacteria or virus that was already present in her body, BUT, it could be a germ from another person. So, in an effort to try to gain some control and not use the "F" word ~ FEVER, we did not allow Faith to go anywhere or have any visitors Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of fall break. I felt bad asking my mom and Scott to adhere to those guidelines, but I tried to make it easier by giving them a couple day lead so they could plan. I was impressed with how great they did! Tuesday, my mom baked cookies and made fried chicken with the girls. They both got some down time to play and read. Wednesday, Scott did crafty things with them like making playdough flowers and making plaster casts of their hands and feet. Fun, creative, relaxing. It was nice to come home to a rested household.
Faith, being the oldest, has been on a couple of daddy-daughter trips solo, but this was Kady's first shot. Chandler is a great dad and does it up right with plenty of candy and soda on the flight and good times together. She was beaming when she got home. I noticed her recently revved up animated nature has calmed some since the trip, which is a blessing if you ask me! Chandler got a chance to reacquaint with Jay, his best high school buddy, and Peggy, Jay's girlfriend. It was nice for Chandler's family to get together and connect after all that's gone down.
Chandler and I decided that we were going to try something new to help keep us out of the hospital with the dreaded fever. We instituted "lockdown" days. The chemo typically knocks Faith's immunity to it's lowest point 10 days after the first day it's administered. We have been finding ourselves in the hospital with a fever as soon as day 9. The docs and nurses say it's normal and it could just be Faith's body fighting against the tumor, or battling some sort of bacteria or virus that was already present in her body, BUT, it could be a germ from another person. So, in an effort to try to gain some control and not use the "F" word ~ FEVER, we did not allow Faith to go anywhere or have any visitors Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of fall break. I felt bad asking my mom and Scott to adhere to those guidelines, but I tried to make it easier by giving them a couple day lead so they could plan. I was impressed with how great they did! Tuesday, my mom baked cookies and made fried chicken with the girls. They both got some down time to play and read. Wednesday, Scott did crafty things with them like making playdough flowers and making plaster casts of their hands and feet. Fun, creative, relaxing. It was nice to come home to a rested household.
Wednesday, DC Steakhouse Jeff and his family surprised us with filet and lobster tail dinner complete with baked potato with all the fixin's and Paletta Betty for dessert. Jeff had texted me that morning to ask if he could bring dinner by. Chandler was out of town and wouldn't be home til late, I was at work and Scott was with the girls. Turned out that it would be a good night. I failed to mention to Jeff that we were on our experimental lockdown, and it turns out I should have. I met him in the driveway and watched as Jeff and his wife got out of the car...followed by their 3 kids. Oh no! I was so looking forward to meeting them, but I needed to uphold our plan. I took a deep breath and just blurted it out, "we're on day 10 and we are not having any visitors." I felt terrible! How can you look at someone whose forfeited their own family dinner time to bring you a hot, delicious meal and basically say, "hey, thanks, now hit the road"?!? They were so gracious and kind about it. They came in to say hello and meet Faith (Kady was at dance), we chatted for a few moments and they left. But not before Jeff gave Faith an autographed signed photo and t-shirt from his cousin who played on the US Olympic Softball team! Wow! The generosity!
Thursday we had our weekly clinic visit and it was determined that Faith needed a transfusion since her hemoglobin was low. That turned a quick visit into an all day event, literally. We got there around 9am and closed the place down at 5 that evening. Thankfully, Kady was playing at a friends house, which turned into a sleepover! Another victory for Kady! Chandler worked most of the day, so it was even more perfect that Tara had planned to bring dinner! I was so hesitant at first to have neighbors and friends bring us dinner, but man is it helpful!
Friday we chilled, but Saturday was a busy day at the Arby's Fundraiser. I really wasn't prepared for the scope of that. Saturday wasn't just a fundraiser. It was a testament to the FX4 family that we are so proud to belong to. I don't know what Chandler expected, but I was caught very off-guard when I walked up and saw our daughter's face on the front of everyone's t-shirt. It
took my breath away! I choked back tears. Wow! I had no idea that Faith's teacher, well the teacher that was supposed to be her 6th grade teacher at Sanborn, had asked Faith's peers to decorate yellow ribbons and had stopped by earlier that day to hang them on the window. I wasn't prepared to hear that the entire team had stopped what they were doing when Faith walked into the building to applaud her. I'm speechless. I didn't know that Beth's 11 year old son, Grayson, would be there, handsome as could be, and probably dying from the heat I'm sure, in a tux, dazzling everyone with a magic show and hustling Jay and Charlie, Chandler's bosses, for cash! I didn't know that so many of the Arby's team would so selflessly give up their vacation time ~ their sanity time, time to escape, recharge and unwind, to help us. That was too much! That was so wonderful! I didn't expect Charlie's heartfelt speech or the enormous check (physical size and dollar amount) he presented. I DID know it would be fun, but I didn't expect to see Robin dancing out on Broadway...literally. I had to jump in and join her for a minute! It was the greatest of days and I went to sleep that night emotionally spent and recharged all at the same time. Chandler and I know that we are lucky to belong this family. Some people these days wish for a job, any job. We are lucky that Chandler doesn't just have any job, he belongs to community that supports him and his family and lifts us so far up when we are down. We hope that we can repay you all some day!
Thursday we had our weekly clinic visit and it was determined that Faith needed a transfusion since her hemoglobin was low. That turned a quick visit into an all day event, literally. We got there around 9am and closed the place down at 5 that evening. Thankfully, Kady was playing at a friends house, which turned into a sleepover! Another victory for Kady! Chandler worked most of the day, so it was even more perfect that Tara had planned to bring dinner! I was so hesitant at first to have neighbors and friends bring us dinner, but man is it helpful!
Friday we chilled, but Saturday was a busy day at the Arby's Fundraiser. I really wasn't prepared for the scope of that. Saturday wasn't just a fundraiser. It was a testament to the FX4 family that we are so proud to belong to. I don't know what Chandler expected, but I was caught very off-guard when I walked up and saw our daughter's face on the front of everyone's t-shirt. It
took my breath away! I choked back tears. Wow! I had no idea that Faith's teacher, well the teacher that was supposed to be her 6th grade teacher at Sanborn, had asked Faith's peers to decorate yellow ribbons and had stopped by earlier that day to hang them on the window. I wasn't prepared to hear that the entire team had stopped what they were doing when Faith walked into the building to applaud her. I'm speechless. I didn't know that Beth's 11 year old son, Grayson, would be there, handsome as could be, and probably dying from the heat I'm sure, in a tux, dazzling everyone with a magic show and hustling Jay and Charlie, Chandler's bosses, for cash! I didn't know that so many of the Arby's team would so selflessly give up their vacation time ~ their sanity time, time to escape, recharge and unwind, to help us. That was too much! That was so wonderful! I didn't expect Charlie's heartfelt speech or the enormous check (physical size and dollar amount) he presented. I DID know it would be fun, but I didn't expect to see Robin dancing out on Broadway...literally. I had to jump in and join her for a minute! It was the greatest of days and I went to sleep that night emotionally spent and recharged all at the same time. Chandler and I know that we are lucky to belong this family. Some people these days wish for a job, any job. We are lucky that Chandler doesn't just have any job, he belongs to community that supports him and his family and lifts us so far up when we are down. We hope that we can repay you all some day!
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