Taylor is doing great!

Well today I was privileged to spend some time with Mindy and Taylor. We had some running around to do in preparation for our Cousin Kristen's Baby shower. We ran around and Taylor was great. So happy it is so amazing. I got to hold her, which is always exciting. Her personality is changing so much. She is just so happy. I think she is happier now that she can do more. She is always moving around and bouncing. She loves to squeal. Her playing strange days seem to be over. Her new favorites are pudding and popcorn twists. I must take credit for the popcorn twists as I brought a huge bag for Mindy in the hospital for her as I remembered how much my daughter liked them as a baby. Apparently they are "baby crack" her eyes seem to glaze and she gets excited when she sees the bag.LOL

Mindy & Taylor are staying at my mom's. Mindy is going to go with her friend Danielle to the stollery as Danielle's son Benjamin has bronchial pneumonia and needs support. So scary when babies get sick. So pray for little Benji that he gets better soon. I am sending my positive wishes out to them.

Well....

Mindy has been in and out of the hospital this week making sure Taylor remains hydrated. Nothing serious. Taylor is a happy camper. Mindy will be coming in to the city this weekend and stay at my mom's.

She is doing much better

Well Mindy went in today. Her blood counts are awesome. They put her on an IV for awhile and she seems to be happier. They only had to stay for a little while which was great. They then went for a visit to Grandma Roberta and Grandpa Don. So no worries. I will let you know if anything else comes up.

Well Taylor is not feeling so good

As expected Taylor seems to not be feeling well today. She has not eaten much. Mindy will probably take her in tomorrow unless she begins a miraculous recovery tonight...not likely though. Mindy is also going to visit another family that has a very young girl going in for heart surgery. I know all your prayers and thoughts will be going out to these people in this time of distress.

It has been a crazy a 7 months thus far. Who would have seen all this coming? I know though that this has also been an amazing time. We have all pulled together and grown as people. I cannot believe how much love we can have for people. You think that things are amazing until you find yet more things to keep you enthralled. Taylor is such a blessing. She has made our lives richer. I am completely amazed by Mindy and Landon. They have been I think the best people to have dealt with such a trying situation and make it look so easy. They are truly up to the task. Mindy is the most amazing, loving and kind mother I have ever seen (our mom is pretty amazing too!). When I look at all my stresses and juggling I cannot fathom how they seem to do it all and so positively. Bless their hearts!

I will let you know how things go tomorrow unless Mindy beats me to it! LOL Sending out all my love tonight...Taylor I hope you feel better tonight, you deserve it!

Taylor had Chemo today

Well I am back! LOL I went to the Stollery today to visit Mindy and Taylor. Taylor looks great! She was a tad cranky as she was not getting in good naps, but that seems to be what happens when staying at "The Hotel la Stollery". Unfortunately this is the chemo that tends to make Taylor sick so although they will probably be out tomorrow they more than likely will be back sometime during the week.

I just wanted to let everyone know that Taylor's next MRI is on May 5th. We also may start looking for supporters and joiners in the "The Walk for Kids with Cancer" on June 14th. So keep watching. 

Next Chemo

Since today is Wednesday, we are supposed to be getting admitted for chemo today. We aren't sure if there will be beds available, and are kind of hoping that we get delayed a few days at least so that we can stay in the hospital for an extra day or two. This next chemo is really hard on Taylor and we seem to get out the next day, but return a few days later because her back hurts and she refuses to eat...so we are hoping that this one goes better. We were thinking that if she stays for a few extra days that if she needs morphine for the pain, than they can give it to her, as the codeine doesn't seem to help at all with this one. Poor little thing.

We had a great Easter weekend, got some visiting in with family, some work done in the garage, enjoyed some of the warm weather, but again forgot to relax. Taylor and I went to the Stollery Monday morning for bloodwork - her hemoglobin was really low on Thursday morning, but since we had left to visit Enbridge they weren't able to do a blood transfusion. So, the levels were up a bit on Monday morning, but still quite low. They figured they would let us go a little longer before she needs a transfusion, to see how she does. We also went to visit Great Granny Thiessen and Great Auntie Linda on Monday, which was nice, it has been too long. I also had a dentist appointment on Tuesday morning, so Nana Roberta babysat for us. Taylor had a great time being the centre of attention as usual - god bless grandparents :)

So, we are off to the Stollery again for her physical with the doctor, and maybe more bloodwork and/or a transfusion. I am crossing my fingers that we don't get admitted today as I haven't packed up our stuff. I have been feeling especially lazy lately, probably due to being so busy.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Keep them coming, as they seem to be working.

Love,

Mindy, Landon & Taylor

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter everyone!

Leah and family have gone on a fabulous and long overdue vacation to the coast for some retail therapy. They are on Spring Break right now, and I am pretty sure that if Leah didn't get away, she would be getting admitted to a "special" hotel to recover from a mental break. I think the school system needs more teachers aides to help out...it is truly amazing how much work is expected from one teacher each and every year - Thank goodness there are such dedicated teachers out there that love their jobs!

Well, during our last hospital stay Taylor cut her two bottom front teeth - which everyone in the hospital got to experience with us, as she yelled and screamed about her teething experiences, ensuring everyone knew the agony she was going through. She didn't cry or anything too terrible, just talked alot and VERY loudly. Some people thought it was pretty cute, but after a few days with no breaks and no ear plugs, I was happy that the teeth came and the volume turned down.

So, my baby has her two first teeth and has been enjoying scraping them on her cookies. She has been eating really well - I have been blending everything, which she has been enjoying (with the exception of Tikka Masala with chicken and rice - a type of Indian dish) She liked Butter chicken, so we thought we would try another kind, but she wasn't too fond of it. She now wants to eat whatever anyone else is eating around her, which she can often be distracted by giving her a baby cookie, thank goodness.

Taylor has certainly found her sense of humour in the last few days, we were at our friend's Birthday party on Thursday night, sitting around the campfire, and Taylor couldn't contain herself...she was laughing and laughing at the fire. She had never seen a campfire before, and for whatever reason she thought it was hilarious. It wasn't one of those evil laughs that we were worried about her becoming a pyromaniac or anything...but a sweet girly giggle.

She has been sitting up pretty much on her own, with the occasional topple over, and depending on her mood, will push herself on her tummy to grab things (she prefers to roll over and smile at you, hoping that a cute smile will win you over so you get it and hand it to her).

We are looking forward to Easter dinner tomorrow at Grandpa and Nana's house, now that they are back from Florida.

I hope you all have a great long weekend, and get to spend some time with those that matter most to you.

Love,

Mindy, Landon & Taylor

They are out

Well they finally got to go home today. It was a long and painful stay for Taylor & Mindy after being away from the hospital so long. It was very boring and more challenging to keep Taylor occupied as she is now getting older and capable of doing more things. 

Chemo is done, just having saline or whatever it is run through

Hi

So Taylor had her chemo yesterday. She was a bit out of sorts. When I came at lunch I brought Mindy a Big Mac and fries...Taylor ate some fries until she eventually choked, as well as had french fry bits all over her bed.LOL Then she was completely MAD as she wanted the Big Mac. I don't think I ever saw a baby swoop into trying to grab something as she did when Mindy put her in her Bumble chair near where the Big Mac was sitting.LOL

Anyway she seemed sick yesterday and had a problem with the first catheter insertion. She was too upset so they could not do it until the night nurses came on, apparently they did it on the first try, God Bless the night nurses! Mom was a bit upset watching the whole process. She was near tears that they were "hurting her" (Taylor). Very sad, but something that has to happen. 

Taylor though is back in great spirits today according to Mindy, which is awesome. They should be out probably tomorrow. I guess Landon got a snowmobile (they have been saving to see how they do by being more conservative) so he is off for a "boys" trip on Saturday. I would have a Girl's night other than I am feeling very sick, so should probably just stop for awhile.

But the funniest thing is Taylor's determination. She wrestles the spoon with Mindy when she tries to feed her. Anything that goes anywhere near her head causes her mouth to open and try to taste (Grandma thinks she looks like a baby bird.LMAO). And Mindy says Taylor no longer wants to breast feed as she prefers bottles. She will not eat until she is given a bottle, no matter how long she goes without food (not that Mindy is starving her.LOL). She is now over 17 pounds (I think 17 pounds 2 ounces?) losing that new baby look, looking so much older which is scary that time goes so fast!