Here's an update of Breezy's most recent chemo treatment. We took her in on Friday night (after waiting all day for them to call us in to the hospital...ugh!) and she started her pre-drugs at 8pm. (Pre-drugs are to help her with any nausea or adverse reactions she may feel during the chemotherapy) Then she was able to start the chemo at 9:30pm. She received 3 drugs over about 3 hours...they were Carboplatin, Cyclophosphamide & Doxorubicin. We were told that this round would be really intense because of all the drugs given at one time. Bree did really well while the chemo entered her body yet had a hard time going to sleep that night. I think she's had it with hospital beds. :) We stayed in the hospital through Saturday afternoon then got to go home. Yea! They sent us home with Neupogen shots that I have been giving her in her thighs. Yes, I have to give her a shot a day! ☹ Neupogen will help her body build its own neutrophils (immune fighting cells). It's hard for me to give a shot to my baby, and I really hate doing it, but if it will help her stay healthy and out of the hospital, I'll do it! For now she is doing pretty well. She's vomitted about 5 or 6 times but it hasn’t been as much as the last treatment so our goal this time around is to keep her hydrated, happy and healthy. Ironically after she vomits, she still smiles and laughs. What a little angel she is! That's easy Breezy! We honestly believe she has done so well this time because of the prayers from so many people. We do recognize our Heavenly Father's hand in helping her & believe He will carry her through these chemo treatments. My good friend told me the angels are with these little ones blessing them and protecting them during these trials and I certainly believe it because she has been such a strong little fighter!
Lately, there have been so many people that have told me that we are being so strong and so positive through all of this. Sometimes it’s hard to say that things are tough because we WANT to be strong, even if we aren’t feeling that way at the moment. I personally am a happy person by nature and I try to look at things in a POSITIVE light. However, there have been times when I’ve cried uncontrollably or didn’t know if I would feel sane in the morning because I’d been up with a sick and fussy baby all hours of the night. I’ve felt those emotions of jealousy or envy when I look around at other babies and wonder “why MY baby?” But just when I think I’m at my worst, I have felt the comfort of my Savior. He has been there with us, picked us up and carried us through the difficult and scary times. And HE will continue to bring us comfort during those times. I have to cling to this faith because FAITH is what we have to show in order for our baby to be blessed. I guess I am sharing this to get it off my chest a little (writing always makes me feel better) and let others know that we are real down to earth people.
On a sad note, today marked the first day that I could noticeably see signs of hair loss. My poor baby’s head is slowly going bald. The back of her head is already bald (most babies are already due to sleeping on their backs) but today I tried to get some dried bananas out of her hair and took a clump of hair out instead! ☹ So sad! The docs tells us we should be expecting more hair loss in the next weeks to come so we will just have to fashion up her little head with lots of pretty bows and hats!
Last but never least, I wanted everyone out there to know that I have the BEST husband! He’s been so supportive, so helpful with our boys and so genuinely worried about me. He helps out so much at home that now he knows the boys schedules better than me! I just wanted to publicly tell him how much I love him! (Sorry to be so gushy babe, but I just cant help it. You’re too cute!)
As for our boys, they’ve been doing well. Caleb is absolutely LOVING school. His teacher tells me that he has lots of friends, likes doing his work, is ready to give anyone a HUGE hug and will always flash his million dollar smile! 
Gunner finished his soccer league last Saturday and enjoyed playing with so many of his friends. He loves his preschool teacher and all his friends. I’ll post some pictures of the boys activities soon. For now, Breezy is rightfully stealing the show. ☺ 
Brothers
9 years ago
44 comments:
I'm so glad to hear she is doing well. Bree's amazing, sweet spirit really comes through in the pictures! I watch for new posts every day. We are still praying for you every day--and our boys are too. I know that I personally have felt real, tangible strength from others' prayers in the things we have been through, and I hope so much that you can feel that too. We pray that she will be strong and be able to endure the effects of the chemo, that she won't get any infections, and that the chemo will get rid of the cancer. We pray for you and Justin to be strong and comforted, too. We love you all!
Hi, my name is Trista... I am not sure how I found your site but it really touched me.. I make little flower clips for hair and very soft head bands I would love to send you some if you would accept them... My phone number is 801-860-6196..Good luck with your amazing blessing you still have down the road.
Kari, you really are a very optimistic person. And you have every right to have many emotions going on right now. I tried to be strong too with Claire (and with losing my mom for that matter) but I realized that we need to let go sometimes. As for Bree's hair loss, I am sorry that you have to see it happening. I know it's just a reminder to you of what she is actually going through. When they shaved Claire's hair along that one line where her scar is, her hair has grown back twice as thick there! (I think it's a little darker then the rest too). So when Bree's hair grows back it will be thick and gorgeous. My friend in my ward who had cancer now has thick and beautiful hair which she said she didn't have before! I'm sorry she is feeling nauseous. I am glad that throwing up helps her to feel better. I am sorry you have to give her a shot each day. For 7 months I've given Claire daily medication and it really takes its toll, but I cannot imagine doing it by injection. You are so amazing. And yes, Justin is an amazing husband (not that I would know about the husband part, but he's an amazing guy!) You are lucky to have him, and he is lucky to have you, and your kids are lucky to have the both of you, and you are lucky to have all your kids. And my reply to this post just keeps going...and going...and going! I love ya babe!
We want you to know that we continue to pray for you guys! We also have faith the Heavenly Father will see you all through this. You are not alone!!
I love hearing from you. You do keep things so positive and I am so glad you are feeling everyones prayers. Bree is so amazing and special..her pictures have a spirit that carries through them and makes me smile..even with no hair she will be the cutest girl around!!!!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think you guys are amazing and can't even begin to imagine how you are feeling. I do believe that angels are with theses babes. You are such great examples! We love you and continue praying fro Bree and your family.
tears in my eyes. i just think you are great and i'm glad your a "real" person. i'm so uplifted by your positive nature and am SO grateful to have you for my friend! hope you have a great thanksgiving and we'll see you when we get back! p.s. yeah for cute big hair bows!
You are such an inspiration to me Kari, you ARE such a wonderful mommy and I love reading your blog. My prayers are with you and beautiful Breezy :) You're amazing!
I found your story on Summer's blog. We were her neighbor when we lived in AZ. I felt bad that we missed the donation opportunity. So, we did what we could and put your whole family on the prayer role at the temple. We live in South Korea right now, so you literally have people all over the world praying for you. I hope you continue to feel strength from that. We will be praying for you all. What a beautiful girl!
Hello. I found your blog through my cousin Brenda Bachrach. I hope you don't mind me following your amazing story. You seem like such a great family and I appreciate you sharing your story so that others my pray for you and your family. What a sweet little girl you have! I know that I have no idea what you are going through but am thankful for the chance to help in anyway I can. We will continue to pray for you. If you have a chance, feel free to come check out my blog.
The power of prayer is amazing and so is our Heavenly Father. I know you already know this. :)
I'm thankful for your stories of faith. You are an example to our family. We are blessed to know you. We pray for your family, especially Breezy. You are ALL amazing!
Kari- I am a follower of your story from Summers website. I want you to know how amazing you and your family are. We almost lost our son at six weeks and I know how you are feeling! How lucky we are that we have the true gospel of Jesus Christ! I know the Lord will bless your family!!
Your honesty is beautiful. I hope Bree is feeling better these past few days. She looks as darling as ever. Love you guys!
WOW!! You are an amazing person Kari and I envy you!! We continue to pray for you and your family and love that you have your FAITH to lead you and fall back on. STAY STRONG MOMMY!! LOVE YOU!!
I think Bree looks so great!! Especially considering all she has been through. This little girl of yours just amazes me! As always, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm like you - writing helps me work through my thoughts. So I say just keep putting it out there, no matter what the emotion of the day may be. We are always praying for you. Always. Love you!
she's such a cute little thing isn't she? I can't wait to give you a big hug. I'll be in AZ in a couple weeks and I'm excited to meet Bree and have you meet Penny. They will be the best of friends.
Thank you for the update! I have thinking about you guys. What a special little girl you have. I love reading you testimony. It makes me want to be optimistic and happy just like you. We pray for you!
I have found your blog through Summer's Designs blog and hope you don't mind me following you're story. It brings tears to my eyes because of everything that you are going through. You and your family are so strong and your daughter is so beautiful. I'm so sorry I missed the donations and hope there will be another soon. For now you are in our prayers, and even though we don't know each other.. if there is anything I can do to help please to hesitate to ask.
I found your blog through a friends and am moved by your strength and positive attitude. Bree is adorable. She reminds me of a friend of mine who had cancer in high school and always said, " you can laught about it or cry about it, and I choose to laugh." This seems to be Bree's personality too! Also, I am studying special education at BYU and am from Arizona. I wanted to make sure you are aware that Caleb recieves habilitation and respite services from the state. These could come in handy with all the appointments you might have! If you need more information about these serivces feel free to let me know! It would give you another helping hand while helping Caled as well!!
My prayers go out to you and your beautiful family!
Love,
Katie Krietemeyer
I came across your blog from Summer's (looking at her beautiful digi kits), and I have to say that I was so touched by this story. I feel tears in my eyes, even though i don't know you, and have never visited your blog before. Your strength is such an amazing thing...I wish you, your family and your sweet baby the best of luck. May Heavenly Father watch over you and your family, and may you have a Happy Thanksgiving...
Always thinking of you guys...I am grateful for the updates. It warms my heart to see such sweet smiling pictures of little Bree. You truely are an amazing family.
I'm so happy that she's handling everything so well this time. She looked so adorable yesterday I just wanted to eat her little cheeks! By the way, I thought you would think this is funny. Lately when Annalise prays for Bree, she says, "Please bless Bree to get better so we can buy her lots and lots of toys...". :-) So I guess my bank account is gonna take a hit when she beats this thing! And I'd gladly empty it for her any day! Love you and can't wait for our "Twilight" viewing.
Thank you so much for the update. We continue to pray for your family. There is nothing sweeter than children praying for other children. Your names were put in the temple today. :) Hang in there because you will make it through!
Hi, my name is Katie. I stumbled onto your site from Summer's site (as I was downloading some fabulous scrapping stuff) and just wanted to share how touched I am by your story with Bree. My husband and I have a son who is almost a year old and I cannot imagine enduring this with him. We went through a very difficult bout of cancer with my mother-in-law, and to think of dealing of that with a child.... You are truly an amazing and inspiring family and I wish Bree and you all the best. I look forward to keeping up with both her challenges and sucesses - as I am sure there will be plenty of both. I know your strong faith, and the prayers of so many around the world, will be a great help to your family.
We love you and continue to pray for you. I can't even imagine how hard this is for you guys.
Your family's story is one that I am finding myself thinking of daily. I have a sister with Downsyndrome, and I am a mother to my first child. I now know the meaning of a mothers love. And as a mother, I now find myself feeling so much more emotion when I hear of a sick child.
I am praying for you each and everyday.
I'm so sorry about her hair loss. We'll go find her some cute bows! We sure missed you guys at dinner today. I love the picture you have of Bree in the little green outfit! She really is such a sweet girl!
Hi I came across your blog by random while surfing on the net. Hope Breezy is doing fine and God bless you all. :)
Hair or not, she looks so dainty and sweet that there is no taking the girliness out of her! But I am sure that when she looks back on the pictures, she will appreciate your bows and ribbons! I am one of those people that is sure that you have been incredibly strong through this! You guys are amazing!!!!!! Good luck with your next few weeks or Chemo recovery!
I came across your blog thru anothers, and I just wanted to say thanks for posting this. Just reading it inspires me to be more faithful, pray more, and complain less. You'll be in our family prayers, right along with my friends Baby Mia who just under went a heart transplant. Wishing you all the best.
Your kids are beautiful, Kari, and you can really see the goodness that they possess! I am so sorry for all your family is going through. We pray for you and Bree daily, including my boys in their own night-time prayers. Thanks for sharing your lives with us. It helps us all remember what is really important. You are incredibly strong, Kari. Good luck with everything! We love you!
Hi Kari, we think and pray for Bree and your family daily. I'm glad you posted some more about Breezy. She is so beautiful, and those pictures of her and the boys are the best! The one with Caleb, makes me think of ALL the love she receives from her big brothers and Caleb's million dollar smile, like you write. Bree is just a model and her beautiful eyes and face with her perfectly round head, she is just a beauty.
Please let me know when you have had it with the shots and I can give you a break from giving them. Breezy and her whole family is so strong and amazing, we LOVE you.
Oh, Kari she is absolutely beautiful from the inside out! Her sweet little spirit radiates through that wonderful smile! We continue to pray for her daily and you and Justin.
P.S~ I made Bree another tutu! I'll give it to Kristin to give to you! Love ya!
Kari and Justin you are both exceptional, spiritually strong and normal all at the same time. Your blog site heading says it all The Lord does trust you with His and your sweet spirit baby Bree, and He knew you both could and would handle this trial. Breezy is so blessed to have you both as parents and for her loving big brothers too. Bree has a special purpose on earth and you guys are guiding her through it perfectly. We're so sad you're back in the hospital again today, but what a blessing too to get the needed attention to help her through this 2nd round. Someday Bree will be the strength others need as you share her journey with her when she's older and can understand. We love you guys as do so many others and we especially send our love and prayers to our sweet baby Bree. We are so grateful to be a part of her life and alittle closer to the angels and the Lord because of her.
I am glad that you decided to share those emotions on your blog. I know that you will help others who are going through times of uncertainty and grief over their own children. They will be inspired by your strength, but comforted by your honesty
I am so sorry that you have to go through this. You guys truly are amazing!!!
Bree is just amazing to me. I always hear stories of how people going through trials like this are so strong and so positive and I think of myself and just think how do they do it? I don't think I could be so positive like that. But I personally do know that prayers can be answered the Lord does have His hand in everything so I continually keep you and and Bree and your family in my prayers. I definitely know that my own testimony has been strengthened through yours and your faith that you have. Stay strong and know that the Lord is on your side and is always right by Bree's side!
Hi Kari, I know your Aunt Jane and my Husband Sam knew them growing up, she told me what you are going through so I was looking at your blog. We are going through our out bout with cancer, and how much it sucks! But it was great to see Bree cheesing it in all these pictures. We wish you the best!
Bree is such a sweet and wonderful spirit. She is so strong and she just amazes me, that smile of hers melts me heart. Sounds like you need to pull out that GIGANTIC headband/bow that you had on her the first day in the hospital!:P Hey, bald is beautiful! Love you guys.
Kari this is Stephanie Walters (Moore), or as Tori Phillips use to call us "The Wagagoos". I heard about your sweet girl through your cousins the Phillips and just wanted to let you know I have been following your blog and have been so inspired by you. There has not been a night this past month that I haven't prayed for sweet Bree and I will continue to pray for a healthy recovery. Your family is beautiful and I can really tell how much you all love each other. You are such an inspiration to me and even though I haven't seen you in years I can tell you are such a loving wonderful Mother. I will continue to pray and wish you and your family the best!
I just wanted you to know again how much your story has touched my heart. I pray for Bree frequently each day. I hope she is not feeling too nauseous. Keep the Faith, and I pray for your renewed strength!
Kari, Bree looks beautiful! Through all of this she just smiles and looks like the same happy Bree we see every Sunday! Please know you and your family are in our prayers daily.
Hello. My name is Ashley and I recently came across your blog, I have been watching it for updates and just want you to know that I think and pray for Breezy often. My heart aches for what ya'll are going through and I find comfort knowing that you have faith. I have passed her story along to others and have gotten her placed on several prayer lists.
You have a beautiful family and I'm wishing for the best. I would like to know if there is any type of fund I can contribute to. I feel helpless on my end and would love to do something to help you and your family out.
Sincerely,
Ashley
Your family is such a blessing in the lives of many. We continue to pray that each of you will have the strength to endure.
Justin, I was able to snap some pictures of you playing football. I posted them on my blog. Let me know if you want any of them.
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