Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Round 3

Merry Christmas! It has been so long since we have last posted. We have been so busy with everything we just haven’t had time. I will post more of my feelings and thoughts later but for now we know many have wanted to know how Bree is so hear it goes.

We were scheduled to go in for Bree’s 3rd round of chemo on Friday the 12th but they didn’t have room in the pediatric oncology wing so we had to wait until Saturday. Her treatment lasted Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Usually when Bree gets her chemo she does pretty well and usually gets sick a few days later but this time she seemed very nauseous and agitated. The doctors kept us an extra day because they wanted to make sure Bree was feeling better. She just wasn’t her cute happy self. So we went home on Tuesday. It was great to be home and we were excited to get ready for Christmas. Our stay at home was short…like a day and a half short. Thursday afternoon Bree spiked a fever so off to the hospital we went. Usually when she gets fevers the nurses can get it back down pretty quickly but this time her fever took a while to go away. The doctors were also concerned because her heart rate was way too high. This was scary for me. She was miserable and exhausted for most of the afternoon and night but thankfully her fever and heart rate came back down. The bacterial infection was very aggressive, usually it takes a few days to know if there was in infection in her system but they knew within hours because of how fast the bacterial culture grew. The doctors told us that had had we not came in right away that she could have gone into septic shock….scary. While in the hospital they decided that Bree needed to have a feeding tube because she was not gaining enough weight. They had mentioned this to us last week so we have been trying so hard to get her to eat solids or formula from the bottle but Bree has become very suspicious of people bringing food to her mouth from all of the medicine that she has been taking so she will only nurse and she just isn’t getting enough calories. Usually a woman doesn’t want to be called a cow but I wish I could produce milk like one☺. So on Saturday they placed a feeding tube into her nose, down her throat and right into her tummy. I still can nurse her but for 12-16 hours a day she will be hooked up to a machine that pumps a mixture of formula and breast milk into her body. I will post more about this later but the good thing is the tube will help Bree get stronger and help her fight off future infections. But I definitely have mixed feelings about the tube and am obsessed with getting her to eat solids so she can get rid of it but she still won’t. In times past Bree got infections when her Neutrophil counts dropped but this time they never dropped…yea! Since they never dropped and the infection was under control we got to come home on Monday afternoon. This was a blessing because the time we spent down there this time was harder than normal. So now we are back at home and loving it. It is so nice to be home and Bree loves having her brothers around to laugh at her and her Dad there to dote on her. The best part is it looks like we will all be together for Christmas..that truly was THE ONLY THING I wanted for Christmas! So, Christmas came early in the Cook household. Merry Christmas everyone!
(I’ll post pictures of this last round in our next post!)



24 comments:

Castle Family said...

Yes, what a wonder gift that you all get to be together for Christmas **fingers crossed that everything stays that way** Once again, Bree has shown what a strong spirit she has, what a fighter! So glad to know what is going on, thanks again for posting :) Merry Christmas!!

Annie and Clayton Evans said...

Merry Christmas, I am sure everyday that you have your family all together its Christmas. Thank you for posting during such hard times...we will continue to pray for you!!

agravette said...

I'm so glad you guys made it home for Christmas. We are praying for you, your family, and your sweet darling baby! I just pray God will bring her a miracle and cure her precious little body very soon. God bless you and Merry Christmas!

Megan said...

So glad you get to all be together tomorrow. I pray for Bree every night.

icedlatteprincess:) said...

Thank you for taking the time to post for all of us. I am sure this a the most difficult thing to deal with and I pray God gives you strength and healing for all of you. Bree is the sweetest and I just love seeing her smiling face in the photos:) You will continue to be in my prayers and I am so happy you can all be together for Christmas!!! God is good. Take care of YOU so you can take care of Bree. Merry Christmas!!!

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

Hello, My name is Ginger and I just came across your blog. I want you to know that I will be praying for Bree.I would like to ask all my blog friends to pray for her also. I have a Spiritual Sunday blog just for things like this. There are about 20 women or so. I will ask them all to pray for your daughter and your family
God Bless,
Ginger

Kathleen said...

Hi, Kari. I'm one of Kristin's friends from our singles ward days. Bree is BEAUTIFUL and PRECIOUS! Just wanted you to know that we're also praying for her and your whole family. You are inspiring people all across the world, you know that? We have faith that Bree's body will heal completely in 2009, so Merry Christmas and here's to a new year of increased health and even more blessings to you and your family.

Hot Diggity Daws said...

Merry Christmas!!! Best wishes for Bree to gain weight and get that tube out. We will keep praying!

Monya said...

I found your blog and have been touched by your lives and your beautiful baby Bree. I will keep you in my prayers...Monya

Melissa Bosen said...

You are always in my thoughts and prayers, but especially this past week. I was so relieved to hear that you were home for Christmas. You are really putting things in perspective for us! I hope you all stay well during this time of year with all the sickness going around. When we're all well, I want to come and hold that baby girl so you can have 2 hands for a few hours.

Kathryn said...

Thank you so much for the update! We were talking about you guys with the Cook family today. So many of us are praying for you. Our kids never forget to pray for Bree. Thank you for the perspective too! I was complaining because my new Palm Treo we got doesn't work and I have to send it back! Poor me - whatever! I am so happy you guys are together and happy. We can kind of relate - this Christmas was very happy and blessed for us too.
We love you and hang in there! :)

The Johnson Family said...

Kari, I am so glad that you are home. I am sorry that you and Bree had such a hard, long week. I am so happy that you got to come home for Christmas. What a blessing. Our prayers are with you.

Alisa Larson said...

I'm sorry that last round was so brutal. Hopefully our upcoming girls DAY will cheer you right up! And I think it made everyones Christmas just perfect having Bree here to share it with. We love you. Be strong!

Steph said...

I'm so glad you guys are home! That is hard about the feeding tube--I was upset when Annika had to get hers. We had tried so hard to get her to gain weight too, and I felt like a failure as a "cow!" But I'm glad it's an NG tube, so it's temporary. I'm sure it will be good for her, even though it is a pain to deal with. I hope she will start gaining well now. It's so hard when they feel sick all the time. . . We love you guys so much. We're still praying for Bree and your family. I'll call you next week about a "real" dinner. Hang in there!

P.S. I've been reconnecting with my mom's side of the family who I don't really know, and found my cousin's daughter was diagnosed with cancer (a Wilm's tumor on her kidney, I think) when she was a year old. They went through chemo and radiation, I think, and surgery, too, if I remember right. Anyway, she is almost 5 now and cancer-free--a beautiful, feisty, healthy little girl. Just wanted to share a success story with you!

The Maxsons said...

Kari and Justin, just want you to know I am continually checking your blog to get the updates on Bree... Continuing to pray for her as well. Glad you guys had a nice Christmas. Love you guys!
Linsey (Brink) Maxson

Aimee's Family Journal said...

Amazing! Now honestly. How can you expect yourself to produce like a cow when you have such stress, and such highs, and lows. You body is going through the wringer too. I hope you aren't too hard on yourself! I am so thankful you had a great holiday, all together. Thanks for posting!

top knot extensions said...

I am SOOO happy you guys made it home!!!

The Scotts said...

You guys are fighters! I am glad you were all able to be together for Christmas. We continue to pray for your family.

simplyshye said...

We are thinking of you all and are so glad you were able to be home for you Christmas :-)
love jay and shye

Kasey said...

So glad to hear that you were all able to spend Christmas at home together! I know that you don't know me and my family, but I check in on you regularly to see how Bree is doing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Anonymous said...

I thought and prayed for your family all through the weeks of Christmas. I was so praying that things went smoothly for Bree and your family. I'm so glad you got to be home for Chrismtas. I will continue to pray.

Anonymous said...

so happy you made it home for Christmas!! keep fighting, you are a strong family and loved by many. keep the faith and you will continued to be blessed.
-the barney's

Michelle said...

Good Morning.

I stumbled across your blog last night by chance and had to read everything about your beautiful daughter Bree.

It pulled at my heart and I cried like a baby.

First, we had our fourth baby in April and we were told she may be born with DS. Upon learning that we chose to not have any tests run. We'd love her no matter what. When the day came for my cesarean we had so many people supporting us. I could feel the love and prayers. Madeline did not have DS. It was a very emotional time.
Second, Bree and Madeline are around the same age. I saw your pictures before you found out about the cancer and that is like peeking into my blog. Updates and pictures of the kids.

To read about the outpouring of gifts was amazing!!! I tell you, last night I was up until midnight crying and praying.

I wish Bree and your family the best in life! You have each other and that is the most beautiful thing! I look forward to reading more of your updates! Thank you for sharing them with us.

Michelle
www.theadventuresofsupermom.com

PS. I plan on sharing your blog with my readers.

Brooke said...

How scary for you. Glad she is doing better and you were able to enjoy being a family for Christmas! I am sure that was a wonderful gift. Our prayers continue to be with her and all of you. Can't wait to see more pics and hopefully she can start to put some more meat on her little bones! :)