Not what we expected...

First off, today is Gunner's birthday so Happy 4th birthday buddy! Mommy & Daddy love you so much! (I didnt want to forget that it was his birthday with all that's been going on).

The past few days have been a whirlwind. Monday afternoon Bree started getting a fever. Within an hour it went from 99.4 to 102. I called the Dr's office and they had me bring her in right away. Her fever started getting worse and they administered antibiotics (Rocephen) right away. They took blood samples and sent them to be tested for a bacterial infection.

Her fever started to go down by about 9pm that night. She wasnt feeling well and had some crazy chills. She would just cling to me while shivering. My poor baby. Several hours later the fever came down. The next day they told us that she tested positive for bacteria growing in her broviac (central iv) line. So, she's been on IV antibiotics (rocephen & vancomycin) around the clock. Since we've been down this road before, I assumed we'd be here for a few days, be given her antibiotics to do at home and be able to go home.

Well today the doc came in and told us that he wanted to remove her broviac. I'm thinking..."what? wow, already?" We were expecting that this central line would be in her for at least 3 months from now. They've told us in the past that sometimes they like to keep them in incase there are further tests to be done. But, since bacteria is growing there is a good chance that once she stops the antibiotics that the infection will come back. If it comes back this will prevent her scans from being done.

So, we are moving forward and getting the broviac out. Say good bye to bacterial infections! (We hope!) Tomorrow she will go into surgery and she'll be put to sleep and they'll do a quick one hour surgery, take it out, and they'll put in a new IV in her hand or forearm. (she will need another IV because she still needs IV antibiotics for 2 more days). So, please pray that this surgery will go well!

Ready for the good news/bad news? The good news is that when we are allowed to take her home that she will get the IV out and be IV free! Yea!!!! She's had this broviac for 6 months! Every day I've flushed this line with saline & heparin and it has been a pain, a worry and just something that stresses me out because I worry that she will pull it out. However, it has been nice in the fact that she hasn't needed to be poked anywhere because its such easy access to get blood to draw her labs, etc. However, it just seems to grow bacteria very easily and makes my baby really sick, really fast.

The bad news is that next week when she goes in for scans or tests, they will have to poke her or start a new IV in her hand or arm. I'm not liking this at all. This is something I really worry about. I'm sad that the future might be tramatizing for Bree in that she could have a lot of needles and pokes in her future. But, if all her tests come back that her cancer is in remission than the pokes might be kept to a minimum. I'd rather have her get a few pokes than have any more cancer cells in her body.

So, as of now, her MRI and bone marrow biopsy is scheduled for May 7th. Once we get the results from these tests, the docs will determine the next steps...surgery, radiation (if needed) or nothing at all (well, not nothing, she'll still need doctor visits and blood work). Right now she's adjusting to being back in the hospital. She's the star here. She waves to everyone and has been really happy. I know she misses her brothers and misses being home where she can crawl around at her leisure. We hope to bring her home on Saturday. This is turning into a really long hospital stay. But, we are well taken care of. The nurses and doctors are wonderful.

Please keep Bree in your prayers. She's almost done. I can feel it. I am so anxious for her to be done. Go away cancer, please go away, never return. I hope the next time I do a post, I have lots of good news. :)