Day +163

Well we are all alone again. Denise and Cassie left this morning around 8am. Alicia was asleep so the good byes were not that bad. Denise did wake her up to get one last hug and then Alicia went right back to sleep. She slept til after noon today, she was just so wore out.

I can not believe it is almost December. It does not feel like we have been here for six months. November went by soooooo fast with all of the excitement of her Birthday, Mommy, Daddy and Ne Ne and Cassie. I just pray December goes by as fast and we are on our way home. We want to go home more than ever now. Seeing our Family and with the Holidays will make me stay on top of Dr Davies so we can go HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If not for good then just for a few days during Christmas. I do not even want to begin to think how it will be possible with the cost of going home and then turn around and go home a few weeks later for good. I just hope she can work towards us going before Christmas and staying til it is time for her return check up. I do not even know what it entails to coordinate us going home since they have not even mentioned it.

Next week we only have to be at the Hospital on Friday so I hope to see Dr Davies then. The Home Nurse will be here at the RMH on Monday and Tuesday and Therapy is on Wednesday so Thursday is the only day we have free. I am kinda glad about that though because I heard there is going to be snow here in Cincinnati. My mom called this morning to tell me there is snow back home today.

I want to thank everyone once again for the awesome Birthday Alicia had again and Thanks Kelly and Alayne for the cute gifts you both gave Alicia last week she loved them.

I want to add a few pictures of our week to end this. Take care and please pray we will be home for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one is of Alicia and Cassie with their attitudes...................................

This is of the girls when we got out for a drive with Alicia, notice no cars around!!!!!!!!

Day +160

I can not believe it has been 160 days since Alicia's transplant. I know it has been alot of days but actually it does not seem like it has been that long. So much has happened in the those 160 days but I am so thankful for where Alicia is in this leg of her journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday Alicia had Day Hospital. Denise got to experience what my day was like there. Denise was so ready to go when it was all over, She actually had her all bundled up and ready to go then she had to take her coat back off because they needed to get more blood. LOL Denise was so mad, I just laughed and said "this is just my life now" This is a picture of us on our way in to Day Hospital.............................

Alicia had a hat on but Denise took it off when we got inside.

Here is another of the three of them this morning..............................

I am so glad to have my sis here with me this Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everything went well in Day Hospital yesterday. Her Hemoglobin came back a bit low at 8.6 so they said she will probably need a transfusion on Friday when we go back. Her Platelets are holding their own still they were at 74,000, but her White Cells were even higher. They were at 39.9. The Docs seemed not to be worried still. My question is on Friday will will how long can they be so high and going higher before we get worried? Hopefully they will ease my mind again when we are there on Friday.

As I sit here and watch Cassie and Alicia play i can not help but to think how truly Blessed I am. With tomorrow being Thanksgiving, I know I have many many things to be Thankful for this year. First and foremost I am truely thankful for the very special person who gave the Marrow that gave my best friend a new chance at life, I am Thankful for my health also and that I have been fortunate not to get sick once that would of put Alicia at any risk. I am also Thankful for Dr Davies and the other wonderful Doctors here at Cincinnati Children's. I am Thankful for the Ronald McDonald House, if it weren't for here Alicia and I would not have a place to stay close to the Hospital. I am Thankful for the new friends I have met while being here during transplant. I have been very lucky to meet the best group of ladies (and men) during Alicia's Transplant and I am very Thankful for them. There has been very many times when I was having a rough time dealing with all that was going on with Alicia and these friends helped me through those times. They were there for me when I needed to vent, or to cry, or to scream or just needed someone to listen. Each of them had their own child in transplant but they were still willing to lend me a shoulder when ever I need it. I so hope all of you have the best Thanksgivings with your Family's, many of you are still here here Cincinnati with us, and I hope you have the best times with your families and to the ones (2) of you that are at home, I am soooooo happy that you have finally made it there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am Thankful for having such a beautiful Daughter and Grandsons. Erika has grown into such a Beautiful Mature young Lady. I am so Thankful that Anshon came into her life and they gave me the 2 most handsome grandsons on Earth. I am Thankful for every moment I get to talk or spend time with Erika. She is my ONLY child and I am thankful for that also.

I am also Thankful for my family and friends. First I am Thankful for my Mom and Dad. My Mom has been here through all of this with me to the fullest. There has not been one time that I had called her and asked for anything that she did not come through. She has dropped what she was doing the moment I called just to help me even thought I told her it could wait. I am very Thankful for the Mother I have.I am also Thankful for my Fathers health. At one time we thought my dad was not going o be able to win the fight with his cancer. I was sooo worried Alicia and I would be here going through her transplant and something would happen to my dad and I would not be able to go home but my dad has beaten all of the odds and I am Thankful he is still here with us.

Second is my sisters, I am Thankful to have Denise and Casie here with me for Thanksgiving this year!!! I am very Thankful I will not be alone. Denise is the best sister anyone can ask for. She unselfishly left her family at home just to make sure we were not alone and I am Thankful for that. I am thankful to have a sister as my oldest Kelli. She is such an awesome sister but even more she is my friend. I am thankful to have such a close relationship with all of my sisters. There isn't a day that goes by that Kelli doesn't call just to see how Alicia is doing and to just say Hi. I am Thankful to have my little sister Sarah also. Although she is going through a lot in her life I am Thankful that she is trying to better her self and learn the right way of life. I am very Thankful for all three of you.

Most of all I am Thankful for having Alicia in my life. I am so Thankful that she is winning this battle and that one day we will be back home with our Family. I am Thankful that the Bone Marrow she received engrafted to 100% I am Thankful that Alicia fought so hard and overcame the many many many obstacles that were put in front of her during her transplant. I am very Thankful that when the night ends that I am able to kiss my best friend good night and when the sun rises i can do the same. I am Thankful for her unconditional love. I am Thankful that she is part of my life and I am Thankful that I can say she is truly my very best friend.

Last but by far the least I am Thankful for the Lord!!!! He has challenged my faith more than once during all of this but I am so Thankful that her made me see. I am Thankful that God is so strong in my heart and he is the reason I am able to get past the hard days and enjoy the good. I am Thankful for every day the Lord allows me to spend with Alicia and I am Thankful for the days I spend with the Lord as well.

I hope That everyone has a Very Happy Thanksgiving, and take a few second tomorrow just to remember what you are Thankful for. I know I will.

Day +157

Hello all sorry I have not updated in a couple of days. My sister, Denise which will be here Tomorrow if I have not mentioned that a million times, well any way she was on my butt yesterday about updating. She said there are many people who rely on my updates to keep up on Alicia so I am very sorry.

We have been catching up on some much needed sleep this weekend. I have also had a very bad headache but this morning it has seemed to go away, I just hope it goes away so I can get things ready for Denise, I have mentioned she will be here tomorrow?

Denise is also bringing her daughter Cassie. Alicia does not know that Cassie is coming. We are going to hide Cassie and surprise Alicia. I can not wait to see Alicia's face when she sees her. We are planning for Denise to come in first and then about five minutes later we will have Cassie knock on the door, Alicia is going to be sooooo excited, I will take a picture of that moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday we were at the Hospital most of the aftrnoon. Alicia got her Ambison Infusion and it went well. They also did a Cbc and Alicia's Platelets came up by their selves again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are her counts as of Friday. I know some of you might not understand when I say what her counts are so I will post the "normal range" also. The normal will be the first number I post then the second will be Alicia's on Friday........

Wbc (white blood count) normal--(5.0 to 14.5) Alicia's-- 25.2
Rbc (red blood count) normal (4.00 to 5.20) Alicia's--3.56
HGB (hemoglobin) normal (11.5 to 15.5) Alicia's 9.9
Platelets normal ( 135 to 466) Alicia's 72
Anc normal (1.50 to 8.00) Alicia's 20.23

these counts might look kinda crazy to some of you but I am very pleased with the way they are. Dr Davies is still not worried about her Wbc of Anc so I trust her and I am OK with them now also.

One of her counts did come back abnormal which is concerning the Doctors, it has to do with her Liver and enzymes. One is her Alk Phos. It is slightly high, they told me it works with the calcium and is what makes her bones strong so they are worried because her calcium is very low so they started her on another med which will help to bring her calcium up and her Phosphate down, I was also told to be more careful with her because her bones could be more fragile. Also her GGT, AST, and ALT are still elevated. This also has to do with her Liver. The Doctors are starting to get concerned about that as well. They said it most likely has to do with medication but they are watching her numbers closely.

We will be in Day Hospital on Tuesday o I will know more then and I promise to update as soon as I find out anything.

Please don't forget to visit Abby patterson's sight and help with the Toy Drive if you can, and please let her know it is in Alicia's honor.

Day +153

First off I would like to Thank Laurie and Allen again for sending Alicia the Birthday in a box. She had TWO Sponge Bob Birthdays thank to the Hope For Henry Foundation. Thank You Sooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I would also like to thank my family for the wonderful gifts you sent Alicia. Mom I do not know what I would do without you!!!! I left home almost six months ago knowing that if ever I needed anything all I had to do was call. You have been a huge support to Alicia and I and she LOVED the makeup and doggy. I love you Mom.


Kelli, thank you so much for making sure all of your kids called Alicia. She got so excited every time she heard the phone ring and she knew it was someone else wishing her a happy birthday. I also want thank you for always being there for me when I need someone to talk to. I bet some times when I am on the phone you are probably thinking when will she ever shut up, I always feel better after talking to you. Thanks.


And last but not least, Denise, Thank you so much for being the Hugest support in my whole entire family. You have showed me what unconditional love truly means. I have heard you cry so many tears over Alicia and I and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being there for us. Alicia LOVED the walkie talkie's and she is so excited about seeing you in four days, and to play the game you bought her ( and she is really looking forward to putting the make up to use that mom got lol) Hurry and get here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I also want to thank Tina and Keith for this cute chair they sent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Alicia had quite a busy day. It started about 6:30 am, YES I SAID 6:30. The construction workers were literally at my window this morning banging and banging so loud it even woke Alicia, and that is hard to do with her hearing loss. Around 8:30 Robin from Home Health was here to give Alicia her Ivig and draw labs. While Robin was here Paula, Alicia's new PT Therapist came and Alicia had a lot of fun. She is going to focus hard on working with Alicia on using stairs. Alicia is not able to go up stairs yet, she has not gained enough strength in her legs yet. Then Jim her OT Therapist came and Alicia totally loves him. He worked with her for about an hour ( on his day off ) and then we finally got a nap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When we woke up there was a knock on the door and it was no other than Ronald McDonald him self. Alicia was so tickled. They went out in the lobby and played hide and seek and she even tried to bribe him into taking her to McDonald's. She had so much fun with him.

Tomorrow was supposed to be our day off but I got a call from the Nurse practitioner this evening and one of Alicia's Med levels are to high so they want me to skip her dose of Tackilumis ( which is in replace of the Cyclosporin that caused the seizure) and bring her into the clinic first thing in the morning for more labs. After that she will have a class with her tutor then hopefully the rest of the day is our to finally relax!!!!!

TOY DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I need to as a Huge favor. My very good friend Reid ( Abby's Mom ) which I have spoke about many times on our blog is starting what she is calling a Toy Drive What she is doing is try to collect as many new toys as possible before Dec 12th. All of the toys that she collects are going to be donated to the BMT floor at Cincinnati Childrens where Alicia and I spent over 120 days inpatient. They do have to be New and still enclosed in the original wrapper due to the children's immune systems are very compromised. Many of the toys will also be given to Child Life on the BMT floor. They are a wonderful group of people who Keep the kids entertained and supplies all of the toys the kids get to play with.

I am sitting here looking at all of the toys Alicia got yesterday and all weekend for her Birthday and I think to myself that this is just to much for one child. I sooooo would not give back the smiles I seen on Alicia's face when she opened each and everyone of them but I would be so willing to let another kid share the same smile when she would open it also. If any one is interested in helping you can see the wish list for the children on Abby's carepage. It is carepages/visit abbypatterson. The address where to send the toys are Reid Patterson 458 Four Mile Rd Cincinnati Oh 45230. Reid you can count me in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know this is my one way to pay back what was given to us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Birthday Pictures

Here are the pictures from Alicia's party and some with the boys.... As promised Above is Anshon and his new truck.....................................

The Birthday Princess.........................................

Anshon (up to something)..............................................

MeeMa and Jayshon.........................................................................

MeeMa and all three................................................................................


Mommy and Daddy.....................................................

Mommy and Alicia...........................................................

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!!!THE PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND THE MANY MANY SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!