Reagan Avery

Funny things she says and does:

Says...

- Go Away (very clear and is by far her favorite)
- Hi Mama!
- Bubba
- Dada
- Sit down (while standing in her chair)
- Kitty Cat
- Choo Choo
- Bye Bye
- Love you (a little muffled)
- PaPa
- Baby
- Byce
- Look
- yeah (more like, yeeeeaaaaah. It's very drawn out and very cute I might add)
- outsi (for outside)
- out (in "The Itsy Bitsy Spider")
- A, B, C, D, E
- Sharon (more like, shera)
- Mmmmmm (when you ask her if something tastes good)
- Poo poo (nice I know)
- Ni ni (night night)
- Was sa (what's that?)
- Mine
- Uh oh
- owww


Does...

- she's beginning to run
- steals stuff (daddy calls her a ferret)
- is always taking the backs off of her earrings.
- loves to swim (mostly out of the float).
- winks
- hums the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" in tune and says, "up above da"
- Hums "Happy Birthday" in tune and sings "Happy birthday to ..." and stops
- will sing "Happy Birthday" any time she's putting a hat or anything else on her head.
- hums ABC song in tune...sings to the letter e (yes, that's correct, she says, "A,B,C,D,E" and all in tune.
- smiles big and puts her hands on her outfit when you tell her she's so pretty.
- takes bows and tries to put them in her hair.
- holds her hands in the air when the windows are down or if the wind blows outside.
- when you tell her to find her baby she goes and gets two of them, brings them to you and makes you push the buttons (one coos and sings and the other laughs). She will take it, wrap her arms around the baby, sit down and stick her thumb in her mouth.
-goes to sleep so easy...it's time for night night. We lay her down and that's it.
- She sleeps at least 12 hours a night and goes down no later than 8:30 at night.
- she's a cuddlebug. She will bring you a blanket and cuddle with you.
- loves to kiss the kitty (Daphne and Norman)
- If you tell her it's time to eat, she comes running.
- She loves to chase her brother.
- loves Barney
- loves her friend Kate and loves to give her kisses.
- Absolutely adores her brother. She is always trying to kiss him. She will gently tap him on the head and then kiss him.
- She jumps up and down when we go to get her out of her bed.
- she has a purse that talks. She loves to empty it out and play with the keys, money, lipstick and especially the bracelet. She always puts the bracelet on.
- She loves Mommy's purse. She will put it on and head for the door saying, "Bye, bye"
- and so much more that I just can't think of.

More to come on Kaden!!!! :)

Here We Go Again

Wade went to the doctor yesterday after having a chest x-ray. This is just to make sure the CVC is still in correct. This is where they hook up his chemo. When he was talking to the doctor he was explaining the way he felt the last time he did the chemo. He told him that he gets real dizzy and that he couldn't tell if he was awake or asleep. He explained that he sleeps, stares off and gets extremely nauseous. Because of what he was saying, the doctor called in the chairman to discuss his side effects. They then decided that it would be best if they admitted Wade to the hospital for this round of chemo. They want to monitor the neurotoxicity and his kidneys. Now I know it sounds horrible when you hear he's being admitted to the hospital, but it's not like that. This is not a bad thing. They just want him to be as comfortable as possible. When he starts feeling weird or sick he can tell them right away and they can take care of it right away. They will be able to keep an eye on what the chemo is doing and how it's affecting him while monitoring his kidneys. Wade has a really hard time drinking water when doing chemo because he already feels so "flooded" with fluids. They will be able to keep the fluids running through him when he's admitted. They explained the more you drink, the faster the chemo will run through and the better you will feel.

He also HATES riding back and forth in the car so this is a plus as well. This way, he is in one place. He told me he prayed the night before he went to the doctor. He said he prayed that this round of chemo would go much smoother and that he would feel better. So when he went in and they told him he would be admitted, it was like an answer to his prayers. So this is a good thing. It is NOT a bad thing. Of course the worst part of it all is being away from the kids and I know he hates this. But as I told him, he has to make some sacrifices in order for this to get better and in the long run it will all be worth it.

So we are here now at MD Anderson in room 1005. He will be here until Wednesday when they can unhook what was in the backpack and is now on the IV pole.

We are very thankful to LifeSpring Church for their generous donation to our family. They are an answer to so many of our prayers. Thanks to everybody for your never ending thoughts and prayers.

Prayer's Answered

Mom is home from the hospital. She was diagnosed as having a uterine infection and diverticulitis. Though all the pain she was having was caused from the uterine infection not the other. She was given lots of medicine and was set home. Unfortunately, she was allergic to one of the medicines and it made her mouth break out. However, she stopped taking two of the medications since she didn't know which one was causing this and it stopped.

Good news is the test results are back from the biopsy and she's all clear. There's no cancer! YAY!!! The bleeding is a lot, but apparently it is somewhat normal in older women. She has thickening of the uterine wall, which again is normal when you get a little older. So, all is good and she is slowly feeling better at home.

Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers. The Lord works amazing miracles!

Prayers Needed

My mom is currently at the St. Luke's of The Woodlands emergency room. Over the last few months she has been having quite a bit of bleeding and becomes light headed very easily. She has the weird craving for ice. Anytime I would talk to her on the phone she would be chomping away. She said she woke up in the middle of night "needing" ice.

Because her legs and ankles began to swell and because of the severe pain she has been having, she went to the doctor. Long story short...they found out she was anemic, was ordered to have an ultrasound and then was off to see her OB. After reviewing the ultrasound, they found a couple fibroid tumors and thickening of the uterine wall. The doctor said she felt the bleeding was not coming from the fibroid tumors but from this thickening. It is possible that it is a polyp (sp?). They then had to do a uterine biopsy which is extremely painful. Just imagine a vacuum like thing going somewhere you don't really want it to and then sucking out stuff (sorry if I have grossed you out). So now she waits for the results to make sure this is not cancerous. I pray, pray, pray this is not the case.

So, the OB told her if she had fever, heavy bleeding, etc. she needed to call. Well, of course this happens. My dad called at 4:00 and said he was taking her to the ER. When I got there, she was okay. They took her back right away and got her hooked up to an IV. She had 102.8 fever, was extremely dizzy, in horrible pain, and throwing up.

I left around 9:30 or so. She had an ultrasound and they were waiting to hear from the doctors. She was doing a little better. They had given her pain meds and had fluids running through her. So now I wait and pray all is well. I mean seriously, I'm getting a little sick of being in the hospital.

Did I mention my brother broke his kneecap at the emergency room last week? He was taking his son Jordan to the ER (for what turned out to be bronchitis) and the hospital had a leak in the ceiling. While holding Jordan, he slipped on the water and fell weird to keep Jordan from getting hurt. Nice. So he's now in a soft cast for 8 weeks. If he moves it the wrong way at all he will have to have surgery.

So, lots of prayers needed this way.

Get in Bed!

So it starts again. We're trying to break Kaden of yet another bad habit. Remember when I said Kaden asked me to lay down with him and I did...several times? Well for the past 2 nights I've been trying to break this habit. The first night was okay. Last night...ahhhh!!! I think he was up 30 times. So, here we go again.

Oh yeah and Reagan went to the doctor yesterday morning. I drove from Spring to Kingwood and was there when they opened so I could beg for them to see us. I had to be back in time to take Wade to MDA. Luckily they made some calls and took us right back! She has pink eye and a sinus infection. Lovely! Her eyes are so yucky. Although, this morning when she woke up, they were much better. I could get very descriptive but I won't gross you out. She's ran a fever off and on for the last 2 days. Hopefully it won't come back today! Yesterday it got up to 102.5. I dropped her off at Sharon's house when we were done at the doctor and then picked up Wade to go the hospital. I wasn't able to get to her until around 5:00. It was killing me! But, she's doing much better.

Hopefully tonight will go smoothly for both! Well all of us if you include me and Wade too!

Mays Clinic

Today we're at the Mays Clinic at MD Anderson. It's really no different from the main building...just newer. You have to take a sky bridge across in a little golf cart like trolley thing. You could walk it and matter of fact, when it was first built Wade and I thought we could walk it no problem. It was a lot longer than you'd think. One night Wade and his mom were here late and the carts were closed. Therefore they had to walk. Nice!! It would be a nice place to walk for those of you who choose to walk during your lunch break.

Anyway, this building has 2 floor for patients doing chemo. It's just like a hospital room...bed and all. It is also the place where many breast cancer patients come. Today was the first time I had been to the place where you give blood. It was much nicer and calmer. That is one thing they strive for here...some type of peace and tranquility with dim lights and comfy chairs (though I think they took all the comfy chairs for the waiting rooms and left horrible chairs in the rooms...but not complaining). So there are many more women in this building. They are all so very different. Some with beautiful wigs, hats, bandannas and even some that shield their entire bodies because of religious beliefs or customs. So, so many women and again all so different. Many come with girlfriends, sisters and the ones you see the most are their husbands. It always makes me sad. More today than ever. Something about today just got me going. I kept tearing up and thinking about what their stories must be. I can only imagine. Some are wore down. Others appear upbeat. One man was talking to a doctor when his wife walked out visibly upset. She had been crying. Makes me wonder if she just got some bad news.

It just plain sucks to see all of these people struggling to live. Where all of these people can seem so different in so many ways, they are are similar and all here for the same reason. To live. And the sisters, daughters, friends, husbands, and wives...they're living it too. They are the cheerleaders and support group who fight to stay upbeat and optimistic with a constant smile on the face no matter what. I just can't help but always wonder the story for all. I can't help but cry inside when I see babies fighting for life. I can't help but feel pain for all of the people who limp in pain, who carry an oxygen tank for breath and who fight for all they have. I can't help but smile at each one that passes me or sits next to me. I can't help but think these people, including my husband, are the strongest people I know. They are my heroes in so many ways. Heroes I don't even know.

Take Advantage of the Highs...Roll with the Lows

First thing's first...Wade went to the doctor yesterday after doing all of his tests. Good news came back. The two tumors in his lungs have stopped growing. Of course we can only hope that these spots will die off. There are no new spots which is even better news. We pray the chemo is killing the tumors as well as anything new that could possibly come up. Today Wade starts round 3. We are at the hopspital now as I type. I know he dreads starting over, but I keep reminding him this is all worth it.

Starting over is hard for us all. It feels like we're on this rollercoaster of life. The Friday Wade begins chemo, he is pretty much out of it for exactly one week and two days. The Sunday after next is typically the day he becomes more like himself. It is a day I love because I know in the next 2 weeks, he will start feeling better with every passing day. I love these days because this is the time we take full advantage of him feeling good. It's like a strange magical feeling to me and this is so hard to explain. I feel so close to him and I just LOVE watching him with the kids. By the way, Kaden started calling Wade, "Dad". It's so funny but I know so sad too. It makes us think he's growing up. I'm not really sure where he picked it up, but listening to him say it is halarious. You'd have to actually hear it to understand the halarity.

Last night Wade and I went to the movies together to see What Happens in Vegas, which by the way we LOVED! We ended up getting some PF Changs to go and walked to the book store across the road. It was just so nice and relaxing. Of course we missed the kiddos. It feels like forever since we've done something like that. I guess with the known fact of him starting the next day in the back of our minds, it made it just that much better. We just enjoyed each other.

Coming home to Kaden (who was still awake) made it all complete. Well and Reagan too. She was just sound asleep with that little thumb in her mouth. We bought Kaden a couple of books that he really enjoyed. So it was great to sit down and read with him. Wade and I then laid down with Kaden (I know...still a bad habit!). I love this time because we talk a lot about the day and just about silly things. Then he falls asleep and I do too (even as Wade is kicking my feet to let me know I'm snoring).

It's just the little things that make eveything so big and wonderful. I think people truly should take more time to enjoy the little things in life.

One last thing...I don't recall if I said Reagan is walking. She is REALLY walking. No up and down (well, sometimes when she falls). She mostly walks everywhere she goes. She looks like she's been doing it for months. It's amazing to me how fast they learn to do things like that and why they ever decide in the first place that it is the right time. Crazy little things.

Over the next few days I will continue to provide updates on Wade. Thanks again and again for all of the thoughts and prayers.