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Sunday, May 9, 2010

It's Denise Finally With An Ella Update

Hello….this won’t be a very long post as it is late and I am looking forward to bed but I really wanted to get on here a say a few things. First of all……thanks so much to Heather for getting the word out there so quickly about Ella so that the prayers could begin ASAP!!! Secondly, I wanted to tell everyone THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your support. I have to admit that I have really been pretty strong so far but one of the few things that has brought me to tears on this journey so far has been the OVERWHELMING support of my friends…..most of which I have never even met. When I got on the computer at the hospital this morning and saw all of your comments as well as how many of you did posts on your own blogs so that others could be praying for Ella, I wept. I can’t remember a time when I have felt such love…..thanks again.

Now for a quick update to Heather’s update. Since I last spoke with Heather, they decided to start Ella on chemo tonight!!! I guess she has some fluid around her heart and they are worried it could be leukemia cells and don’t want the extra fluid to cause her blood pressure to fall so they wanted to start the chemo right away to see if the fluid will decrease. If it doesn’t, then they will have to look at aspirating it directly. They have also decided NOT to put the broviac line in until after chemo is completed in 4 days unless a problem arises with the femoral line.
Surprisingly, I came home tonight. I hadn’t planned on staying in the hospital when I left my house on friday and therefore have some loose ends to tie up at home and also needed to spend some time with Abbey and Emma who hadn’t seen their mom in a couple of days. I asked the doctor when he thought would be the best time for me to come home and he thought tonight as she was just starting the chemo so there shouldn’t be much action. My mom came and stayed with her for the night. It was hard to leave her as she hasn’t wanted to be with anyone but me but I knew she had to get used to being with other people as I will have to leave sometimes and daddy is working tonight so it was grandma’s turn. She settled in for the night pretty easily so hopefully I will be able to rest peacefully tonight.

As for Ella, she is doing OK!! Yesterday, they sedated her to put in the femoral line, do a lumbar puncture and do the bone marrow biopsy. She has been really out of it since and pretty fussy. We finally figured out tonight that her bone marrow site is really sore. She wouldn’t sit up in her bed and we couldn’t figure out why until the nurse touched it while checking the bandage and she flinched. She definitely hasn’t been herself since yesterday and this was all since before starting the chemo so I am not sure if she was just starting to feel sicker or if it is just the repercussions of the surgery. All I know is that when I look at the pictures below, she looked just fine and healthy until we got into the hospital and they started messing with her. But we know this is all to make her healthy again so we will trudge along. And you have no idea how good it is to know that we have a village of people at our side. We have been blessed with visitors everyday so far and I hope that doesn’t change as I think it will really help keep my spirits up. THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING!!! Here are a few pictures of our journey so far.



Ella weighing in at 24 lbs 9 oz at the clinic
before we knew this would be a long hospital stay :(

Getting comfy in the hospital bed while
watching Baby Signing Times


Opening her first gift from my friends Margie and Mary


Awww...a kitty cat!!


Someone is probably messing with her again...she is DONE
with everyone touching her!!


Notice the petechiae (red spots) on her face from all
the intense crying and the bruised arm


Hanging in there


Here comes the nasty stuff!! Notice Ella lying down in
the background

YUCK!!!


Thankfully daddy remembered to bring her baby doll from
home. Also notice one of the two beautiful blankets that
we have already been given at the hospital.











30 comments:

Heather said...

Oh my sweet baby girl.I have not cried,not up until now.I cannot tell you how very much I hate that she has to go through this.These pictures bring things back like it was yesterday but as those memories come flooding back,i am reminded of the strength these children have within their tiny but might bodies.

Praying,praying,praying and sending you all of my love.

You go little warrior girl.We go right along with you.

Mel said...

Keep strong Ella and mummy. Thinking of you :)

Rosa said...

I am praying for Ella and you guys. She is so beautiful even when she is sick. I do believe in the Power of prayers, so I will praying for Ella. Kisses and hugs!

Anonymous said...

Prayers for sweet Ella from Zoey's Great Aunt Bluebelle(Loraine) Syracuse, NY. These photos take me back to Zoey's photos. :{
Glad her daddy brought her favorite doll to be with her.

Bluebelle/Loraine

Tina said...

Oh Denise, I am praying so hard for Ella and for the whole family, this has been a bad few weeks for us here, and this news has really hit us all hard.

Ella will be fine, just keep that image in your head all the time, and stay positive. She will be back to her old self one day soon.

We love your little girl, and it's like one of our own has been hit. As Heather says we are all going along with your little warrior.

Much love and (((hugs)))

Stephanie said...

AWWW, you have a comment from Aunt Bluebell!!! How sweet!
Thanks for the update.
love you!!

Praying!

The VW's said...

SWEET, SWEET GIRL! Fight hard and get better soon! I'll be thinking of you and praying hard! Love, Hugs and Prayers!!!

my family said...

our support makes you cry and your pictures of that sweetie makes me cry. Thanks you for posting them. Do you read Renee's blog at My special K's...if not her little girl Kennedy went through leukemia several years ago and she is a wonderful and strong Mommie you may want to hook up with and flood her with questions ifyou dont have someone to do that with,Iknow she would not mind(they live in TN)

Adrienne said...

She's just so sweet I can't stand it. Praying every day for her.

Cathy said...

Denise...Mark and I feel blessed to get to pray for Ella and your family. Thanks for sharing the pictures of her. She's so beautiful. Know that our prayers will continue throughout her treatment. God is so good and will hold your little angel in His hands.

mandd3 said...

Denise,
I do hope you got a decent nights sleep. The pictures made me cry too, especially the one of her snuggled up after the poking and prodding.
Please know that my family is praying for yours everyday and I hope that the knowledge that all these people out here in blogworld love and pray for your little girl continues to lift you up, if even a little.
God Bless.

Lori said...

24 lb 9 oz! Man, that must be some powerful formula you give that firl! =)
Still praying for that sweet girl!
Also, prayers for you and your family. I imagine it is not easy on your other girls as they worry about their little sister.

Lacey said...

Oh Denise,its so nice to hear from you, and it kills me that I'm not there for one of my close friends! Ray said if it wasn't so close to us coming out he would put me on a plane! We'll be there soon, then I'm all yours! Love you guys!

Rochelle said...

Thanks for the update! We are praying tons for Ella and for all of you to be surrounded by God's peace.
Hugs!

Sweet Pea's Mommy said...

Thank you for the update and I am so glad that you are receiving such an outpouring of support. You and Ella both deserve it! Thank you for the photos and the update and we have already posted the prayer button at the top of our blog so everyone visiting will see it. Please let me know when would be a good time to come visit.

Leah Spring said...

Hi there! I'm Leah, mom to 14 year old Angela who has DS. I'm so sorry to hear yet another one of our kids has been diagnosed with Leukemia! UGH! Cancer sucks! We will be adding Ella Grace to our prayer list. She has an army praying for her!

kecia said...

oh the tears came easily for me seeing this sweet little face and what she is enduring! we will pray!

The BLIZZARD BUNCH: said...

I know you don't know me but saw your need for prayers on someone else's page and I have since been following sweet Ella's journey. I am praying for your sweet little Ella AND for you too!! What a heartwrenching thing to see your baby go through this! Please find comfort in our prayers!

Sumithra said...

Denise, My prayers are with Ella. She is such a sweet girl. I feel so sad to see her crying from the pricks and those tubes. Will continue praying for Ella.

The Sanchez Family said...

Praying for you and thinking of you often. You are not alone on this journey. We walk with you everyday. Biggest hugs!
xo
Jen

Erin Litteral said...

Denise, So good to hear from you. I've been thinking about you and Ella..praying for her. My heart is with you. The Lord will equipp Ella for all she needs to do and overcome. Hold on to Christ. You're not at Rady's are you? If so, we're still here..951-233-7269. Love, Erin Litteral

Googsmom said...

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}} adn Prayers daily!

Jenee said...

Praying constantly for that beautiful little girl and her whole support system. May God wrap His healing arms around her and bring you all strength.

((HUGS)) and LOTS of prayers from Michigan!

Unknown said...

My heart is breaking for the both of you! I am so sorry you are facing this fight, a fight that is not fair to any of you, any of us that love you. A fight that you will not fight alone, a fight that you and Ella will win. You are both strong. You denise are one of the strongest women I know! Please lean on all of us that love you, and give Ella huge hugs and kisses! Love and miss you! xo

Far Above Rubies said...

Denise, I just found out. My prayers are with you. My baby has the same name as yours. Ella Grace - short for Gabriella Grace.

All my love

Windmills and Tulips
Jasmine and Ella

Kelly said...

Glad to hear that you are taking care of yourself and getting some much needed rest. We have added Ella's button to our blog and are asking for lots of prayers. We are so honored to be part of this village and we are right there walking with you.

We are praying bunches and sending you lots of positive energy. This is all so UNFAIR, but we will fight this....TOGETHER. Ella, you are one strong little girl who has the will and determination to conquer any obstacle. Put on those "boxing gloves" and fight, fight, fight!! We will be cheering you on, every step of the way!!!

kangfamily said...

We are praying for you and thinking of you daily!! Stay strong sweet girl!

Christine said...

She is just the sweetest little girl! How I wish I could do something more than just pray and hope! For now, that's EXACTLY what I'll do!

Stay strong baby girl, you're going to do great!!

Mama Mason-Mann said...

Denise, thanks for sharing with us what I can only begin to imagine is so hard. My whole family has the stomach bug and I just look at them sick and think of you guys and sweet Ella and how hard it is to see your baby struggle. Know that the whole Mason-Mann family is here and sending you all the positive mojo and thoughts that we can. We love you all and look forward to the day when we will meet!

Anonymous said...

You are in my thoughts and prayers constantly! Hang in there and FIGHT! You will this battle! I cannot stop thinking of you...I am here if you need me!