A Sweet Ella Grace Update From Heather ....

Denise has limited access to the computer there at CHOC.She has been able to jump on to the community computer that is available,every once in awhile.She can read comments but she is not able to post.She is hoping to have their laptop there sometime this week but again,that is a crap shoot as to whether internet service will be easily available in the room.So for now you'll have to put up with me.

First and foremost Denise would like to extend her heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the outpouring of love,support and prayers.Without it,she would be lost.

Speaking of prayers.A button has been made by the darling Presley's beautiful momma Kele but we ,or should I say I,am having a heck of a time placing the code within a scroll box.Everytime I place the code,the actual picture of the button pops up in the box.Frustrating.So if anyone can help a girl out,I would so appreciate it.Just email me or post on my blog.We really need to get that button plastered all over blogland to keep everyone focused on the task at hand:Ella's complete conquering of this beast!

As for Miss Ella.She is tired.These first few days are brutal.I remember them well.And when I say brutal I mean brutal on these precious children.It is nothing short of their tiny bodies being violated and assaulted.Sounds extreme I know.But it is just that bad.She finally has a femoral line as a go between till her Broviac is placed.This temporary line allows them to acess her labs and administer meds and removes the necessity of IV's.Which was getting pretty near impossible on the sweet little love.

The game plan as of today or as of this morning when I last spoke to Denise,is for chemo to begin sometime tomorrow.Denise's understanding is that they will begin chemo in that femerol line and still be able to take her to the OR to place the Broviac.That's where that stands at the moment but could change come morning.You can never be sure.Game plans have a way of changing when you are living in the land of unpredictable pediatric cancer.

Denise continues to sound really good.Tired but good.She has had visitors to pass the time and her mom,who was away on a trip, is now back in town. So that is a blessing.The biggest thing at this point,and it might seem strange to others who have not traveled this road,but the thing that weighs heaviest on you,almost in a weird way before the chemo regiment, is the ever nagging question of,"How are we going to logistically make this work?"Mostly the stress of figuring out a routine.Pick up and care of the other kids.Changing of the guard between mom and dad.How you even fit in a simple 5 minute shower and when will you cross the threshold of your very own home again?Just the reality of the fact that, 3 days ago life was "normal" and now,in a blink of an eye, this has become your "new normal".

That old proverb of "it takes a village to raise up a child" becomes a lifeline and I know for certain that the beautiful community of family and friends of the Vollmer Family will carry them through the months ahead.

That is all for now.I will get that button glitch figure out before long and post that code here and on Zoey's blog shortly.