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Friday, January 14, 2011

Great News!!! And Picture Overload!!

I have been needing to do this post for quite some time but was kind of waiting for one final bit of information before writing it. As you know, Ella finished her last round of chemo on December 20th. Then the following week, she had one final bone marrow biopsy to make sure she was definitely in remission. Part of what they look at in the bone marrow biopsy is called Cytogenetics which basically is looking at the chromosome of the bone marrow cells at the molecular level. If there are still some chromosomal abnormalities at this level, then that can mean that the treatment didn't completely work. We got the primary results on the marrow back last week and everything was clear but we were still waiting to see if she was in remission at the molecular level as well. This would tell us if the treatment was successful. Well, I am happy to report that SHE IS IN REMISSION IN HER BONE MARROW AND THE MOLECULAR LEVEL!!!! I definitely breathed a big sigh of relief today followed by many Thank You God prayers!! I know that it is completely normal during this transition period to worry about the leukemia coming back and we will never be able to stop worrying about that as nothing in the world of cancer is certain, but for now, all is good and we are planning on settling in here at home. In my heart, I knew that Ella seemed so full of life and energy and looked better than ever. But then my mind takes over and you talk yourself out of feeling very confident. I pray that I will be optimistic more than not from now on but of course relapse will never be far from my mind as is the same with any parent of a child with cancer.

So now what? We are waiting for a referral from our insurance to get her central line taken out. This will be an outpatient procedure but she will need to be sedated. I am hoping that this will be able to take place in the next couple of weeks as the worry of a line infection is always present. How nice will it be not to have to flush her lines everyday, change the dressing once a week and worry about it getting wet in the bath. Without her central line, she will be able to enjoy the swimming pool and beach. Unfortunately for me, this means that I will have to put on a bathing suit this summer :( No more excuses!! Right now, Ella has three lines of tubing under her shirt. Two for her central line and one for her G-tube. It will be so nice to only have one to deal with and then hopefully, someday when she decides to eat, she will have none!!

Once again, I thank EVERYONE for all of your support, love and prayers through this whole process. We seriously couldn't have gotten through this without you. But please continue to keep Ella in your prayers as we need to fight against this nasty cancer forever!!!

Now on to a major overload of pictures to catch you up on the last couple of weeks. Hope you don't fall asleep by the end!!


I call this her "Staying Alive" pose


Ella has taken to feeding herself already :)

Don't you just love the true happiness on her
face in this photo?

Nothing beats riding on Daddy's shoulders!!

All snuggled up after a bath

My new outfit from our local Ds group.

Ella's nun pose

Ella delivering home improvement flyers door to door

Daddy and his mom who was visiting from Montana

Our three girls

The girls with Grandma Vollmer


Ella and Grandma...this was her first visit to meet Ella

The "OH MY GOSH" pose

We reorganized the living room and now Ella has a play area.

Sisters swinging!!

Ella had a playdate with her friend E-V who is a few months
younger and also has Ds. They were so cute together but were
very hard to photograph as they rarely stopped moving!!

Ella being silly for E-V's mom's camera.

Just barely sitting down on the couch...

Here E-V, would you like me to read this Elmo book to you?

No? Well then I guess I will read to Elmo instead.

Taking a stroll out front

Enjoying lunch at Applebees.

Boy, are we tired!!!

Ella giving her big sisters a big squeeze!!

Ella and "that thing" settling in on her new Dora couch/bed
(anyone know the name of that thing from Dr. Seuss?)

Ella really likes this "thing"

I mean, she REALLY likes this "thing"


These days at home sure do wear a girl out!!!

41 comments:

Jennifer Scott said...

I'm so thrilled for you guys! She's an absolute doll. Just a beautiful little girl. I feel truly blessed to "know" her.

Devon said...

HOORAY WARRIOR GIRL!!!!!!! That's amazing!!!!

I love all the pics. Her faces are priceless. The nun one is just too much!! Hilarious!

Megan said...

What great news! Absolutley love the pics!

Runningmama said...

Yay, Praise God! I have been waiting for this good news :-) Ella looks so good in all of these pictures! I so wish I could meet both of you in real life!

Ashley said...

Great news! Boy, she is gorgeous <3 Can't wait to see you guys again!

Stephanie said...

happy , happy, happy!!!!
Best news ever!!!
Those pics make me want to get on a plane right now.
i say you all celebrate with a family trip East

mandd3 said...

Oh what fabulous news to end my day with! I couldn't be happier, and more thankful for your family to be happy, healthy, and together again! Loved all the pics too, especially the one of the three girls.

Unknown said...

What a fabulous way to start the year off...the best news I have heard in such a long time! I am so happy I am crying! Please give big kisses to Ella for being so courageous...and then hugs to all of you for being such wonderful influences to all...hope to see you guys soon, then I can give you hugs in person! Love to you all!!

Heather said...

Another happy dance here,seeing I was privy to this earlier today but it doesn't diminish my thankfulness,hearing it over again!

Love ALL the pictures and hoping to partake in the pool/beach with you all this summer.

Love and kisses to the warrior girl.

Alaina and Kyle said...

Oh...How exciting!! I'm so glad I got on tonight and read all the new posts. This made my day. I love all the photos and especially the ones with the sisters. They sure will be well balanced when they get older watching their little sister go thorough everything she has. Amazing!!

Kristin said...

Yay Yay Yay Yay!!!! That is such GREAT news!!!!! Way to kick cancer's butt Ella!

I Just Love You said...

so happy for that little girl of yours!!

The VW's said...

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME! Praise the Lord! This post makes me so happy! And, Ella.....you are truly ADORABLE! She is such a light to this world! Hugs!!!

Rochelle said...

Words can't express our joy for this great news! Thank you God for answered prayers!

Cammie Heflin said...

Praise the Lord!!! What wonderful news! Loving all of the pix, can never see enough! HUGS!

Unknown said...

Way to go Ella. I just want to scoop her up out of my screen.

Becca said...

Such GREAT news!!!! Yay!

And the pictures are PRECIOUS! :-)

Bulldogma said...

Wonderful news! I'm so happy to hear of the test results. LOVE the pictures, too :o)

Julie said...

Awesome news! I'm so happy for you all!

I cannot wait to see you!

Mama Mason-Mann said...

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful news!!!! And GREAT pics! :)

ANewKindOfPerfect said...

WAHOOOO!!! Oh Denise, I am so happy to hear this update!! I know the fears will never go away, but this must have eased them some. (((hugs))) I love that girl!

Julie Shaw said...

Wocket is the creature!

Jeana said...

What AMAZING news! So glad that she can get back to living it up at home, and I'll be praying that it stays that way...FOREVER! Wonderful pictures, she looks so beautiful.

Kellan's momma said...

That's such great news!! I love the pics, Ella is beautiful! I live in MT too!

Kendra said...

I'm so excited for you! Keep on groovin'!! (Love the stayin' alive pose!)

my family said...

never get tired of those sweet ella picts. thrilled about the great news!!

Sara P said...

Such WONDERFUL news!!! and super cute pictures:)

kecia said...

Such great news! Love all the pics!

Pallavi said...

What a news :) Yay Ella!!!
You are a rockstar..
So happy for you guys...
Loved loved those pics. speacially those poses
Hugs and Kissed

Melissa said...

Yay!!! I am doing a happy dance and saying prayers of thanksgiving. I hope you are able to get her central line out soon. A few less lines and tubes to deal with are always good!

Love all the new pictures!

Lori said...

Praise the Lord!!!! Such great news! I am so happy for Ella and lifting up many prayers of praise!

Adorable pics =) Love the one of her with her sisters =)

Kelli said...

Tears of HAPPINESS for you!!!!! :) love to all of you xoxoxox

Nataliefalls.com said...

Love all the pictures! I didn't fall asleep but I am now more awake :) Can't wait to spend time with your family.

Cole said...

BEST.NEWS.EVER!!!!!!!!! BLessings to you and that little rockstar- the pictures are wonderful and so happy to see a house full of smiles!

patsy said...

so happy for the good news!! love the new header...too cute! and denise the playmobil came from a specialty toy store in nashville called phillips toy mart. they had about 15-20 of the toddler version...maggie has about 5 sets and loves them all!! i wonder if amazon could locate some for you maybe? so glad miss eall grace enjoys tiny little things like miss maggie :)

Tina said...

Don't know how I missed this post, I have been waiting to see pics from being back home, saw a few on FB. I love each one of them can't tell you which one best of all as they are all so cute. I am so happy for you, it must be the best feeling in the world to have your Ella back home, she is doing so great and I know she is going to stay that well. Ella is another one of our amazing fighters we all need to look up to her. Blessing to her and my God always keep her safe. Hugs and prayers always.

Tina said...

btw love how she's fast asleep in the last pic....so so CUTE!!!!! I have been smiling non stop

Angi said...

Beautiful, such good news:-)

Bethany said...

I love all her poses ... too funny! And sooo exciting she has had a molecular response!!! That is my prayer for my friend McKenna too. :)

EN said...

I'm a little behind on my blog reading but that's INCREDIBLE news! Your heart must be overflowing with joy. By the way, I loved all the photos but the nun pose was priceless. Ella looks so reverent!

Kele said...

Hooray! LOVE the 'Stayin alive' pose, and she certainly has much to dance about.
So happy home is where you guys can stay now.
I can only imagine that the fear is never that far away... continued prayers for her health, and your peace of mind.
Ella, and her amazing Mama and family, has been an inspiration Denise.
Thanks for sharing the journey with all of us.
P.S. In your pictures it seems to me that Ella has never seemed happier, looked more precious and loved!!