Friday, November 21, 2008

Wednesday-Thursday - November 19-20

Boy, I'm starting to feel better finally. It's not so boring any more and I don't get so tired so I'm walking around instead of riding in a wheelchair. Even when we were done with the appointments I didn't have to take a nap. I've been doing alot of arts and crafts and watched Pirates of the Caribbean again. (Johnny Depp is HOT!) I'm starting to sleep more at night and the medicine isn't keeping me awake. Yesterday and today I started doing some of my homework. I am really behind but Mom is helping me get caught up. (She's not very good at algebra tho'). I worked on some science too. I'm doing a project with a candy bar and I didn't even eat any of it! I'm supposed to start eating healthy stuff so candy bars are NOT on the list.
Kaitlyn is going to come stay with me until I get to go home. She THINKS she gets to skip school but she won't get to. At Ronald McD House kids do their homework anyway, even if they are sick unless they are too tired. But they help us get it made up. K, that's all for now.
Love,
Bree

Note from Parents:
These past two days Brianna's personality is reappearing. She was not complaining about being bored and had the energy to walk all day through numerous appointments. When we returned to RMH we assumed she would plop on the bed for a nap, but she has been very busy with arts and crafts. Another sign that she is feeling better. She is participating in conversation and we have been able to get a few belly laughs out of her! She also admitted that Johnny Depp is "hot!" (We watched Pirates of the Caribbean again.) Up until this point she has denied attraction to any movie/t.v. star. She slept well 3 out of the last 4 nights being able to put together at least 6 hours straight. She is continuing to come down off of the steriods and we are sure she is feeling better with the numerous negative side effects decreasing. Originally, when first diagnosed she was taking 16 mg/day and is now down to 2 mg/day. By Thanksgiving she should be completely weaned and can focus on racing to the finish line.
She finally decided to go to school yesterday and today and spent time with an instructor trying to get caught up with her school work. We hit our limit with math. Getting beyond a certain level in algebra...just forget it! She also worked on a science lab involving a Milky Way candy bar. We were so proud that she passed on eating any part of it as she is attempting to stick to her new diet restrictions. We are slowly weaning her off sugar and dairy products and moving to a completely organic diet. Comfort foods over the past several weeks were proving too hard to let go. It is another sign of her progress to see that she is now able to avoid temptations. We are so very proud of her hard work, especially over the past several days. We are thrilled to see our Brianna coming back. Smiling, laughing, talking, working on her art projects....physically she looks very different (that is temporary) but when your child is not themselves mentally or emotionally that is the most heart-wrenching. We are beginning to see Brianna the way she was before the diagnosis.
Tomorrow Grandma Close, Aunt Jackie, cousin Dan, and Kaitlyn will arrive. Kaitlyn will stay with us until the end of Brianna's treatment. Her personality and energy will definitely help Brianna feel better. Once they begin fighting, etc. it will feel more like home...we can't wait!! We think Kaitlyn believes she will not have to work on homework while she is here and may be begging Bob to come get her so she can "relax" at school. Our neighbor (Miss Penny) informed me that Kaitlyn was already checking things off her list that she can put off until later. Miss Penny is an elementary teacher and would have no part of Kaitlyn trying to get out of doing homework! Thanks Penny! :-) Penny informed us that Kaitlyn organized her tupperware cabinet as well!!
I finally caved and asked Matt to drive me to a TakeCare Clinic at Walgreens as I have had a sore throat for a few weeks. Compared to what Brianna is experiencing my sore throat seems pretty insignificant, but I decided to make sure it wasn't strep. It is most likely a combination of factors (dry air, stress, etc.) I will go back to giving Brianna kisses as often as I can!!
Love and Prayers, Brianna's Family

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