Catching Up

A lot has happened since my last update. Sierra did really well with her methotrexate this time around, she is such a little stud muffin. No nausea at all, and she was wanting to be up playing the whole time we were there. We were successful in getting her NG tube in on the second try, though she did end up throwing up on that go around too, she soldiered through and we got it into place. She had a hard time getting used to it, and was feeling pretty gaggy from it for about 12 hrs or so, and was worried to try to eat or swallow anything, but after that she did really great. Sierra had cleared her methotrexate by Saturday morning so we packed up and headed home. She got to have a special visit from a friend from church who showed her how to do eyebrows and did some nail polishing and just had a fun time, thanks Jill! Sierra is already asking when she can come over again.
Since Sierra has an NG tube, we were given a new pump and formula to give her so she reaches her needed calories every day. I am so happy to be going this route, rather than the IV nutrition, IV nutrition is so much scarier, having to worry about being sterile and sending things directly to her heart. With the NG tube it is so easy, just dump the milk in the bag, hook it up to her and let it go. I can also give all of her meds right through the NG so I don't have to worry about fighting her on some of the icky ones, not that she ever gives me too much trouble, but it is nice to give her a break.
After our special visit on Saturday, Sierra started throwing up. I had given her too large of a quantity of formula and she got an upset stomach, oops. She ended up throwing up her NG tube out her mouth and I had to quickly untape it and pull it out through her nose. She was really upset knowing she would have to have it put back in. We ended up going back to the hospital and she did so well, she fought us at first, but as soon as we started she just sipped on water, then did some deep breathing and it was in, I was so proud of her. Now I know not to put so much into her belly at one time, and we will hopefully not have another incident like that.
Today we all got to go to church together, it is always nice to be there as a complete family. Sierra went to both of her primary classes on her own today, and didn't fall asleep like last week:)
After church we went over to the McDonald's near our house where the kids and parents from her school were putting on a car wash fundraiser for her. It was the idea of one little boy who used to be our next door neighbor and was in Sierra's kindergarten class. It was so amazing to see all of the support Sierra has from her classmates at school. They did a bake sale and had bracelets and hairbands to sell also. It was even covered by one of the news stations. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people. Sierra loved seeing pictures of herself on the TV.
This week Sierra will be back for her last dose of chemo before surgery, which is now finally scheduled for June 22 at noon. Sierra will get to participate in her schools Jelly bean Field day on Thursday and will go straight into the hospital for her final treatment. I am so glad her doctors were willing to push her chemo off one day so she could participate, I didn't want her to have to miss out.
 At this point Sierra doesn't seem too worried about the surgery, other than that it is surgery. I worry about her being upset by how her leg will look when it is over, but she is mostly worried about the fact that there will be pain. She is so brave and strong, she gives me strength when I see how well she has handled all of this.

We all got our faces or heads painted at the monthly ACCO luncheon  held on the floor. Dave had wings painted on the sides of his head, like Thor, but I didn't get a pick on my camera.

Batman came for a visit too, he gave all of the kids some comic books and a rubber batman bracelet.

Sierra loves to play with this Music maker, she is really good at it too. This was her face when she finished a song, very proud of herself.