Good morning,

There is always so much I want to share with you and so little time for me to sit down and tell you.  As a result I share mostly facts and statistics and I don’t share the other cute and amazing coping characteristics of our precious little girl.  Unfortunately considering the late hour, tonight will be more facts.

We went to the hospital on Friday and her ANC was still doing well at 2117, but her Hematocrit (RBC’s) was starting to fall and were 23.7.  Due to this we thought we would have to do a transfusion today.  However, our prayers were answered and she kept her hematocrit up to 21.8.  When it drops to 20 they do a transfusion.  They are projecting that this will be required either Wednesday or Thursday.  I am still praying that God will hold those red blood cells up through this entire phase, but I just have to trust him.

Sharmi is still doing fairly well on these drugs in contrast to the steroids and the first part of this phase.  She certainly has her bad times, but overall she still has good energy and is enjoying life.  Today when we got home from the hospital she was really clingy and cranky, but then we pulled out a Play-Doh set with shape cutters, a rolling pin, scissors, and other toys that she got from the hospital last week.  She loved it.  I was nice to see her actively enjoying playing again.  She is also laughing and enjoying tickling again.  Her and her daddy has a good tickle session this evening before she went to bed.  You certainly learn not to take these simple pleasure of life for granted.

One cute thing that she said today was when we were leaving the lab after her port had been accessed again.  I asked her if she wanted to walk or if she wanted mommy to carry her.  She answered, ‘I can’t walk, I have a port.”   The nurse and I laughed and she has since learned that she can still walk., even with the needle and tube hanging from her chest.    She has also made certain to correct her statement when I have told others the story today.  She made sure that she told her daddy that “baby can walk, no owies.” 

Good night to you all.

Cheris