Hello Everyone,

This Summer has just flown by.  I have had a lot of fun with the girls.   However, unfortunately we are still haunted by Sharmi’s low immunity and she has been sick three times in the last two months.  The worst was about a month ago when she got “hand, foot and mouth disease” again.  She had a fever of 104 degrees and I could only get it down to 102 degrees with Tylenol.   High fevers are a sign of relapse so as sad as it is, I was glad when Chantel got  a low grade fever.  This gave me comfort in knowing that it wasn’t relapse.  Sharmi of course got it the worst.  She was sick for over a week, and had sores in her mouth and throat which made it difficult to eat.  Last week Sharmi also started coming down with another cold.  I gave her tons of grapefruit seed extract and lots of foot baths and we were able to keep it from getting full blown.  It still wiped her energy out for many days but we were grateful that it was minor. 

Last week she had another oncology check-up.  The last two times we have gone, the blood draw from her arm was painless.  This time however was awful.  Sharmi and I were both in tears before they finally got the blood drawn.  Two veins in her right arm burst when they were trying to do the draw.  This resulted in quite a show of battle wounds.  Sharmi cried, begged, and pleaded with me to take her home and to not make her do it again.  This is such a quick trigger for me, and I instantly have flashbacks of 2 & 1/2 years ago and the worst night of my life.  It is impossible to explain.  Usually people can close their eyes to help pull themselves together, but every time I would try to do that and “shake it off”  the vision would flash before my eyes again.  Finally, I was able to get Sharmi calmed down enough to allow us to put cream on her other arm.  They waited for about ten minutes and then were able to get the draw on third try.  The good news is that her lab reports looked great and she is a healthy little girl still!

One of the projects this summer, was two weeks ago when my parents came and helped me paint the kitchen, family room, and hall way.  It has been a dark brown and we brightened it up a lot with yellow and spice (It is prettier than it sounds   ) . The girls loved the painting, but they didn’t like the fact that grandma and grandpa were painting and not playing with them. 

Last week our very dear friends John and Yvonne, were here from California to visit us.  We had a great time.  We went and visited the Kangaroo Farm.  Yvonne loved kissing the lama’s.  Sharmi enjoyed that too, but she also had another experience that very few people can claim.  She was gently feeding a nice kangaroo and the mean kangaroo came up behind her and bit her on the back.  It bit her so hard it left two bruises from his upper and lower lips.  The poor girl was scared to death and cried and cried.   But she got over it quickly and she likes telling the story,  “I was feeding a kangaroo and FOR NO REASON AT ALL that other kangaroo came up and BIT ME ON THE BACK, FOR NO REASON AT ALL!!”   She is so animated!  Chantel likes telling the story too, ”bite, sharmi, mean,.. sharmi, bite,… sharmi, ok,…amal (animal) mean!”

Chantel is becoming quite the interesting little girl.  I love listening to her talk.  I was coloring with her today and she kept wanting me to move my hand so she said, “sue see, sue see, color, color” (translated to mean excuse me.)   I am also seeing more of her personality.  She is exactly like her mother.  Today she was lining up foam blocks.  She had several that were squares with holes in the middle.  She lined those up first and then she put the two squares without holes in them on the end.  I watched her carefully, and at three different times I handed her three more squares with holes and she would remove the two without holes, put the one with the hole next in line and then put the two without holes back again.  I waited until she was done and then I would hand her another one.  She did the entire process all over again.  She determined all on her own that this was how it was supposed to be done.  It was very cute.

Well I miss you all.  Good-night.

Cheris

>raman amplifier  I won’t even begin to try to explain how the last several weeks have been as a family. But the high level has still been full and busy.  One week after we returned from California our Washington Camp meeting started.  We took the girls down both Sabbathsand I also took the girls two additional days.  They both loved it.  Sharmi was very disappointed that she couldn’t go everyday to all of the meetings, but 4 days in one week without naps was more than enough. 

The downside of campmeeting was that Sharmi got sick from some little girls and then she shared it with her sister.  They have been sick for a week and a half. 

Yesterday we came over to Poulsbo to spend some time with my grandmother since my parents are out of town.  The funniest thing happened today.  Their Nana always has popsicles for the girls, but this morning Sharmi was not being nice and so I told her that she could not have popsicile.  I however, forgot to tell Nana.  Tonight when I was tucking Sharmi into bed she said, “Nana gave me a popsicle today.”  I said, “Oh you weren’t supposed to have one.”  She said, “I know.   Nana didn’t listen to me very well when I tried to tell her. I tried to tell her but she just got up and got  me one anyways.  She doesn’t listen to me very well.  She brought it, and so I just took it because I wanted it.”  The entire time she was telling me she had the biggest smile on her face.  And she was laughing, that “Nana doesn’t listen very well.”  The laughing was certainly worth her not getting her punishment.   

Next week is another hospital week.  Other than her cold she is going great.  We expect nothing but good reports.

I hope all is well you and your families.

Cheris

Good Evening,

The last 4 weeks have been a blur of planning, celebrating and medical appointments.   We flew back from San Diego on Sunday.  While on the plane my body must have decided that my stress was over, because I started sneezing and by Monday morning I was sick and totally wiped out.  I got some rest on Monday, and convinced my body that I was still on mommy duty, because I had to take Sharmi to the hospital the next day.  By Tuesday morning, the cold was gone but I was still really drained. 

Sharmi’s appointment went really well.  I took both of the girls, so Emalyn came with us to help entertain Chantel while I was busy with Sharmi.  She was a wonderful help.  It worked really well.   Sharmi was afraid of the new process.  She didn’t like having the numbing cream on her arm.  However, when I was identifying the best place for the draw I said, “here is a happy vein.”  Emalyn and Sharmi thought that was funny and they talked about Sharmi’s “happy veins”  all day.  Her happy vien and the numbing cream worked really well.  Sharmi didn’t even feel it.  She was very please about that.  Dr. Thompson said Sharmi’s labs were boring.  We like boring.   

The last month of celebrating has been wonderful.  The kids church in Marysville was perfect.  The theme was “Heaven is for Kids.”  We decorated the church with a ton of stuffed animals and we had a blanket and picnic basket with snacks on the stage.  All of the kids loved it.  My parents sang ”Heaven is for Kids”, dad told a story about being in Gods hands and he used fire as an illustration, there was a baby dedication, I told Sharmi’s story (without crying), Sharmi sat next to me on the stairs while I talked and she took care of her bear Mellow.  Sharmi sang a solo “Come and go with me to my Fathers house”, my Dad told a story about how angels are special to children and to Sharmi, my mom sang a song that she created for Sharmi about being a special angel from above.   And pastor Doug finished with a story about Daniels courage and emphasized that since Sharmi is in God’s hands the statistics of her ever being sick again are different then the standard medical statistics.  After church we had a wonderful potluck lunch at our house.  It was a perfect day!!

This last weekend in California was also a great celebration.  Sabbath morning when we left for church it was pouring down rain on the coast, but by the time of the party the weather was perfect.  It was wonderful to visit with our friends and family again.  Sharmi had a great time!  Chantel also really enjoyed it.  She just wandered around and watched everyone.  After it was over we asked her if she liked the party and she nodded, smiled and said, “party…cake…cake.”    The next morning when we were leaving the resort I thought I would sit down and finally rest for 2 minutes while everyone loaded up, but Dean came back in for something and saw me with a quarter of a cake and a fork.    He thought that was a good idea.  It wasn’t long before the kids found us and then there were 4 of us with 4 forks digging into a huge cake.  It was a funny sight.  The girls were skipping the cake and just eating the flowers and bees off the cake.  It is a great memory!

Well, laundry is still piled up from the trip.  I am hoping to get most of it done tonight. 

Thank you to all of you who came to celebrate with us.  It was an honor to have all of your love, support and prayers. 

Goodnight,

Cheris

Good Morning,

We are all excited about our trip to San Diego.  Sharmi has been asking me for weeks, ”how long will it be.”  And yesterday she saw her very special friend Jenny, who lives in Oregon.  She cried when we left her last night.  Now, since she knows Jenny is coming to San Diego with us Sharmi asks me every 5 minutes, “When are we going to San Diego and when do I get to see Jenny again?” 

If you havn’t RSVP’d yet you are still more than welcome to come, and we would love to see you.  Also, you were so incredibly thoughtful and generous with Sharmi when she got sick.  She has so many loving gifts from you which reminds us of the love and support she has.  For her party, we just want to spend time celebrating her life with you, please no gifts.

We love you all and we will see you soon.

Cheris

Good Evening,

Wow, this week flew by.  Just a few moments ago I was shocked to realize that tomorrow is Friday.  What a short week it has been.  I have a ton to do between now and when we leave for California. 

All in all Sharmi’s surgery Tuesday went really well.  We rushed to get there in the morning with no sleep and then we found out that they had miss-scheduled the doctor and her 7:30 am surgery was moved to 9:00 am.  In reality she was taken to surgery at 9:45.  That morning Sharmi went into her shutdown protective mode.  She talked as little as possible and just watched TV.  The surgery went well, but she was really cranky coming out from under the anesthesia.  Dean and mom took the brunt of her attitude.  I was able to get a big smile out of her when I gave her the little resin puppy she wanted, but then she just held him close and went back to watching TV. 

Sharmi was very pleased that there were so many of us there to support her.  My parents were there before the surgery and my aunt Tami and Carl and Trina, arrived immediately after she went into surgery.  Once we got her out of the hospital she started feeling better.  We had a wonderful afternoon.  We went to downtown Seattle.  She rode the Carousel, ate macaroni at Red Robin, had a strawberry ice cream cone (sister had huckleberry), and she rode the carousel again before we drove home and the kids crashed in the car.

At the end of the day, I was wipped out.  Carl and Trina once again bailed me out the last couple of days.  They helped me get the kids in bed, and Trina had Chantel all day yesterday so Sharmi could have some mommy time, and I could have a little rest.  Sharmi and I played magnets, cuddled, did markers, colored, I took a “nap” while she made me “breakfast”, we took a real nap together and we tickled.  I have noticed that just in the last two days she has laughed more.  She used to love to laugh.  It was like old times.  And today, when I was closing the blind before her nap, I saw the sparkle in her eye again.  The sparkle that the chemo killed years ago.  My baby is coming back! 

Yesterday I asked her, “How is your port doing?”  She replied, “My not-port is doing good.”  Her body has a “not-port” and “not-cancer”, and the scars are already beginning to fade.

Cheris

Good Evening,

This weekend was wonderful.  We had a great kids church on Sabbath, a wonderful time with family and friends and the weather was fabulous.  And to top off the weekend Dean and I got a much needed break and we went to dinner and the theatre last night with Carl and Trina.  When I have more time I will share more of the details, but I need to get to bed. 

Tomorrow morning we need to leave the house at 5:15 A.M with a 6:15 check in.  Sharmi’s p0rt removal surgery is scheduled for 7:30.  It should take about 1/2 hour.  It should be a pretty simple surgery.  They are just going to open her up, take out the port, pull the tube out of her heart and sew her back up.  Recovery will take about 2 hours.  Afterwards, if she feels up to it, we have promised her lunch at Red Robin. 

I am a little worried  about how tired she will be.  She didn’t get to sleep until after 9:30 tonight.  After we got back from dropping Chantel off at the Hall’s, we gave Sharmi a bath (since it will be a few days before she will be allowed a bath) and she ate a whole tray of food while I read her stories.  She has gotten pretty good at handling the days when she can’t have food, and since her surgery is so early she won’t get too hungry. 

Well I need to pack up her stuff and get to bed.  Keep Sharmi and her surgery in your prayers tomorrow.

Goodnight,

Cheris

In the final week of chemo, there is 1 down and 4 to go!  It still hasn’t sunk in. 

Tomorrow Dean and I are taking Sharmi into the doctor to check her labs one more time.  They are needing to make sure that she is healthy enough for her port removal surgery next week.  Dean will also have an opportunity to get a debrief and ask any questions directly to the doctor. 

Last night, I created another page on the website called, “Thank you…Who are you?”  Hundreds of you have been caring about us over the past 27 months and we would love to know who you are.  Thanks.

Goodnight,

Cheris

Happy Sabbath,

What a day.  Sharmi is on her nasty weekly methotrexate today, which made a very difficult day.  She did OK until about 1:00 pm.  The oxycodone made her bearable this morning.  I was hoping that the hour and a half of just mommy time doing finger paints would help us get through the afternoon, but it didn’t seem to help.  She couldn’t fall asleep for her nap so after a miserable hour I let her come out of her room and the misery continued.  (She didn’t get a nap yesterday either, which added to it.)

However, this evening was priceless when I tucked her in.  I asked her if she had been good for daddy while she was getting ready for bed.  She told me that she wouldn’t take her chemo when he asked.  I reminded her that she only had to take it 5 more times.  I also told her that in one week we are going to have a party.  I asked if she knew what for.  She got the biggest smile on her face.  She wrapped her arms around my neck and rolled her whole body on top of mine and said, “I won’t have cancer anymore!”  Tears rushed to my eyes and fell down my cheeks.  She laughed and we hugged for while, and then she saw my tears and she asked,  “Mommy, what’s wrong.”  I responded, ”Nothing honey, mommy is just happy.”  She laughed and said, “You don’t look happy, you are crying.”

I was sure she was going to say, “I don’t have to take chemo anymore.”  I was shocked to hear her say  “cancer.”  This is only the second time I have ever heard her say the word “cancer.”  The only other time was a few weeks ago when I specifically asked her if she knew she had cancer, and asked why she didn’t talk about it.  Tonight, after she was FINALLY asleep Dean and I were talking and she had told him, “Daddy, I am going to get my port taken out because I don’t have cancer anymore.”  I am amazed at her little coping mechanisms.  She has never talked about cancer, and in the last couple weeks she has been talking more about her hair as well.  She talks about “my beautiful curls”, and “when I was a baby I didn’t didn’t have any hair becuase I had so much chemo.” 

Thank God she is feeling free to talk about it.  Now, it is time to celebrate.  I just hope I survive the celebrations.  Our Marysville church is doing a special children’s church next Sabbath in honor of Sharmi and we will be having a pot-luck at our house afterwards.  I am also working on food and rentals for the party in San Diego in June.  It will be a crazy 4weeks, but she deserves it. 

Happy Sabbath to you all.  Goodnight.

Cheris

Good Evening,

Today was a fun day.  We went to gymnastics this morning, the girls played in the dirt before their naps, I read books to Chantel and tickled her while Sharmi slept, this afternoon we went shopping and I bought a new skirt for me and animal tanks for growing frogs, and we ended the day going to the Hall’s to catch tad poles.  Sharmi caught a lot of tad poles.  In addition, Emalyn put an egg sack in the tank, so we might have a plague after they all grow into frogs.

Sharmi still loves reading and one of her favorite stories right now is the story of Josephs coat of many colors and the famine in Egypt.   The other day at dinner she surprised me when she said, “I am glad I don’t live in Egypt. ”  I curiously asked her why and she said, “I don’t want to eat JUST corn… I like eating lots of different foods.”   I just laughed. 

I cannot believe how much Sharmi has grown.  We just had her 4th birthday party at my parents house last week.  It was a wonderful time.  She got a new bike that she rode on grandma and grandpa’s patio.  Chantel tried to ride the bike also, but she was happiest if she got sisters cool purple water bottle that goes in the bike.     Sharmi got lots of other great gifts, but she was very generous with Chantel.  She gave Chantel the gift bags that had cloths in them.  She said, “Chantel, you can open these.  They have clothes.  I like clothes, but they are not very fun to play with right now.”  Mom and I laughed at her selective generosity.

Chantel is really fun.  She is talking all the time.  When we drive around town and she spots cows and says, “moo, moo, cow…. moo cow.”  She loves her play ground in the back yard.  Whenever a door gets left open or she gets out of the car she runs for the swings.  I am really glad she enjoys outside so much.  I just wish it didn’t increase the number of baths and the amount of laundry. 

I can’t believe that there is only 9 more doses of Mercaptopurine and 2 more doses of Methatrexate to go.  Two years ago it didn’t feel like we could survive this.  But today was a great day.  It was not one of just surviving, it was one of REALLY LIVING!   The first two years of Sharmi’s life was consumed by rebuilding our house and life from the flood.  That last two years have been spent fiighting cancer.  I pray that the next two years will be really living!  (I am already sad about her going to school someday.) 

I hope our lives can remind you to “really live”,  it makes such a difference. Good night.

Cheris