Thankfulness

First of all...I just really want to say Thank You to so many of you that have sent money in to the Kelby Wright Fund. There has just been a continous outpouring of support and we just appreciate it so much. I know that there are many to thank and we don't know who you are, so this is the most I can do, though I'd like to do more. I am sure many don't get a chance to check our website, so I am sad that they won't hear my thank you. I hope that somehow everyone out there knows how much we appreciate the love and support that we have received. As we travel down to Seattle and have to stay there for this next long period, we are thankful more and more for the money that can be used for gas, food, and all the other things that add up so quickly. Because I have heard that many want to know how to help, here is the address to the fund: We have been down in Seattle everyday for the last three days. It was very informative. They are trying to get all the meetings and tests done so that we can hopefully start Kelby's treatment on Friday May 4th. We met with the doctor, nurse, social worker, dentist, financial coordinator, and child-life specialist in the last three days. They have kept us busy and are getting us prepared for what is ahead. The one thing that I have come to realize the most through these meetings is just how well Kelby has done so far! It is hard sometimes to see the blessings that we have had through this whole process. So many that we have talked to are amazed at how well Kelby has come through this first phase over that last five months. She came through with so little side effects...there are so many things that could have gone wrong that didn't. She didn't need the IV nutrition until the end...many kids need it right away. She bounced back so quickly and didn't get any infections. She remained so happy through all of this. Not every child is as blessed as she has been. Hopefully she will have the same strength through the stem cell transplant process too. We are also appreciating the insurance that we have through this. Not only has the coverage been excellent, but the treatment we have received from them has been phenominal. With Group Health, they are the insurance company and hospital in one. Which to some may not seem the greatest, but to us it has been great! We realize this more now that we are in a different system/hospital. They are efficient...which keeps Kelby from getting needless tests and wasting time. They take good care of you and are much more flexible because they are a smaller system. It is just one more thing that we are continually thankful for. I am just so proud of my daughter because she brings smiles to all the other cancer patients at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance by shouting "I love you" through the halls. She has the happiest spirit I have ever seen. We are so thankful that Kelby is a normal kid right now. Actually, she is probably better than a normal kid (especially in our eyes!) We are enjoying every moment of being home. We want things to get started in her treatment, but every day that we are home is one more beautiful day to enjoy. We know that all that we are thankful for comes from God. We appreciate everyone of your prayers because we know that they have made an incredible difference. Thanks to everyone that is checking up on us and thanks for the guestbook messages! We love you all!

Meeting Results

Well, I just wanted to let you know that I am feeling much better after our meeting today. They gave us a lot of information and got us caught up. I got to voice my frustration with the lack of communication. The nurse was very kind and responsive to my concern. We got a more detailed schedule today, but still don't know when the transplant will get under way. They have a lot they have to do to get it all organized and to make sure Kelby is ready. We are going down to Seattle on Thursday and Friday for several meetings. We hope to get as much done in those two days as possible. There are also several classes that we are supposed to take, but we may see if we can take those while Kelby is starting her treatment. One class is for "Managing Care at Home" and we won't even need that until we are almost out of the hospital. The other classes are on nutrition and caregiver support, so it would be nice to get those done next week. They offer other services that will be helpful...like a financial advisor, social worker, and child-life specialist...and we'll meeting with them in the next few days as well. It just doesn't seem so bad now that I know what is going on. We hope to have a better idea when things will get under way after our conference with the doctor tomorrow. Today we met with the nurse who got us settled in and went over the schedule with us. They took some of Kelby's blood to do all kinds of tests to make sure she is ready and to see if she has any viruses that might affect her later. Then, we had to get a chest x-ray at Children's hospital so they have a baseline picture of her lungs. I guess they will be checking her lungs weekly after the transplant to make sure she doesn't get pneumonia or anything like that. So, that was all done by 1:30 this afternoon, so we stopped by the zoo before heading home. Kelby got a kick out of the monkeys today. She just liked being outside!! It was a beautiful day today. I am still doing okay. I am sure that this baby will show up with just perfect timing. For now, it seems to be okay where it is. If I learn anything new tomorrow, I'll fill you all in. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. This is all going to be a hard road. This transplant is pretty serious stuff as well. So, we'll be needing as many prayers as possible. Love you all! God Bless.

Who Know's What's Going On?

Well, we sure don't know what is going on. Yesterday we found out that we are not actually starting Kelby's transplant process on Wednesday. They have us scheduled for a whole bunch of meetings for a whole week at least before they give us a start date. We are very upset by the lack of information. It is the fault of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, not Group Health. We are switching into their system now. I guess that is why we have to jump through a bunch of hoops before things get going. Sounds like we have to meet with a bunch of people and take some classes. We won't be admitted until later...probably next week, so we'll be driving down to Seattle everyday (except this weekend). Then, we also found out that this Seattle Cancer Care Alliance wants us to live within 30 minutes of them (even in peak traffic) for 2 months AFTER Kelby is released from the Hospital. We have no idea how to do that. Plus, that just seems miserable! It is for them to be able to check her blood counts and things. Hopefully we can get transferred back to Group Health after she is out of the hospital so they can help us deal with all that stuff instead. They know us better there and what we can handle. The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance people were supposed to send us information last week about what is going to happen, but have yet to see it. So, we really don't know what kind of schedule we are looking at here. Although one thing is sure, we won't be starting the transplant until a week later than we thought...which means this baby is going to be born long before Kelby is out of the hospital. I had been having contractions this weekend...but I didn't want to tell everyone because I don't want you all to worry about me. They weren't painful contractions....but they were 5 minutes apart. I went into the birthing center, but I wasn't dilated at all, so they weren't worried about me. I went to the OB yesterday...he said that I am probably won't make it to May 21st for the "birth"day. No worries though...they baby will be fine if born now. We just don't know where I'll be to have the baby. I am carrying my records with me everywhere and I just have to go to the nearest hospital when the time comes. I am not having as many contractions now...just every once in awhile. They must just be Braxton-Hicks contractions. On the positive side....Kelby is doing absolutely great! She is eating like a big piggy. She is finally accepting new and different foods. She loves that chicken and eats tons of it. She has even been eating cooked carrots and green beans! She is really really loving to play with balls. When the weather is nice she HAS to be outside the entire day. Mike has set up a crochet set in the yard...and Kelby LOVES the crochet balls. Since it was rainy the last 2 days, she had to have the crochet ball inside to tide her over. This weekend Mike and his Dad got a patio poured in the backyard. We enjoy being outside too. Playing outside. Sleeping

No News Is Good News

Hello everyone. I thought that I better write just to let you all know that all is well. Kelby is doing super great. The weather has been so nice, so we have been playing outside a lot. We got to go to some friends house for dinner last night and Kelby had a BLAST with their daughter. It is nice for her to play with friends...and us too! We are gearing up for the stem cell transplant now. We just don't really know what to expect from it. I am getting to be a gigantic pregnant lady. I hope this baby decides to stay in an extra week this time instead of come a week early like Kelby did. I need to get some more pictures of Kelby outside for you today. I keep forgetting. Big Mommas...this is Heather (Mike's sister) and I on Easter Sunday. We're getting there! On Easter, Emma was making Kelby some imaginary "coffee" and Kelby kept pretending to drink it. Here is Kelby...just laying around. This is the finished project of Kelby's room. Isn't it cheery and beautiful!

Everything is Good

We are all doing so great. Kelby is a little sleepy head, but her body is just repairing itself I think. Other than that, she is a normal kid...playing and having a good time. I just made the appointment to start with the stem cell transplant on the 25th of April. So, now it is all set up. It is nice to know when things are going to happen. Kelby ate pizza at Costco today for lunch. She is such a happy kid...until she gets sleepy. Gosh, that sounds a lot like a normal kid!

Happy Easter!!!

Well, hello to everyone! We are at home today for a very happy Easter. Kelby did great yesterday and they decided to let us go home last night. She had to stay until she ate dinner to make sure that she was eating okay. She ate just like normal so we got to come home. Today she is running around like nothing happened. She even slept completely through the night last night just on one dose of Tylenol with Codine. Today I have just given her regular Tylenol and she seems to be doing just fine on it! I think that she would really be fine without any pain medicine, but I'll keep giving it to her today...and see what happens tomorrow. Later today we will be going down to Mike's sister's house for Easter dinner. Kelby wants to play outside. It is a beautiful day out today!! We are just happy and thankful to be all together today with our happy baby on such a beautiful and special holiday. God bless!

Just Waiting for the Surgeon

Kelby is doing just GREAT! She was playing a lot last night and we even got out of the room and walked around...she walked too! I don't think that she is really in all that much pain at all. We have been alternating morphine and tylenol and she is doing fine. Actually, she hasn't had any morphine at all since 8:00 or so this morning. She is napping right now. She does have a little gas pain once in awhile. She has had some explosive gas...which is a good sign. She pooped (nice...more than you all need to know I'm sure) and that makes us one step closer to going home. I really think that she would do fine at home with just some tylenol...but I am waiting for the surgeon to visit us to let us know what to expect. She ate yogurt, milk and cheerios for breakfast...and some more cheerios at lunch. I think that she would scarf down a ton of toast and oatmeal, but they won't let her eat real food yet... .again...waiting for the surgeon's word. She really surprises me at how well she has bounced back. She walked around again this morning and didn't want to stop. It will be 2 weeks before the transplant stuff starts. They will be contacting me soon about a schedule. They have to wait at least 2 weeks after a surgery just to make sure that she doesn't have any kind of problems before getting some pretty harsh chemotherapy. We are doing great and hopefully Kelby will be going home today or tomorrow. Love you all.

Doin' Really Great!!

Mike and I were at home last night and enjoyed the break, but missed our baby! She did great though. The nurse heard "gas" noises this morning, so now she can have clear liquids. She ate a popsicle so far. I don't know when she'll be able to try regular food again. She seems to be doing great. She is laying in the bed with her head tilted up...and sometimes she even sets herself up to sitting! She is happy and playing. She likes to be read to and to watch her shows. I think we'll be out of here in no time! She always amazes everyone. They also said that the tumor they took out was only 5% cancer in the very center and everything else was dead! Her bone marrow is also clear, so she is on to the chemo/transplant process next! I am not sure what the timing will be with that, but the sooner the better. Kelby is just an amazing girl.

Doin' Good

I just got back down to the hospital this morning. I got almost 12 hours of sleep last night, so I am feeling pretty good. Sounds like Kelby did pretty good last night. Mike didn't sleep too good though since they were sharing a bed. Mike has them talked into taking some of those tubes out soon this morning. Kelby is awake and watching more Rollie Pollie Olie and she is doing well. She seems to have a bit of a fever this morning. We haven't figured that out yet, but hopefully it isn't anything. The 12 hour urine collection test that they did on Tuesday came back and it seems that her kidneys are still perfectly normal. That is so great...they worried that some of the chemotherapy she's had could have done some damage, but it hasn't! Today she is doing great and I think she'll be even more happy when she gets the tubes out of her nose, bladder and back...at least Mike and I will be! Thanks to everyone for leaving messages in the guestbook. We love to have everyone write...even complete strangers. It is always nice to know who is checking up on our sweety. Don't worry...it isn't just for family. We love you all and appreciate your concern and prayers.

All Went Well!!!

The surgeon was just in the room. They are all finished and he said that everything went wonderfully. She isn't back in the room quite yet, but we are happy that she did so good. ...she got back into the room now. It took awhile to get her settled in here...she has all kinds of tubes on her. She is still pretty groggy when she is awake, but she is sleeping right now. She has a tube in her nose down to her stomach that they are draining her stomach with. She has an epidural in to keep her pain under control. She is on a monitor for her heart beat and oxygen rate. She is getting blow-by oxygen and fluids in her IV. Oh yeah...and a catheter in her bladder too. But...don't worry...cause like I said, she is sleeping happily. Sounds like Mike will stay with her tonight, George and Debbie will stay with her tomorrow night, and I will be with her the next night. We didn't sleep well last night at all. It was SUPER hot in our room...but they are currently fixing it right now. Kelby slept with me in the big bed. I think that she likes this bed best now. Oops...I guess that was a side effect to getting her to sleep in the big bed at home! Anyways, thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers today! She is doing great. Last night Kelby ate chicken!!! She loved it. I can't believe it...she hasn't eaten meat really since all this stuff started.

Here We Are

We came down early this morning and had Kelby's hearing test. She is so happy and strong willed now though, so she didn't cooperate with the audiologist. She has too much energy to pay attention to the tones. She did respond to voice, so the audiologist thinks that her hearing fine. We might try again later this week when she has lower energy to see if she will do better. After that test we got to mess around for the day. It was raining, so we didn't make it to the zoo, but we got to go to the mall. Kelby got to play on a little play center there and walk up and down the stairs there. Plus, there is a huge cool toy store that she walked around. She has so much energy. We let her run around all she wants, so she is super tired now. They are going to be putting a catheter in so they can collect her urine for 12 hours for a test. Surgery is at 8:00 am tomorrow morning. They think that she will recover quickly. They can schedule the stem cell transplant stuff as soon she is better...and the sooner the better. All is well. We'll let you know how she is doing tomorrow after her surgery. Thanks for your prayers tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to my Sister Andrea!

I am sorry that there haven't been many updates lately. I guess that everything is going so well and so normal, that we don't have too much to say. First off, I want to say Happy 18th Birthday to my sister Andrea in Billings! I hope she has a good one. Kelby is doing so great. You wouldn't know that anything was wrong with her! She is down to one nap a day. This is just one more sign that she is a normal girl. She used to sleep so much, so it is nice to see her able to stay up and happy for so long. We wanted to get her to sleep in a regular bed so that we can have the crib ready for the next baby...without her getting upset that the baby was "taking her place." So, we got a rail for her twin bed. We put her down 2 different days for naps there and last night we went ahead and tried her there for the night! She slept there fine through the whole night! Boy, that was easy. She doesn't climb much, so she just sees it as the same as the crib I guess. She just waits there for us to get her out when she wakes up. I guess that means that I can put the crib in the other room now and I can start setting up the nursery. I won't really have much more chance to do that before the new baby comes. Michael is having a huge Guy Game Night here on Saturday. I think he has 14 guys coming over to play video games...they all have to bring their own computers. Can you imagine the chaos? I guess I'll be out on the town on Saturday! They'll have so much fun though. Mike loves to do this, and he won't have another chance for awhile. I have just been working on projects. In fact, I have one to work on right now, so I think I'll go for now. We are all doing GREAT! Thanks again for checking in on us. Remember to keep us in your prayers for Kelby's surgery on Wednesday. We will be down at the hospital on Tuesday. Love you all - God Bless.

All Is Well!

We did have a wonderful mini-vaction! After a huge breakfast and a swim on Sunday, we went over to the Seattle Center. We were going to go to the Science Center, but Kelby was getting tired, so we were afraid she wouldn't enjoy it. So, instead we just wandered around the center looking at all the neat things down there. We bought some Kettle Korn...which we all ate until we were sick! If you don't know what it is...it is sooo good. It is a slightly carmeled popcorn with just a little salt on it...just the perfect sweet and salty in one...oh, boy...now I really want some more. Kelby LOVES all forms of popcorn. So, we had a really great, relaxing time in general. Now...we have a whole week of normal life. I just don't know what to do with myself! I think I have some crafting to get caught up on! Kelby is so happy and healthy...just like a normal kid. Well, I know that I owe you all some pictures, so here you go!