So far, we have had a mellow week with not a lot of activity until yesterday. Autumn has to have her blood drawn each week to make sure that all of her various blood (hemoglobin and a variety of different white blood cells) are all high enough not to have any concern. This week she had her blood drawn on Wednesday and as it turned out, she had lower than acceptable hemoglobin levels. The accepted range begins at a level 7 and she was at a 6.4, my heart sank. It feels terrible when it seems as though everything is going as well as it can given the current circumstance. News like this, although not catastrophic, has a way of creating mental images and thoughts that can be a parent's worst nightmare!

It had been about 6 days since her 4 day dose of chemo, the lowest level of any measured blood levels is usually found by day 10. This means that the 6.4 could potentially become a 5 or 4 or even lower. This depressed level may cause too much fatigue as well as other issues if not swiftly dealt with. Therefore, Autumn had to return to the hospital on Thursday for a blood transfusion (about a 5 hour process in the hospital). It all seemed to go well and in fact she seemed to have more energy afterwards, a general rule after a transfusion. More hemoglobin equals more energy, good for her!

We will have to go to the clinic in Santa Barbara on Tuesday to see what her counts are at that point. If they are high enough, then she begins the second four day dose of chemo followed by a 2 week break. At that point, we only have to go in once a week for about 5 weeks, then again the 4 consecutive day process.

Some of you have asked if we would like some company on the days we head to SB for just one day. We would LOVE it, if you or perhaps you and a little one would like to join us. It usually takes about 4-5 hours from the time we leave home to the time we return and we usually go on Tuesdays. Let me know anytime, the company would be well received!

We love you all!
Autumn and family

Autumn has had a great week so far, even after the four day stint last week. We'll have to have her blood drawn today to check her counts to make sure all is well. It's the only trip she'll need to make this week! :)

My Aunt's friend Wendy ran a marathon this past weekend and had Autumn's picture on her shirt. Wendy is a cancer survivor

Some fun Easter Pictures from this weekend!

Plan everything, then have no expectations...I guess that is a way to look at life, isn't it? We have ideas all the time about how we should live, what we should be doing, what will make us happy, but do we really KNOW what those things are? We like the idea of planning because it gives us a goal, something to look forward to, a dream. However, I have to admit that it can change, your plan can change, along the path of life and it could even be for the better, even if it doesn't seem that way at times.

The past three days in the hospital have gone much better than I could have ever planned. I have had some time to spend with my girls with little expectation of "getting things done". It has been more fun that I would have imagined!

Autumn is taking all this chemo in stride, I half-joked with the nurses that they must be giving her water because she is doing so well! I hope she continues on this path. She lacks an appetite which is not so good, but they do say it will come back in the coming week. We will have to return here in 2 weeks again for another 4 day stay, but then we are back to once a week for awhile.

I hope those of you on Spring Break are doing well!!! I have to once again thank you all for your love and support through all of this, it has been nothing less that marvelous! My friend Kristen Jones who sells Aloette products had a fabulous fund-raiser for Autumn last week. Sarah has put together a Care Calendar that many of you have so graciously been a part of to bring us such delicious dinners! My dear friend Alex, pregnant with her third child while working and moving found time to create a Pay Pal donation site for us. And Autumn's grandpa and grandma who are selling bright orange (the color for kidney cancer) wrist bands. There have been soooo many of you out there, what a wonderful community of family and friends!!

We love you all!
Autumn and family

"I just want to go!", exclaimed Autumn with a slight hint of frustration last night. She was done, we were here way too long. However, we made it! We made it to the hotel at about 11 and fell fast asleep. Autumn had a great night. However, she peed the bed which is one of the side effects of chemo - I sill certainly take that over the host of other side effects!

We are back in the hospital this morning for a shorter day, only about 8 hours today. Although that is still long, given yesterday's perspective, it will feel shorter!

Sage and Lindsey are having fun scrap booking (punctuated by arguments of course!) and in a moment we will walk down to the Farmer's Market they have in the hospital cafeteria each Wednesday.

Almost there! The girls have been scrap booking their little hearts out today at the hospital. When we first arrived, they told us we were not going to be able to go to a hotel tonight and that we would be here in the hospital the whole week...bummer! About an hour after hearing this news, the oncologist came in to let us know that we should be able to be released tonight, hooray! At this point, we have been here about 13 hours and certainly ready to go.

Autumn is absolutely amazing and handled this insane day of chemo so very well!! I am so very proud of her! Tomorrow is a shorter day in general, only about 8 hours total, so I think we can manage it and hopefully she can have another good day!