December 2006

Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:07 PM CST

Dianna had a wonderful Christmas.
She received everything she wanted and more.

Friday, Dec. 22nd the family went to Henderson TX for Christmas with Pawpaw John, Nana, Memaw and Uncle Doug.
Sunday, Dec. 24th we headed home to attend Christmas Eve Candle Service at FBC Lewisville.
After the service we opened gifts and watched "It's A Wonderful Life".
Christmas morning, Santa had delivered gifts.
We checked out everything then headed to Ryan, OK to see Pawpaw Mike, Granny and Mickie. (Derek and Madison spent Christmas with their dad this year.)

Finally, Tuesday, Dec. 26th we met Grandpa Van.
Nicolaus and Dianna went with him to visit thier dad and have Christmas with him.

LABS from past two weeks...

12/13/06:
white blood counts-5.8, red blood counts-3.27, hgb-11.1, platelets-45

12/20/06:
white blood counts-4.3, red blood counts-3.43, hgb-11.9, platelets-50

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9:31 PM CST

Sorry, it has been a few weeks for an update.
We have either been sick &/or getting ready for Christmas.

Here are the labs from the past three weeks...

11/22/06:
white blood counts-3.9, red blood counts-3.30, hgb-11.6, platelets-69
11/29/06:
white bllod counts-5.0, red blood counts-3.30, hgb-11.4, platelets-53
12/06/06:
white blood counts-5.3, red blood counts-3.43, hgb-11.7, platelets-53

November 2006

Monday, November 20, 2006 8:57 PM CST

Hello!
Just wanted to let you know Dianna's counts are staying about the same for now.
Dianna, Nicolaus and Bret are in Oklahoma with my parents.
I had to return home Sunday night to work Monday and Tuesday, but will go back Tuesday PM.
Nicolaus, Bret and PawPaw are hunting.
Dianna and Granny are playing.
I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dianna's Labs-
11/15/06:
white blood count-4.7, red blood count-3.34, hgb-11.8, platelets-52

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Monday, November 13, 2006 8:00 PM CST

Here is a list of Dianna's labs for the past few weeks.

10/13/06:
white blood count- 4.0, red blood count- 3.47, hgb- 12.0, platelets- 47, anc- 1280

10/20/06:
white blood count- 5.2, red blood count- 3.41, hgb- 11.6, platelets- 59, anc- 2200

10/27/06:
white blood count- 4.4, red blood count- 3.50, hgb- 12., platelets- 59, anc- 1400

11/01/06:
white blood count- 4.6, red blood count- 3.39, hgb- 11.8, platelets- 54, anc- 1700

11/08/06:
white blood count- 4.7, red blood count- 3.32, hgb- 11.4, platelets- 59, anc- 1600

Dianna seems to be feeling fine; she just gets tired quickly.

October 2006

Sunday, October 15, 2006 1:17 PM CDT

Dianna & I (Mom) made it home from OH.
We are both tired.
While at Children's Dianna had blood work.
Her platelets have dropped to 47.
We started her on the Enbrel.
(This will be a shot once a week)
Mom had to learn to give her the shot.
I gave her the first shot with the Nurse watching to be sure I did it correctly.
(I was so nervious! It was in her stomach area.)
They gave me a cream to numb the area before I gave her the shot.
Dianna was so sweet!
She told me I did great!
"Mommy, that did not hurt! Your a good Nurse!"
That made me feel so much better!!!
Also, Dianna will have to get weekly blood draws.
I pray that the medication will help.

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006 12:56 AM CDT

Dianna and I are getting ready to return to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to begin the Pilot Study.
We leave October 12th and return October 13th.
This trip is short because we do not have to have many tests.
This is mainly to start the medication and teach me (mom) had to give her the shots. :-(
I hope that I can do it!
Pray that I get it down with out hurting Dianna too much.
I will update when we get back.

September 2006

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 10:25 PM CDT

Cincinnati Children's Hospital called today.
Dianna was accepted to the Pilot Study for Enbrel.
I just pray that it works.
Her platlet counts are dropping and it is scary to think about our alternative if the Enbrel does not work.
Please keep us in your prayers as we work out finances to get Dianna & I back and forth from Dallas to Cincinnati.
We must go to start the medication (soon), then return every three months for check-ups.
Also pray that the study works as the researchers plan.
Finally, pray that Dianna understands why she is getting so many shots and blood draws. (That we are only trying to HELP her, not hurt her.)

August 2006

Monday, August 21, 2006 2:41 PM CDT

We made it home from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Saturday Night.
Dianna and Mom were very tired.
Dianna is still sore from her Bone Marrow Biopsy. :-(
I will not know results of all the tests for 10 days to two weeks.
I will update when I know....

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Tuesday, August 15, 2006 11:22 AM CDT

Wednesday, Dianna and Mom leave for Cincinnati Children's Hospital for the final screening evaluation.
We are looking into a Pilot Study.
(If she qualifies for the study after this final testing.)
I will update when I get the results.

July 2006

Monday, July 24, 2006 12:18 AM CDT

We went Wednesday, for Dianna's blood work.
Her counts have dropped. :-(
(Platelets=59)
I pray that they will go back up!
I did have good news today...
While we were at the doctors on Wednesday, they tested Dianna's brother Nicolaus.
The doctor just called and he is a 5 out of 6 match for her transplant.
He said this is good with Nicolaus being related to her.
This is a blessing! :-)

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Friday, July 14, 2006 10:12 PM CDT

Dianna finally lost her FIRST tooth! :-)
She was so excited!!

June 2006

Monday, June 26, 2006 1:37 PM CDT

Another Busy Summer!
On the 16th- We (Dianna,Daddy Bret, Mommy, Ryan, Nicolaus, Courtney and Kaelynn) headed out to Ryan, OK for the Ryan Rodeo.
17th: We left for Oklahoma City, OK to Frontier City.
We spent the day riding rides then to our hotel to clean up. Next, to Brick Town for dinner.
18th: We headed to Lawton, OK for camping and swimming.
19th: We visited the Museum of the Great Plains, drove out to see the Buffalo, Long Horn Cattle and Prairie Dogs and finally to Medicine Park, OK for more swimming.
20th: We drove up to Mount Scott (it is beautiful!) then back to Medicine Park to swim and FINALLY back to PawPaw and Granny's House to pick up the puppies (Bell & Scooter).
We had a great time, but now I need a vacation from my vacation.

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Wednesday, June 7, 2006 10:15 AM CDT

Sorry it has been so long for an update.
We were so busy with all the end of school activites, I got behind on many things.
The last day of school was May 25th.
We left on May 26th to take a vacation.
Dianna, Nicolaus, Mommy, Daddy Bret, Aunt Mickie, Cousin Derek and Cousin Madison went to San Antonio, TX.
We had a GREAT time!
Friday, we stopped in Luckembach, TX on our way to San Antonio.
Saturday, we went to Fiesta Texas (all day!).
Sunday, we drove around down town by the Alamo, then we walked around the Market Area and finally to the River Walk for dinner and rode in the tour boat.
Monday, we went to Splash Town (a large water park). We stayed here all day, then about 4:30 PM took Daddy Bret to the airport (he had to work on Tuesday).
Tuesday, we went to the Natural Bridge Caverns (caves you can tour). That was very interesting.
Finally, we stopped in San Marcus, TX at the Aqua Marina Springs and walked around. (Did not have time to ride the glass bottom boats- Madison had a soft ball game, so we headed home.)

March 2006

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Tuesday, March 14, 2006 11:12 AM CST

Dianna had a nice birthday, but her Birthday Party it not till this Friday.
She is going to have a skate party.

This past weekend we went to visit Granny and PawPaw in Ryan, OK.
Mickie, Derek and Madison were there too.
Saturday, we went to Second Monday in Bowie, TX and walked and shopped most of the day.
Then back home to Granny and PawPaw's House.
The kids rode the Go Kart and Four Wheeler, but the adults rested.
Sunday, after church Dianna opened her presents and we had cake.
Mickie and I(Mommy) went home that evening.
The kids got to stay with Granny and PawPaw because they are on "Spring Break"! :-)

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Wednesday, March 1, 2006 9:32 AM CST

I am glad that February is over.
Dianna, Daddy Bret and Me (Mommy) took turns being sick.
(Nicolaus was lucky & missed it)
Dianna was very sick Feb. 7th & 8th.
Her fever at night got up to 104.
The weekend of the 18th- Dianna was to attend Junior Drill Team Camp & Nicolaus was to have Baseball Tryouts, but we had ice Friday night so they cancelled both.
The weekend of the 25th- Dianna was able to attend the Junior Drill Team Camp.
She had a wonderful time!
At the end of the Camp the parents got to watch the girls preform the dance that they learned that morning.
While Dianna was in her Camp, Nicolaus was having his Distict Science Olympid.
(He placed 3rd in his school competition, which means that he moved on to the District Level)
He did not place in District but I was very proud of him!
Now, it is time to get ready for DIANNA'S Birthday on March 12th!
She will be 8 yrs old! :-)

February 2006

Tuesday, February 7, 2006 12:53 AM CST

The month of January has been slow except for doctor appointments for Dianna and The Fort Worth Stock Show.
Her platelets have dropped a little again.
(Pray they go back up)
Dianna and Nicolaus went to stay last weekend with Aunt Mickie, Derek and Madison.
It was Mom and Dad's Anniversary. We were going to do something romantic, but did nothing because we both had colds. :-(
Dianna and Nicolaus had a great time playing with their cousins.
Derek and Madison show sheep and goats.
We went to see them at the Fort Worth Stock Show the week before.

January 2006

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 11:22 AM CST

Today is the first day back to school from Christmas Break.
Dianna and Nicolaus went to their dad's for Christmas this year.
They left Thursday, Dec. 22nd after Dianna's doctor appointment.
Then returned on Monday, Dec. 26th.
We (Mom, Daddy Bret, Ryan, Courtney and Kaelynn) meet their dad, David in Denton, TX and drove from there to Decatur, TX. for lunch with Granny, Pawpaw, Mickie, Derek and Madison.
After a little shopping we drove on the Ryan, OK for Christmas at Granny & Pawpaw's house.
We left Tuesday evening to head home and to have our family Chirstmas.
Next- Up early Wednesday morning to drive to Henderson, TX.
to have Christmas with Nana and Pawpaw.
Finally heading home again on Thursday evening.
The kids all had gift cards to spend, so Saturday was a day full of shopping!
Then we spent New Year's Eve home.
We invited our neighbor, Bill over for dinner.
We snacked all night.
New Year's Day- Gary and his daughters spent the day with us.
(Guys watched football all day.)
I made snack food all day.
Finally, back to normal?!?