COOKIE's Success, as of Friday, 06-09-06

Dearest Friends and Family,
Now, Class, as you know, over the past two months, we've been discussing Bone Marrow Transplant for Beginners. We're now ready to move into the Intermediate portion of our studies. Our subject, said 10 year old COOKIE, has successfully put her most important wish thus far into action....her counts are coming up! Yes, Folks, her counts are on the rise and there's no telling how far or how fast they'll rise!

We have neutrophils! We have monocytes! We have an ANC! Now I know that we haven't studied these things but as your teacher, I'm asking you to trust me and simply to jump around wildly, clapping your hands and whoooping at the top of your lungs because what all of this means is that COOKIE's adorable little body is producing all the stuff necessary to make bone marrow and to keep her healthy and to COME HOME SOON!

Simply put, they're gradually reducing her IV intake, eventually to take her off of IV completely. They will be discontinuing the nightly neupogen injections in her legs. They've already taken her off of a couple of her antibiotics. All of this to see if COOKIE's adorable little body can maintain itself and continue to produce white blood cells!

My family may be home as soon as 2-3 weeks! COOKIE has her mind set that she'll be home in time for the release of Pirates of the Carribean II movie on July 7th! My money is on COOKIE!

Tomorrow is Miller Children's Hospital Jonathan Jaques Annual "Champions Run for Life TORCH RUN"! Many of you have supported our sponsorship for this event for the past 9 years. This will be the first one we've missed! I did, however, go to Long Beach and pick up our t-shirts. I took them to the hospital last Wednesday and we all changed into them and took the picture you see! I brought the pics home with me and made a poster for the Torch Run. Our dear friend, Allison, Child Life Specialist at Miller's, will set the poster up in the exact spot that we always "make camp" for the run. GO CHAMPIONS! OUR HEARTS AND OUR SPIRITS ARE WITH YOU TOMORROW!!!!

Well, the cards and letters are still pouring in from last weekends FUNdraiser/Yard Sale! We're still not recooperated, at least I'm not! I haven't worked that hard in a very long time! We've gotten SO much response to the ad that was in the Daily Breeze! To all of you, once again, that donated, that participated in any way, we can NOT thank you enough! It was a spectacular event and we will always remember it! So will our neighbors! We ruined all of their lawns! Sorry, my friends. The videos that Matt and I took periodically throughout the day are wonderful! It's like reliving the fun! xoxoxo to all!

We celebrated Aunt Shannon's birthday at the hospital on Wednesday. She's very grateful for having a birthday but she just doesn't want to COUNT them anymore. Thanks, Shannon! How do you think I FEEL???? Ha! I'm 20 years older than you, my beautiful girl! My body reminds me every day! (but i can still keep up out of sheer determination......if it kills me.)

Our boy Parker is doing very well. We're going to meet Daddy at his school this morning and he'll help him work for a little while today and then they have a date at the movies to see "CARS"! He's very excited! I can't tell what he's most excited about....going to help Dad show the class how to launch rockets or going to see the movie he's been waiting for! Either way, he's in for a great day with his dad!

I'm on my way to UCLA, of course. We have a TON of thank you's to write and it will be nice to spend the day with Shelee and COOKIE. Aunt Shannon went home for a couple of days. Yes, she actually left me on my own. uh oh.

I hope this blog puts a smile on your face and a light in your heart. Today is a good day and we'll take it!
Much love to all,
Cookie, The Grandma