Sunday, July 12, 2009

Fever

Our outing to church did not go as planned. I was disappointed, but, hey, I am disappointed a lot these days. When it came time to leave home, she started crying that she didn't feel well and had a belly/headache. We really do have to push her a lot, so I figured that this was just one of those times. We pretty much carried her to the car against her will and started to head out. We took two cars, because I think we both knew what was going to happen. When we got to the church parking lot, she would not get out. Still resisting and crying a bunch and she got herself all worked up. We were two frustrated parents standing in the parking lot and trying to reason with her to just go into church, throw the pie, and leave. We lost the battle. I walked away and took the other two kids into church with me.

Luckily, Pastor Jordan came outside with all the kids and they were going to do the pie in the face there. So Jerad drove up in the car and she watched from her car window as 35 pies were smashed into his face. His sweet wife Katie said they would take a pie to the car and Ally could do it there. Nope. She still didn't feel like doing it. So Jerad did it for her. They left and we went on into church, halfway through. I hated missing even half of the service. I am loving going to Grace Crossing, I finally feel at home somewhere. It is our church family and they are being so kind to me and my kids through this all. If you live nearby and have any part of you that is searching for a new church, you should give it a try.

Here is Evan, not afraid to smash the pies!
Here is Jerad smashing it up....like father, like son, I guess
Hey, do you see that? I think this is the only smile that I saw all day. Thanks to Pastor Jordan for that! Bobo never fails to make it in the picture.
Ally spent the rest of the day on the couch. We could tell she didn't feel well. Maybe the daily chemo was catching up with her. She fell asleep when her best friend was here visiting. She slept a good while. Jerad and I went to go to our weekly bootcamp class in our neighborhood...we have been really trying to go. When we came back, she had just woken up and felt warm. Jerad took her temp and it was 103.5. That is scary high for a hemoc kid...we are supposed to go to the ER when it hits 101. So in a matter of 20 minutes, I had packed a bag, paged the doctor, and Jerad took a shower and got her in the car. I was SURE they would keep her, last time it was was a mandatory 48 hour stay. But this time, her ANC (the critical blood number that tells us whether she is susceptible to infection) was 2350, which is plenty high. I am not sure why it is going up when she has had three more doses of chemo (Fri, Sat, Sun)...a question that did not get answered by the ER doc. They just don't know that detailed stuff. So they gave her a IV antibiotic and some tylenol and she arrived home just in time for bed. She gets another IV antibiotic from the home health nurse tomorrow too. She was coming to our house anyway to give Ally the ARA-C chemo.

I am very leary of this course of action. I don't like the fever. It is still around 102...with the tylenol in her body. I had a thousand questions, but my husband went and we really didn't get them answered. The chemo she has been getting does have a probable side effect of a fever, so I am thinking that is the problem. But you just never know what is causing it. So now we are here alone dealing with this scary fever on our own. We especially need courage and strength today. I found this:

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
1 Chronicles 28:20 NLT

8 comments:

  1. You ARE strong and courageous and He will NOT fail you. You are so brave to share this story with so many, even when you feel frustrated. I appreciate your honesty more than you know and your neverending faith in God shines through every post. He is watching and He hears all of our prayers.

    Praying for Ally to be fever-free . . .

    Amanda
    QBD by A

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  2. Hoping for a good night tonight and for the fever to go down. At least you have a nurse coming tomorrow so that will be good she'll get some antibiotics then.

    Looks like fun at the pie smashing, even if Ally wasn't feeling up to it. I wish I coulda seen it, but I didn't know when and where they were doing it. I do think they are really great with kids there, and I think that's really important.

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  3. Today I am praying for you Jerad, my floor sleeping, pie throwing, hospital going friend that you continue to have strength, and your Flanders outlook! I hope you all had a good night and that the fever is already gone. What a great pastor too, no wonder you quote him! Here's praying for a good day and some help/answers from the nurse. LOVE!!

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  4. Hope you wake up this morning with no or low-grade fever - keeps you forever questioning what is the right course of action but stick with your faith-that is what will get you through this-thinking of you everyday....
    Lisa S

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  5. I know how much Ally was looking forward to throwing a pie! I'm so glad that she at least got to see her dad do it - anything to bring a smile to her face. I'm praying for the fever to be gone and for some more of those pretty good days.

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  6. Janel,
    I am thankful that you have the Church. And don't forget that everyone is learning from and gaining strength from your struggle whether you make it to any/all/or none of the service. I'm sure the fever is scary. But I think you are doing all of the right things- just keep up the fight. Here's to the fever being much lower today, constipation subsidding, and some peaceful minutes for you and the family.

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  7. Fever is scary of any kind and I am praying that it will gone soon. That chemo is ****** and everytime you think you have it figured out, it throws you a curve. You are doing great. So glad that you have your church and your church family, that is a wonderful support system. Her ANC blood number is good, so she is fighting as hard as she can. Take care and remember, you are strong and courageous and you are doing the work and God and Ally's Army are right there with you each and every step.

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  8. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We hope she has another good day soon.

    Melissa Hahm

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