Happy New Years

Another day and still at the "spa." We are in a new room (again) that is bigger. They had some rain issues and moved us, but it's very nice, like usual. Brooke is still on nebs every 4 hours for her breathing. They feel her breathing is doing better. She still retracts some and breaths heavier but that will take time to get better. She is still vomiting and they don't know why. We need to get off IV bactrim (a strong antibiotic) to oral bactrim to be able to go home. We hope in the next 2 days to try oral medications. So we wait :)
Steve decided he was staying at the spa for New Years. I protested but he tricked me by taking all the girls up to the hospital and saying I had to take them home to their friends houses. Crazy man!! So I will go with the girls to the Koops and bring in the New Year with them and the Potters. Steve will hang out with Brooke and the nurses at the "Spa." This is the first time in 16 years we haven't been together on New Years. First time for everything. As long as he doesn't kiss someone else we are ok :) 2009 will be new experiences but I wouldn't say better than 2008. We got the 2 most BEAUTIFUL babies in 2008 and are surrounded by the most loving family and friends. We couldn't be more blessed and thankful. Happy New Year everyone.

"For the sake of the Children"

That has been my favorite saying for a long time. It's not always used in a good way :) I promised my 4 beautiful girls a "normal" day yesterday. Church, eating at grandma's, making cookies. Whatever they wanted. We awoke to Ashley vomiting over the railing of her top bunk into Megan's bed, it was actually comical, I wish I had a camera at that moment. So no church or grandma's. Plan B: pj's all day, fun breakfast, movies, baking. Then I found some/alot of water in my basement. I cleaned up what I could, washed what needed to be and shut the door. I didn't have time or really care to deal with it. I told Steve there was "some" water and left it at that. Steve was at the hospital with Brooke, and she had vomited again most of the night. So he needed rest, as did she. I told Lisa my sister in law, there was a little water, and her and Mark came to suck it up. That wasn't going to work, so he called Jon, my brother in law, and he and his girlfriend changed their plans to help us rip up carpet, tear out the pad, vacuum up water, and Jon built a little dam for our small river. In the mean time my parents came to drop off stuff, and our friends Phil and Tricia came, so Tricia put my kids to bed and Phil took me to the hospital and Steve and I did the switch. So now Steve is home with another vomiting child and watching the dam in the basement. And I can't forget, Tricia is now ill. Why not spread the wealth!!! How many people does it take to take care of us Koeman's??? Obviously alot!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!! I feel so blessed by family and friends. You all help me keep my sanity and laugh. Since that is all we can do. I figure the water just damages "stuff" and we don't need it anyway. The stomach flu doesn't last long.
Brooke's night was still rough. Vomiting again but only with tube feedings. Today they will do an upper GI to see what is going on in there. All the doctors came in and she looked at them so concerned and cried. She is well aware of her surroundings. Thank you for they prayers and help! People ask what they can do and I am lost as to an answer. Steve and I only plan one day in advance. Who knows what happens in that amount of time. Everyone is so caring! Why do we do all this........"for the sake of the children." Thanks!!!!

Spa day 3

Brooke's new tube! She wears it with a smile :)

Brooke had a rough night Friday night. The feedings didn't go as planned. She was uncomfortable and unable to sleep. She was fussy and just couldn't find it. They stopped the feedings for 2 hours and then restarted it, and then they slowed it down. Tonight they will run it slower and see how that goes. She did not want to eat today. We tried 2 different kinds of formula and pedialyte. She gags on it. Tricia came up and got her to take one ounce. YEAH TRISH!!Other than that she is happy and winning every one's heart over. This coming week she will meet with a dietitian and a speech therapist to watch her swallowing. They may also do a swallow study. So that's our upcoming week. Steve is there tonight, I pray he and Brooke get a good nights sleep. The other girls and Steve got to go to the Koeman Christmas party at the aquatic center. They had a blast!!

The girls jump roping at the Hospital.

We moved!!!

We moved :) Not very far but we are no longer in ICU. We are on the hemotology/oncology floor. They gave us a bigger room where all of our little monkeys can play. Today we had all the girls here to open stockings and play. Hopsitals can be VERY entertaining. Brooke is progressing well. Her respirtory status is some better. Still on breathing treatments and IV antibiotics. Today they put a feeding tube in to help her with eating. She doesn't want to eat and you can't make her. I have NOOOO idea where she gets so stubborn (must be Steve :) During the day she takes bottles (if she wants) and at night they do tube feedings from 9p - 9a. We'll see how that goes. Always something new with our Brookie. I hope everyone is well and had a great Christmas!

Christmas Pictures

Brookie Bear and Macy Monkey got hats.


The Koeman Christmas at Spectrum

OHHH SO HAPPY!!

Look what I can do!!

What a wonderful day! Brooke had all her sisters up here, both sets of grandparents, Uncle Mark, Aunt Lisa, Ryan, Seth, Bradley, Uncle Jon, Cassie, Uncle Brent, Aunt Lynn, Avery and Mya. The girls got to open a gift from grandpa and grandma Blueberry. Fuzzy robes and socks, how fun!!! Brooke and Macy got gifts from people that brought them to Spectrum. Blankets, quilts, stockings, stuffed animals, toys and books. We are Blessed!! It's not where you spend Christmas it's WHO you spend it with! (Thanks Kerri-Sue) And thanks everyone for making our family Christmas special! The visits, emails and phone calls are cherished!

A Christmas to remember

Merry Christmas from the Spectrum Spa! Brooke has had a cold for 2-3 weeks. Being the annoying mother and nurse I am I have been taking her pulse ox for over a week and it's been 88-91% (too low). We had her to her pediatrician office Saturday and they figured it was due to the congestion in her nose. Lungs sounded clear, so we suctioned her nose and treated it like a cold. Well, in true Brookie fashion, we came to clinic Wednesday, 12/24, for her "quick" visit and chemo and we are still here :) Her pulse ox was lower yet when we got here, 79% at one point, and she was retracting and grunting (all bad respiratory terms :) They did a chest xray that showed pneumonia but they wanted to know what kind. We were brought to peds ICU where they did a bronchoscopy. They put a small tube in her lungs and "washed" them and took a sample of the mucous. It came back pneumocystic pneumonia. It's a type of pneumonia that happens due to a decreased immune system from the steroids and chemo. So, they know what it is and she is being treated with IV antibiotics. She was also dehydrated from not wanting to eat, so she's had IV fluids. She is looking better, much more active and smiling. One of the doctors was just in and is impressed with her progress. No answer on when she will get to come home. Patience!!! We are Blessed to have her, so if this is where she needs to be we are ok with that. The other girls are doing well. A little disappointed they didn't get to see if Santa left things in their stockings but my guess is he did. Merry Christmas everyone and God Bless! The Koemans are TRULY Blessed and feel God's presence! He is the True meaning of Christmas!!! And we are grateful every day!!

An end in sight (hopefully)

Brooke had labs yesterday. Hemoglobin was 13.1. All other labs were pretty normal. The best we've seen so far. YEAH!! This past weekend she was vomiting from the IVIG and chemo. The MD increased her steroids but only for a day and then we weaned her back down to once a day. She is still vomiting about once a day and not wanting to eat. So we wait. Eventually she will eat :) She goes back to Spectrum Clinic next week for chemo.
The girls got their Christmas Tree and there are presents under it. The anticipation is driving them nuts. It is so funny to listen to them talk about their presents and re-arrange them. The innocence of children at Christmas!

Early Christmas!

Steve and Brooke were at Spectrum yesterday. Her hemoglobin was 14.1. WOW! Her labs look good and the MD feels she is doing this on her own. PRAISE THE LORD! We get to decrease her steroids. They also have a plan in place to get her totally off the steroids. This takes some time though. She had a reaction after her IV antibiotics and screamed for half an hour. She seems to be doing well today. She is content and smiling. She doesn't eat much but we expect that after chemo, IVIG and antibiotics. She feels heavier to me, but the scales don't show it :) Wishful thinking! Steve and I couldn't be happier with her progress, as is the rest of the family! I saw a t shirt that said "one tough cookie" and I thought of her. (too bad it was too big.) Next week is just labs and no Spectrum again. What shall we do with all of our free time? The girls think they need a Christmas tree. Thanks for the prayers and support! We just got the only present we ever wanted! Merry Christmas!!

My elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

33 days and counting

Sorry for the lack of updates! Brooke has not had a transfusion in 33 days. We got to have a "normal" week, for lack of better words. We did not even test her blood this week. She is pink and mostly happy. She still has such a hard time sleeping. She is WIRED!! The steroids she is on does a number on her system. We give her meds to help her sleep and then she does ok. She has been grabbing at toys and playing with Macy. She loves her sister. She is definitely not as strong, but we hope she will slowly catch up. She has been eating better but doesn't grow. Steve and I are enjoying our "little" baby because we know it won't last. Next week is her long day at Spectrum with IV's. Steve says it's his turn and he's going to sit up there. The nurses love to watch him cater to her :)

The girls got to hold baby Madelyn Balder. They were so excited for another baby :) We LOVE babies around here.

The girls and I on Grandpa's sleigh.

Grandpa and Brooke napping on Thanksgiving.