It's been a few days and they've tried a few things. We are still waiting on blood work results. Next week we should get a few results in. Brooke's skin is so dry she itches til she bleeds. So we try to keep mittens on her. That makes her happy :) She's just been out of sorts and unhappy. They stopped her tube feedings and will be getting nutrition from her IV's. Maybe if her gut rests that will help her diarrhea. She see's a GI (stomach) MD daily, along with all the others. She is definitely well known and well taken care of. So, we still wait.

We got web cams, so they girls can see her and talk to us anytime. (thanks Grandma!!) We have also been able to talk to friends that way. It's so nice to be able to see each other. We also have a wii competition going on. I REFUSE to let Steve beat me in hula hooping!! The nurses agree! We will see what the next few days bring. Thanks for the help and prayers. We'll keep everyone updated.

The girls had wacky hair day Wednesday! I was SO SAD I missed it. I LOVE spray painting their hair and teasing it up crazy, but they did a great job with dad :) What a man of many talents!!!

Lost for words!

The Koeman's are never lost for words :) We all have alot to say (all 7 of us). However Friday Brooke got moved into isolation. That means, she is in a special room, with special air flow and the door has to be closed at all times. She can only have her parents and grandparents visit her. There went the small social life we had. To say the least Steve and I REALLY hope our parents love us! It seems her immune system is extremely low. They are trying to find out why. Maybe from chemo and steroids or an underlying problem. They have sent out tests but we were told they take 4 weeks to come back. So we are here for 4 more weeks. That was a slap in the face! The doctor said he will try to call and get results sooner. But til then we wait. On a good note: her c diff is cleared up. She still has diarrhea but it is less and that is one thing that seems be getting under control. Also, a child life coordinator gave us 2 tickets to the Globetrotters for today. So Steve and Leah are headed off to that. I have brought my coffee pot and wii up to the "spa." We are moving in and going to make the best of this. Yesterday Brooke and I danced in the room to Jimmy Buffet music. She laughed and laughed. I also brought my calendar to get organized. Steve has to go back to work eventually, so it's on to plan B. Get organized, get through this and keep smiling. Something good comes out of everything. We have no doubt we will look at this one day and see so many blessings. We have already met wonderful family's and also realize how great our family and friends are. When looking at Brooke's life in the past 6 months God has kept her with us, when "medically speaking" she has had life threatening situations. God is so good!! Thank you so much!!!
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassion's never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22-23

No change!

I've been waiting to post so that I can write some news. But we don't have any. Earlier this week her broviac clotted so they had to start an IV and place a new Broviac. Her electrolytes (lab work that shows dehydration) is still not stable. So they have to change her IV fluids. They have started her on medicine to decrease/bulk up her diarrhea. They have also stop her tube feedings during the day for 2 reasons. To give her gut a rest and in hopes she will eat. She eats very quickly when she is hungry but then stops after 1oz or so. At night they restart her feedings but she tends to get uncomfortable with that. They are watching her closely and doing testing to figure this out. Steve and I have utmost confidence in the people here.
My parents have come up a couple times in the afternoon/night and held Brooke while we do a family dinner and "normal" night. It doesn't seem right at home without Brooke but it's good for the girls to see us all together. They have reached the point they are asking how much longer, they just want her home. Ashley asked if Brooke ran away like the dog did :) If it was only that easy! Please pray for the girls. Pray for their understanding and well being. Pray that they feel our love! Thank you all so much for the help! Meals, visits, cards, babysitting, play dates, prayers and the list can go on forever! Thanks!! We will continue to pray for Brooke's strength and that she can soon come home to be with her sisters.

Still at the "spa"

Time seems to be flying by! I haven't updated in awhile and I apologize. I wish I had some news but I don't. Brooke still is vomiting and has diarrhea. We think it's slowing down. They are giving her medications mainly IV to give her gut a break and rest. We mainly just have to wait. Today she looked good, smiling, kicking and she slept good last night. Saturday night Steve had a farm meeting/meal at Amway, so I got to go with him and Lacey Jae (a great nurse and friend) sat with Brooke. It was nice to see there is a world besides the crazy one we have been living. It was also good to get back up to the hospital and hold her. So, we pray this week for the diarrhea to slow down/stop and the vomiting to stop so she can get off IV's. We talk about the "h" word (home) but we don't say it out loud. We'll just wait til Brooke is ready. Thanks for the prayers and help!

I lied!

Ok I lied! My children like to accuse me of lying if things don't go as planned, so yes it's my fault :) Brooke is not coming home today. Her diarrhea is too bad and the tube feedings alone will not keep her hydrated. So she has to stay on the IV's til we sort this out. Our hope is that it subsides in the next couple days on it's own (that's the easy way.) Otherwise MD said they would consult with GI (stomach) MD to see what they think. Her having feeding issues are not new so he said he'll talk to GI just to be safe. That doesn't mean we won't go home in a couple days, but it doesn't mean we will either. (I'm covering myself so I don't lie :) More of the same for the Koeman's. We are getting good at this new "normal." Thanks for all the help and prayers!

Prayers

Dear Friends and family,
I know I just updated but we talked with the MD again today. He said we can come home Wednesday! YEAH!! Brooke's antibiotics will be done Wednesday and he feels that many of her symptoms may subside when the meds are done. So our hope is to take her home Wednesday and wait that out. Because we have been so blessed by all of your prayers I want to ask you to also pray for some of the amazing family's we have met up there. Please pray for a little boy Braeden that has a tumor. They are continuing with radiation and hope that his counts come up so they can do chemo again. They have been there a month today. Pray for a little 4 year old girl that had a virus attack her spinal cord and is unable to walk. She went to Mary Free Bed today for therapy. And pray for a 10 month old little girl that had surgery today to remove a tumor on her spine. They hope to get as much of the tumor and then decide further treatment options. I have found the hematology/oncology floor works on prayers. It is such a peaceful and uplifting place to be. The physicians and staff are AMAZING!! Steve and I were some disappointed this weekend, but I realize it's not about us! We refuse to let the devil get to us! Everyone who reads this is amazing and you are all making a difference by reading this and being in our lives!! Thank you all our faithful prayer warriors!!

Same old, same old!

Nothing majorly new here. There was talk of going home today, but that quickly diminished when Brooke again did not tolerate her feedings and her diarrhea got worse. So they are trying a new formula in her tube feeding and plan to finish her antibiotic through her IV. That will be done on Wednesday. The MD said today there is not much to do til the antibiotic is done. She is little and the antibiotic is hard on her body. So we wait til Wednesday. She is not eating anything by mouth, just her tube feedings. She has not been on oxygen for 3 days. That is really good. Her hemoglobin is holding at 10.4. That is also good. There are always some positives. The girls got to open a present from Grandpa and Grandma Blueberry today with their cousins. (We are stretching out Christmas) I also talked to them about Brookie again not being able to come home. They are troopers. They look at the "fun" things they get to do like watch more TV up there, eat cafeteria food (yuck), and wear a fun gown to hold Brooke. The girls are so caring and patient, We are so proud of them.

DAY 14 (but who's counting)

We are still here. They tell us this is uncommon to have such a long stay :) I told the nurses to start being mean to Brooke so she wants to go home. Brooke just laughs! Brooke has been so happy today! Smiling, laughing, this is the happiest I've seen her in weeks. The tube feedings are SLOWLY going up. She still vomits with them. But she usually smiles when she's done. She likes to watch us clean up her mess. We are mainly just waiting. Waiting for her feedings to go at their maximum rate and for her to tolerate that. She is getting stronger. She still doesn't eat but that is in her time. Steve and I now have a schedule since the girls are in school. We still alternate every other night and make sure we are home in time for the girls to be home from school and have a "normal" night. Thanks to everyone that has brought meals. I can't describe the look on my girls face to have home cooked meals again. They aren't afraid to eat :) We appreciate everyone's help! God is so good to us and He makes everything work out. We have no doubt in our mind that He is in control and He'll see us through.

Moved again :)

We are again in a new room, which is ok. It's fun to get to walk around and it makes us clean up our mess once in a while. It's been a few days since I updated. Brooke had some troubles with dehydration this weekend. This was all due to the diarrhea (c diff) she got. Her feedings are back down and they plan to try and increase them slowly today. Her diarrhea has slowed down, which is very good. Now we take it slow and wait. Over the next few days they will try and increase her tube feedings and eventually try her antibiotics in her tube and not IV. Her oxygen keeps dipping down and she occasionally needs to be on oxygen.

Yesterday was my birthday! Those that know me, know that I LOVE BIRTHDAYS! Steve thinks I'm crazy. I love a reason to celebrate and eat cake all day. I love the fact that any parent, not just my parents, decided to put their own lives aside to raise and love someone else. It's just fun all the way around! So I had the best day! A Strawberry Shortcake cake (thanks Kim) for breakfast with the 4 cutest girls in the world! A huge sign and cake for lunch from Brooke's nurses, ice cream dessert from my parents, brownies and cupcakes from Tricia and Missi. Sad to say I ate it all too :) Brookie even smiled and laughed yesterday! WHAT A DAY!!! Thank you everyone for the calls, visits, cards and fun!

Brookie is getting stronger! That's the best gift ever!

Oh Brookie

*******HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BROOKE*******

We were anticipating coming home on Sunday. The Home Health agency was going to set up the feeding pump, and we were going to be taught how to add the medications in her feeding tube. Last night she was not happy. Very fussy, up til 4am crying and fussing. She slept for a few hours from 4am to 7am. Steve and Lacey Jae (the best nurse ever) got her to sleep for a few hours. So Steve got a couple hours of sleep. When they drew labs in the am it showed she was dehydrated and they checked her stools and it showed C diff. C Diff is a bacteria that lives in every ones intestines. However because of her antibiotics and chemo it had taken over and caused extremely bad watery diarrhea which causes dehydration. She looked grey and did not feel well. She is on another antibiotic to help with the c diff and she is on IV fluids to help with the dehydration. On a good note, she is taking bottles. It seems being dehydrated makes her thirsty :) At least she still knows how to eat. We are not sure at this point when we will go home. Her "big sisters" have been so wonderful! I still have not heard them complain. They are worried about their little Brookie. She had been back on oxygen for 24 hours but she is now off that again. Unfortunately she has lost about 1# since we've been here. We have alot of catch up to do.

Thanks for the continued help and prayers. Alot of people have put their lives on hold and changed plans just for us. We have no idea how to repay you!! Please know how much we love all of you and cherish the help and prayers. We have realized we need help, so we will ask now (I promise :) It's easy to try and do it all yourself until everything falls apart. Thank you for praying, when at times we don't feel we can anymore.