Happy Halloween

It's taken me a little longer to post updates. We've been having too much fun :)
Brooke's hemoglobin was 9.5 yesterday. That was ok. The doctor said if he gives her a transfusion the antibodies will just destroy them so he have her IVIG transfusion and chemo and is hoping that will boost her hemoglobin up without a blood transfusion. If her hemoglobin stays up next week we can decrease her steroids again. That would be nice. She was sad tonight, didn't want to smile and had a sad cry. The IVIG causes headaches, tired and achiness. Hopefully tomorrow she will feel better. If all goes as planned she won't need a transfusion for another 3 weeks or so. We just have to wait and see. By then Steve will be done with harvest. The pictures are of nurse Candy and Carrie talking with Brookie. And then Macy "patiently" waiting in the chair for her sister.

All the craziness didn't stop us from Trick or Treating. Wednesday night at church, Thursday night at Appledorn assisted living and Friday night at Grandpa's and Grandma's. Can we say sugar overload!! But all the girls had fun.

Brookie's update

Life has been crazy busy lately! With Steve working alot, the girls and I are busy busy! Mom with 5 girls. How crazy is that :) Any way, Brooke has done well. She made it 3 & 1/2 weeks with out a transfusion. Monday night she didn't want to eat anymore. Tuesday my mom babysat, and bless her heart, she fed her 1 ounce every hour to get her to eat. Grandma's have the patience. So yesterday we drew blood and she was at 8.2, so she had blood and chemo on Wednesday. She is so much more alert and smiling when her numbers are up. She is still a peanut at 9# 13 oz, so I just savor the cuddling while I can . They are both starting to "talk" and babble. It's so fun! Next lab draw is Monday unless she needs one sooner but we hope not. The older girls are off school for a few days so it's time to relax and have no schedule for a few days.

Good News!!

Thursdays numbers were again good!! 10.6! She is holding her own so the Dr. said we could decrease her steroid to 3 times a day. YEAH! Maybe she'll feel a little better. Right now she has really chubby cheeks and her skin is dry from the steroids. Along with being sore which she can't tell us with out screaming. Most days she has a really concerned look on her face. Anyway, they gave her IV antibiotics again to help protect her lungs. She had a reaction to those and screamed crazy, turned really pale and her oxygen level went down. So she didn't get the full dose. Once they stopped them she did better. I asked the MD if this is "going away." (Our dream :) He said not yet. She is currently compensating for it. The meds have helped her body realize it is there and that it has to make extra red blood cells to keep up. The plan is if she continues to keep her hemoglobin up she can have chemo every other week instead of every week.

Her weight is still at 9# 12 oz. She eats small amounts but it takes all her energy to make the extra blood cells, and with steroids and chemo she doesn't always feel like eating. This has her pediatrician concerned some. She is on a high calorie formula. Steve and I know our babies and they have never been small, so we feel she'll catch up. Macy is 14# 10 oz!! There is a 5# difference. People don't even know they are twins, which is ok. They have their own individuality. God has given us the peace that this is in His hands and His timeline. "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me." John 14:1

We are trusting in Him!

I posted some pictures of her nurses at Spectrum. Jon takes her vitals and blood. Chris runs the clinic and watches her while she gets transfusions and IV's, Chris also runs around with Macy as she works. She's good at multi tasking. (Carrie escaped the camera, we'll get her next week :)

The Monday Report

What a weekend!! The girls got to pick their big pumpkins! They decided in June since mom was too big to plant the garden they would plant pumpkins and boy did they grow.

Steve, even though super busy with harvest, got to go to therapy (which is hunting) with the Plaggemars. They had a great hunt which put a smile on Steve's face again. That makes the whole family happy :)

The girls got to go ride the combine. I'm sure there will be many more hours of that to come the next few weeks. Ashley and Megan like to sing songs in the combine. Music to Steve's ears!

Last but not least Brooke's hemoglobin was 10 to day!! Again we are so blessed!! It is 2 weeks today since her last transfusion. I have to keep reporting her weight to her pediatrician. He does not feel Koeman kids should be in the 3rd percentile for growth. At this point we are happy with any progress. God is so good and we are blessed with 5 beautiful girls and lots of fun times together.

"JAZZ HANDS"

JAZZ HANDS!!! That's what Steve tells the girls when something exciting happens. They jump around and shake their hands in the air :) Today Brooke's Hemoglobin was 10.4 That is so good! She hasn't had a transfusion in 10 days. That is the longest she's gone yet. Her weight is up to 9# 12oz. She also gets REALLY mad if she's hungry and you don't feed her RIGHT NOW!! (That must be the Steve in her :) We are happy for the progress.

HAPPY DANCE!!

Brooke's hemoglobin was 10.4 today. YEAH!! This is the longest she has gone with out a transfusion since this all began August 10. That is progress. She is happy, talking alot, smiling and eating. What a fun week! The doctor said just take it day by day. So we will. Our next appointment is Thursday at Devos. She'll get her chemo and have more labs. Thanks for the prayers. They are definitely felt!

Brookie Bear

Steve and Brookie went to Spectrum today for her chemo and blood test. Her hemoglobin was......12.o!!! YEAH!!! The IVIG and blood they gave her on Monday is helping!! We understand that she will still need transfusions BUT it was so encouraging to only have one this week. This is just a glimmer of hope. Since this all started on August 10 Brooke has had 15 transfusions. That's alot of blood! We have a new appreciation for anyone that donates blood. Brooke eats better and is more alert when her hemoglobin is normal. She still has occasional screaming fits from the steroids. We just hold her and love her. We can't take the pain away but we can try.

I also have posted a picture we got taken of our girls a few weeks ago. They are so much fun and we are so blessed! God is so Good!