She's Back!!

Julie returned home on Wednesday and miss Flower has been loving every minute of it! Fortunately, her fever was not related to an infection, but an increase in bone marrow.

Julie would love to have visitors, but a quick call to make sure she is feeling well enough would be appreciated.

She returns to the hospital July 12th to begin radiation therapy.

Too Much Fun...

After returning home on 6/21, Julie went to the hospital for a quick platelet check-up on Wednesday morning. The doctors would like to see her platelet count at 30 and her count was at 4. As a result, Julie has been visiting LDS hospital daily to have her blood levels checked. She spends part of the day getting her blood drawn and tested at the hospital and the remainder of the day resting at home (and shopping for fabric for her bedroom makeover).

Paul has been an excellent nurse giving shots to increase her bone marrow production, giving IV fluids to prevent dehydration and administering medications to keep her comfortable.

On Saturday, we were invited to her sister's new home in Deer Valley where she partied and ate delicious food to her heart's content (which is not very much). Nurse Paul was on the ball and made sure to give her the medications and IV on time even at the party. We arrived home much too late, but she enjoyed every minute visiting with her mom, brothers and sisters.

Monday was a difficult day as the bone marrow production drugs caused her bones to ache. Early Tuesday morning, she was taken to LDS hospital due to having a temperature of 103.2 and a heart rate of 138. After being admitted, she was taken care of extremely well by the nurses and doctors. Her temperature has decreased and her heart rate returned to an acceptable level. Her doctor is hopeful that she will return home soon, maybe even tomorrow (6/29).

Julie sends her love and gratitude for all those who have helped her and her family with meals and notes that have lifted her spirits. All the meals were woofed down by her boys to the last crumb, especially the delicious chocolate chip banana bread and cookies.

**Update from 6/22/11**

Julie will begin radiation on 7/12 which will last for five days. Following the radiation treatment, she will receive her bone marrow transplant.

Chemotherapy - Round 2

The past week has been spent up at the hospital again. This was the second round of chemotherapy. This time she knew what she was getting herself into. It wasn't easy, to say the least, but she is surviving the severe nausea and pain.

Today the doctors told her she was allowed to go home. So this evening, my dad packed her up and took her home. She is incredibly sick still, but glad to be home and sleeping in her own bed.

On July 5th, she will begin radiation and chemo treatments. On day number 9 of this treatment, she will have the bone marrow transplant. Any prayers and/or fasting would be greatly appreciated in preparation for this approaching day!

We really appreciate everyone's love and support right now via phone calls, but it's been overwhelming. Paul and Julie have asked that all friends and family refrain from calling them for the time being. Email messages, Facebook posts, or comments on this blog are welcome and appreciated. They may not respond, but they definitely read them. If you need an immediate response, please email or call me (Jessica) or my sister, Courtney. We will contact our parents and get back to you. During the Hat Party Open House, we handed out little cards with the blog address on it and it also had our phone numbers and email addresses. Feel free to contact us. Please let me know if you need our contact info emailed to you.

Thank you for all your faith and prayers!

There's No Place Like Home

Ok, I admit the title of this blog entry is a little cheesy, yes. But it could not be more true for this week. After 23 days at LDS Hospital, Julie was able to come home for a few days.

Three days ago, the doctors said her neutrophil level was at 300. She needed a 500 to go home. Yesterday she was at 1000 and today she skyrocketed to 3000! My brothers and I spent the entire day dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning every inch of this house as my dad (Paul) went up to the hospital to pack her up and take her home! I don't know who's more excited to be home...my mom or my dad.

Even though Julie is home, visitors are still very limited due to her incredibly low immune system. She would love to see everyone that she can this week, but we were advised from a panel of doctors that it wasn't the best idea while she is "on vacation". Please email or write a note on the blog or her Facebook page. She reads these almost every day. She told me she feels uplifted and blessed by so many people offering prayers, support, and love. It's amazing how people rally together to lift and strengthen each other. We are truly blessed. Thank you!

Next Wednesday Julie will go back for another bone marrow biopsy. After the testing, she'll be admitted for another 21-24 days for the second round of chemotherapy. She will definitely be needing all the faith and prayers to get through it. Afterward, she'll have another short "vacation" and then return for 7 days of combined chemo and radiation. This specific 7 days will be the worst. This will kill white and red blood cells. The bone marrow transplant will occur at the end of those 7 days. Recovery can be long and tricky. We were warned of Graft vs. Host Disease and the effects thereof and other complications that can arise. Without the bone marrow transplant, the average rate of survival is 25% at her age. With the transplant, it goes up to 50%. We have faith in these doctors and believe in miracles.

Keep us in your prayers!

Red Satin Sheets

The Primary Presidency and Relief Society Presidency from my mom's ward both came to visit my mom this week. They're such great women! I'm impressed they drove all the way up here just to hang out with my mom. It brightened her day immensely. Sister Robbins, who has been through cancer (twice) herself, had a great gift for my mom: a red satin pillow case. If you notice the band-aid on Julie's elbow...it's because they yucky hospital sheets were rubbing her elbows raw. Eek! My mom was in HEAVEN with the pillow case! That afternoon, I took off to Bed Bath and Beyond and bought the set.

The nurses were THRILLED! They were all excited to help put the sheets on and take her photo. Julie LOVES them! Just the added color to the room makes everything a little more lively. Maybe I bought her a couple pairs of cute pajamas and plush robe too, instead of those awful hospital gowns. Who thought those gowns were a good idea?! I bet whoever designed them, never slept in them, that's for sure.

The next morning, she didn't stop raving about the sheets. It was a good night...which, if anyone has stayed at a hospital knows—is a very good thing.   :)

My Hot Mama

I need one of these robes now. It's amazing.

Hair (or the lack thereof) is all the rage these days!

Last Sunday evening, Julie asked Courtney to give her a hair cut. Check out the video. It's great!

Courtney & Julie

On Wednesday morning, Wendy (Julie's sister-in-law) came up to the hospital and shaved my mom's head. It was epic. Julie never let Cameron (her son) get a mohawk, so she decided to do it for him. The results were amazing. Thank you Wendy!!!

BEFORE 

MOHAWK

Jessica, Julie, Wendy