6th, 7th treatment and MRI results

I feel really awful about not posting at all for so long. We went in on February 28th to have an MRI of Avery's tumor. I was kind of terrified because of the horrible experience we had last time. Thomas and I said so so many prayers that it would go smoothly. I was already frustrated because they scheduled her at 12:30. So we spent the entire morning with no food. She did amazing though. It was like she didn't even feel her hunger. When we got there she spent an hour getting fluids and watching a movie on my phone. All the nurses were so amazed at how good natured she is. She never cries while she's getting her port accessed. It's become totally normal for her. 

Last MRI she had she woke up early and was just hysterical. She didn't respond well to the medication and was so upset for over 2 hours and then was dizzy the rest of the day. They switched to a different medication and she did so much better. She was starving when she woke up and probably ate about 10 oreos :). When we got home she went to sleep for a few hours and woke up completely fine. 

I was kind of a nervous wreck waiting for the results. At the beginning of all of this when we went in for her first CT scan I thought at the end that that was going to be the worst part. I thought it was all over and I got a big slap in the face later that day with the results. Of course, we were so hopeful that her tumor was responding to treatment because we could see on the outside that it was smaller. When your child has cancer it seems like you are always expecting the worst. 

We went in the next day to get a skeletal survey done, to get the results and see what our "game plan" for the next six weeks was going to be. Our doctor told us the MRI results and Avery's tumor is DEFINITELY SHRINKING! It now measures 3.2 x 1.3 x 1.1 cm. Since it was such a large mass to begin with the doctors said that they didn't expect it to be gone. Avery's ANC (immune system counts) have been slowly decreasing for the past six weeks. A normal person's ANC is usually around 5,000 and this last week Avery's counts were 430. This is the first time she's every been neutropenic and I had no idea how to handle it. I had to wipe and lysol everything in our house!

Avery is now in "maintenance". So for the next little while she will be going in every three weeks for her chemo and then be on really high doses of steroids for 5 days afterwords. We are absolutely elated that she is responding well to her treatment. Every time I go up and see all of the other kids going through this I am so so grateful that Avery has what she does. There are kids that have to go up and stay for days to get their treatment and we get to go up for a few hours and then come straight home. We are so so blessed that she has such a positive prognosis. 

So for the past two weeks we have been staying inside our home all day everyday. We couldn't have any visitors. If Avery got sick and got a fever at all while she is neutropenic she would be automatically admitted and have to stay at the hospital until she had no fever for 24 hours. I've tried to make it as fun for her as possible while being locked up.

Avery snuggling in her mermaid nightgown that she wore for about 4 days straight. 

Avery and her cute friend Koy. They are both getting chemo and sharing their toys! Every time I see them together I want to cry! They are so sweet with each other and we are so so grateful Avery has a friend up there.

Avery in another Mermaid shirt she didn't want to take off!

All bundled up! First day in months that it's been over 50 degrees and we had to take advantage. We just went outside to watch the garbage truck drive around. Yes we are THAT bored! :)

Making cupcakes. Avery loooves frosting! :)