April 13-19

Great News!!!

We got Brinelys test results back this week and she has responded exactly the way they wanted her to. She is considered to be in "remission" which means no cancer cells were detected. But this does not change her treatment plan. The treatment lasts 2 years and 2 months no matter what. That will never be shortened. These test results mean she is responding to the chemotherapy which is awesome and answers to prayers. Prayers are heard and answered. We are so very grateful for your continued prayers in her behalf. She still has a long difficult road ahead but these results keep her cure rate in the 90%. Thank you so much. 

Brinley has a really hard time walking up the stairs. She never complains that it is hard, she just works harder. She is such an inspiration to watch as she goes through this. She might hate what she has to do and cry about it sometimes but she always does it. 90% of the time she has a smile on her face. We love her so much. She is so strong and amazing! The video of Brinley walking up the stairs is on my moms Facebook page (Melinda Thatcher Raven). Unfortunately I cannot upload videos to the blog. There are also two other videos on her page. 

Reading books with daddy!

Brinley got the coolest book ever from her sweet sister Ariel. She loves it. Thank you Ariel. :)

April 18th: JAXONS BIRTHDAY! :) He turned 5 years old! 

Making cupcakes for Jaxon. Licking the bowl...the best part! :)

The boys started soccer this week and they love it!! :)

Jaxons first game was today and he scored 2 goals!

Sterling had his first game on Wednesday and they won!! :)

At Sterling Game. :) photo credit: my mother (she should be in this photo)

Saturday 19: Sammy's Junior Year Prom. She looks absolutely stunning!! :)

Ring pop from her awesome brother-in-law Russ! :)

Making chocolate strawberries and chocolate pretzels!

She LOVES izzy!!

Playing baseball with Russ. :)

She is too cute!!!

April 6-12

Yesterday was her last day of phase 1. She had a spinal tap and bone marrow aspiration. They put chemo in the spinal fluid and are testing the bone marrow to see how she has responded to the chemo. We will find out the results in a week or so. She will start phase 2 on April 21st. We don't know what that will consist of. They will let us know then. She is now done taking the steroids. And she got to drop 2 other meds because it was for side effects of the steroid. So for the next 10 days she only has one med on Monday and Tuesday, twice a day. We are so excited for the break. They will start more meds for phase 2. She is doing ok overall but she is always so tired and has no energy. She doesn't walk around to much. Her legs are stiff/sore from the chemo. Her appetite should go back to normal now that she's off the steroids and she will start losing the weight she's gained. She's losing her hair and she is pretty sad about that. It's hard to explain it to a three year old. Especially when we've always reassured her how pretty it was because it has not grown in very well. But she loves hats and head bands so we will make sure she has a lot that she loves. 

We are so grateful for all of your love and prayers. Thank you. We love you.

She loves the little kitty! 

Watching conference. :)

Jaxon is so sweet to her. ❤️

My mom brought home a lot of crafts for the kids to paint; they were pretty excited. :)

Stroller ride. :) We are loving this warm weather!!

She loves her daddy!

Waking up from the procedure yesterday.

Picking out some food; she was starving after the procedure.

March 30-April 5

Funny Story: Brinleys food obsession has gone to a new level haha.

Brinley:

"Let's cook izzy into chicken.  We can get you a new dog"

Mom:

"You want to eat izzy?"

Brinley:

"Yea"

I think there is something really wrong with that. And thats not her first time talking about it haha.

On Monday, March 31, my mom took Brinley to Primary Children's because her breathing is very labored at times and has been a little different for the past few days. She is okay. It's from the weight gain and her larger abdomen which is what they thought it would be but they wanted to be sure. She started complaining of pain in her arm, head and mouth on the way up. The pain in her arm is really her hand and that is from the chemo. But she has thrush in her mouth which is another side effect from steroids she said so she gave us prescription for that. And head is probably just a headache. So all in all shes good. 

Cute smile and chubby cheeks. :)

March 29. Got a profile showing her cute belly and hair.

Just waiting for the eggs to boil so they can color on them. :) 

Brinley got a package from her cousins Brooklyn and Oakley. :) This frame came in it; Brinley and Jaxon had a fun time painting and decorating it. And she got some princess dress up too. 

Jaxon is half monkey haha.

Playing go fish with mommy! This is one of her favorite games!

She is so pretty!

Sick of taking meds :(

We went to the pet store and all the kids got to pick out a fish. 🐠 

Playing games with Ashley. :)

Her package of new clothes came in the mail!!! :) She out grew all her other clothes in about a week haha (because of the steroids). 

So precious!