Merry Christmas!
Sorry for not posting an update since Hutton’s last treatment date….but that was intentional. You see, I was reluctant to write and post an update after she was released and before Christmas because I did not want to jinx anything. Is that superstitious…yes. Was I thinking logically….no. Is the end result simply confirmation bias…probably.
I wanted to do everything I could to set her up for being able to spend the holiday(s) and Christmas as “normally” as she could, which meant her not having to go back into the hospital for any reason before she needs to and especially so that she was not in the hospital on Christmas. Which is what we prayed for every-single-day.
I know I have written before about focusing on the things I can control and trying not to think about the things that I cannot…and it helps 99% of the time, but it is still stressful and taxing going to bed at night, and not knowing if I am going to wake up to Hutton having a fever and needing to run her to the ER. I can only liken the feeling to being deployed overseas and “crossing the wire” or every day working as a police officer (IYKYK). You try not to focus on the unknown that could happen and lean heavily on all the preparation, training, and planning prior to increase the odds of a positive outcome…but the thought, the knowing, the worry, is always there in the back of your consciousness. And I literally prayed every single morning that she would stay healthy and strong throughout these 12 days before Christmas.
It is now Christmas.....so to update everyone (Fair warning this is a long one):
Hutton was released from her 5 day treatment around 10pm on December 14th. Her blood count was on the borderline low, so she had a blood transfusion prior to being released to get those numbers up and hopefully be able to last the 12 days she would be home. Well, she made it and was in great spirits!! She has been eating well (on a Wendy’s kick) and is being her normal crazy, wacky, and sassy self which is such a huge blessing. She had to get labs done mid-week to check her numbers, which she was not happy about. We chose to take her to Quest, which meant getting “poked” to draw blood, rather than making the drive up to UCLA and having them access her port. She was very anxious because she does not like getting poked (what child does) but she was very brave and did an amazing job. We are so proud of how much bravery and strength she is developing being put through everything she has had to go through.
I came home from work one day and she was very excited to tell me how she scared her mom, so of course, I tried to make it worse, and told her she should set up her iPad ad record her scaring her mom. Well that completely backfired, and now, every day when I come home she tries to record scaring me on video. Little prankster 😍
The Saturday before Christmas, her Gymnastics gym did a “drive-by” Christmas celebration for her. Before their annual Christmas Team Party, they met up, decorated their vehicles and then drove by the house to wave, say hi, and wish her a Merry Christmas as she watched, bundled up, from the bed of my truck with her coach. It was very sweet of them and she enjoyed seeing the love and support from her Vibe tribe.
Though she initially wanted to keep her Christmas-Eve-Eve sleepover tradition with Kiki, we decided that may be too much and instead said told her that she would be able to go and hang out do ALL the Christmas traditions she normally did for Christmas-Eve-Eve, but then would need to come home rather then spend the night. A week before, she told Steph she had changed her mind and didn’t want to do that anymore. We think she was probably nervous and anxious as she did not really know what to expect and I am sure the fact that she spends 99% of her time not at the hospital at home, we think leaving the house like that may make her nervous. So we adapted and instead of her going to Kiki’s, they came to us and she was able to salvage some resemblance of her Christmas tradition and they were able to watch the gym drive by with us.
Now it is Christmas morning and praise be to God Hutton made it through these last 12 days with zero issues. She has been eating like a champ, and acting like her crazy, sassy self. It was an absolute blessing to see her acting like a “normal” 9 year-old. This morning started off with a little hick-up. Right before we let Hutton go down to see the tree and presents, she began crying saying that she was just sad she had to go back into the hospital tomorrow. We had a quick discussion about how blessed she was to be able to spend Christmas at home, while some kids are currently in the hospital. She said she understood and is happy she is home for Christmas, but still sad she has to go back into the hospital tomorrow….which is completely understandable. Now we plan to spend a nice relaxing Christmas Day together, as a family, home.
Tomorrow we will go back into the hospital for Hutton’s 3-Day treatment, which is always the roughest on her little body, and also hopefully get her PET Scan and MRI to get an update on the size of her tumor and get an idea as to when her surgery will take place.
Thank you all for the continued support, love, and prayers. God has definitely been making his presence known during these trying times. As I think of all of you who have continued to pray for Hutton, I am reminded of Matthew 18:19-20: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and we wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.
