What We Are Thankful For...

We went to the hematologist last week...just a regular check-up.

He came back with the dreaded pink paper...the one with 'the numbers'. This time, it read 204,000!!! That's CRAZY! We have NEVER been in the 200s!

After a bit of bantering back and forth, he said, 'I think we are done'.

'You mean, DONE, done?'

'Yes, I think we are chasing our tails. Her last 5 appointments have been FABULOUS and she hasn't had steroids in almost a year. I think she has outgrown this. You know what signs to look for and when you might need to call me, but I think we are done'.

'Fabulous! and not to be rude, but I hope to ever see you again!'

So, it looks like my girl might have outgrown her ITP. He told us in the beginning that 85% of kids outgrow this condition, just never thought we would be one of the 85%!

Praise and Glory to the Great Physician!

Turkey Tango...or Not...

This last Thursday, Kaylee's MDO class had their Thanksgiving Feast...

a few nuggets, some corn, mashed potatoes and a roll.

Then a little Turkey Tango.

Here she is getting ready...

and here she is NOT doing the Tango!

Well, the other kids were cute...

Pencil Song

My daughter should definately be a songwriter!

Lately, she has been singing many songs to the tune of 'Frere Jacques', which she learned at Mothers Day Out.

So, she is sitting with David the other day, drawing with a pencil and singing this ditty that she made up...

Pencil Song

(Sung to the tune of Frere Jacques)

by Kaylee Bowren

Why a pencil?

Why a pencil?

Cause it writes.

Cause it writes.

Writing all the letters

Writing all the letters

That's what it is.

That's what it is.

My girl the song writer!

Do you think we could sell it to Beyonce and make millions??

First Cookie Baking Experience

Platelet Update

Kaylee and I made a visit to the hematologist yesterday.

I was a bit concerned about this visit. She has had 2 small nosebleeds since our last visit, so I was quite unsure of what the outcome would be.

She is not the trooper that she used to be. She is old enough now to know that this hurts. She used to offer her index finger and bravely take the stick. Not so much any more...hides her hands and screams at the appropriate time. I don't blame her, I would too. I just think it is interesting that she used to take it in stride and now it is a meltdown.

Anyway, on to the news...her platelets were 149,000! This is HUGE! Her 'normal' is about 32,000. These results are WITHOUT STEROIDS! She hasn't had steroids in well over 6 months!

What does this mean? I don't know exactly...but...it means, in part, that her body is either making more platelets or her spleen has stopped destroying what she does have.

It's amazing, really.

Keep praying for my girl, her spleen and her platelets. We are not out of the woods. However, we do not go back to the hematologist for 8 weeks!

Amazing!

Kaylee is 3!

How can that be??

My girl turned 3 yesterday.

We had a great party.

Return soon to see the photos!

Passed with Flying Colors

Kaylee made her first trip to the dentist this week.

She did remarkably well!

She let them count her teeth and polish her teeth.

She was a big girl...part of that may have been that she got to watch Dora and Kai Lan while lying in the chair. :)

What a bave monkey she was!

Hide N Seek

Do you remember your first game of hide-n-seek? The running, the squeeling, the giggling, the learning where a good hiding place is, the giving yourself away...

We experienced Kaylee's first game of hide-n-seek the other day. She and her Bubba decided to spend some time playing the game. She did alright. Counted to ten, only leaving out 6 and 7, followed the dog, who gave away where Jake was, and would come out of her hiding place before Jake found her (or giggle and therefore give herself away).

I caught her in a few of her hiding places.

It was so fun to experience Kaylee's first game of hide-n-seek! I hope there are many more to come!

Turtle

Have I told you lately how stubborn this child is?

I know this will serve her well some day! She is going to do well with this as an adult...

but until she gets there...God help me!

One of the things she is very stubborn about is carrying her backpack.

'No, I do it, Mommy!'

So, this is what you get when 'she do it'...

She Knows What She Wants!

The other day, my husband was trying to help me out and get Kaylee dressed for church.

It is so funny how I know what Kaylee is saying and wants because I am with her all the time. Daddy tries hard, but often asks me to interpret...

So, Daddy is trying to get Kaylee dressed and Kaylee is crying and complaining...

'Elmo panties! Elmo panties!'

'OK, I will get you Elmo panties.'

He goes to Kaylee's room and grabs some different panties. He walks back where Kaylee is and says, 'OK, let's get dressed now.'

She still is whining and pouting, 'Elmo panites! Elmo panties!'

I finally decide I need to go see what is happening.

I walk in and Daddy says, 'She keeps saying 'Elmo panties' but I have them and she is still fussing!

I look at the panties and say...

'Babe, thanks for trying, but...

these are Zoe panties!'

There is a difference...

Daddy may not know it...

but Kaylee does!

TP a House - 2 Year Old Style

Kaylee has been doing really well with her potty training. There have been a few times lately where she has asked to go to the potty without my initiating it.

Today was one of those times.

'Pee pee potty, mommy.'

'You need to go pee pee on the potty?'

'Yes.'

'OK, let's go'

We go to the bathroom and get her all situated on the potty.

I leave her there and tell her to call mommy when she is finished. She has done this before.

I return to Jake and school.

I wait...and wait...and wait.

Then, I hear cabinets opening in the bathroom. Odd.

I walk back to the bathroom.

This is what I see:

'Kaylee, that's being a bad girl! You don't play with the toilet paper, you call mommy and she will get you a piece.'

This is the response:

This is my solution:

I just couldn't stand there and re-roll all of that tp!

Wawermenonade

Dictionary according to Kaylee: n a juicy fruit with a green rind and red meat in the melon family OR a drink made with the juice of lemons, sugar and water.

Can be used in the following ways:

1. On our picnic, we like to enjoy a seedless wawermenonade for lunch.

2. When I am thirsty, nothing tastes better than some ice cold wawermenonade.

A Milestone!

We have been in dry panties for 4 days straight! :)

Woo-Hoo!!!

Platelet Update

I haven't posted about this in awhile, but it has been in the forefront lately, so I thought I hsould update everyone.

Kaylee has started a new Sunday School Class and will be starting MDO on Tuesday.

The question I have gotten from both of her teachers is, 'What do we need to know about Kaylee?'

I discussed the platelets with both teachers. Their response is, 'Oh, so we need to call you right away if there is an accident.'

To which I respond, 'Call 9-1-1 first and then call me.'

'Oh, that bad, huh?', was the response of both teachers.

Lately, the platelets have been on the rise. The last 2 doctor visits, she was 171,000. That is fabulous for our little monkey!

We have been doing a 2cc, every 3 day regimin. We will continue to do this and go back to the doctor in 6 weeks instead of 3!

Could we possibly be on the other side of this?

Keep praying!

Now THIS is a haircut!

As you know, I tried to get Kaylee's haircut a while back and that didn't work out so well.

I went today and got her hair cut. She was such a big girl and loved playing in the Barbie Jeep and watching Bob the Builder as her hair was being cut!

She didn't want to leave when we were finished. I was trying to entice her by telling her, 'Let's go show Daddy your haircut.' Didn't work. 'Let's go show Bubba your haircut.' Didn't work. 'Let's go show Suzanne (my boss) your haircut.' Yup! That worked! Then I had to call Suzanne and track her down at Wal-mart so we could let Kaylee show her the new do!

I am very pleased!

What do you think?

Before:

After:

Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me

Just thought I would let you know that Kaylee has a flying bug issue.

Huge Issue!

Anything that flies in front of her face sends her into a crazy tailspin!

Screaming, crying, yelling 'FLY!'

It's quite a joy! Wish you could be a part!

Once Upon A Potty...

For sometime, my daughter has been interested in the potty. When mommy goes to the potty, Kaylee wants to pee-pee on the potty, too. She fusses until I sit her on the potty (with diaper and clothes still on) and she gets to 'pee-pee'. Since she is very interested, I decided it was time to try...

I don't know how successful we will be, because, in my opinion, she is a bit young, but I thought I couldn't let her interest go without trying.

I'm sure getting to pee-pee on an Elmo potty and then listen to him for a bit of encouragement will help motivate her!

UPDATE: We have had the potty 4 days and Kaylee has pee-pee'd in it 4 times! She begs me to take off her diaper so she can go sit on the potty! About 1/2 the time, she is successful! This may be easier than I thought :) !

First Haircut

I took Kaylee to get her first haircut yesterday.

An old friend moved back to town...she did my wedding hair, she shaved Jake's head for his surgery, she gave Jake his first official haircut, she did my hair for years...get the point? So, she isn't officially working, but I talked her into giving Kaylee her first haircut.

I loaded up my kids and drove to her house and when I got there, she saw Kaylee, played with her curls and said, "I wouldn't cut her hair for all the world!" She said that Kaylee wasn't ready for a haircut. She said that if I cut her hair now, that I would regret it. So...

We cut off the little uneven whispy parts of her hair, but that was it!

Kaylee did really well. Actually looked cute in the cape.

Check it out!

Kaylee's Turning 2!

Our girl turns 2 tomorrow! My, how time has flown!

Suzanne took these beautiful photos! Once again, great work!

Yogurt with a Spoon!