The Astros LOVE Riley

Riley had her clinic appointment yesterday, and everything looked great. It felt very odd being there after having a month off, and things actually went smoothly. Usually when we are there for spinal taps, everything seems to move in slow motion. Riley's blood counts were all good...Her ANC was 1,230, platelets were 210, and hemoglobin was 11.5. Her white blood count was a little low at 2,000, but they didn't seem too concerned about it. She was able to get her spinal tap, and did so great. Her mood throughout this procedure, I have learned, depends solely upon the mood/actions of the nurse helping us. While Dr. Dreyer is performing the tap, the nurse and I are holding Riley into a ball and trying to distract her from what is going on. We had the best nurse, Caryn, yesterday and Riley hardly even made a whimper during the procedure...what a champ! Riley also got her dose of Vincristine in her port, and started the 5 days of steroids. And, oh joy, because she is growing so much we get to increase the dose of the steroids...did I mention, Oh Joy?! Luckily, it is only 5 days...even though sometimes it feels like 5 months. Then in two weeks we will check her blood counts locally, and go back on July 28th (Riley's 4th birthday) for her next dose of Vincristine.

Riley helping collect the blood from her button

When Dr. Dreyer marks Riley's back before the procedure, she always asks Riley what she wants her draw. It's become a fun game with the nurses for them to try and guess what it is...bet you can't guess what this is. It's a pool with a diving board and some waves...but I told her it looks more a zombie unicorn. She's had all kinds of fun things drawn on her back.

After clinic we headed out to Minute Maid Park to catch up with our new friends, the Astros. We had the best time!! They took us into the Press Conference room and some of the players came by to meet everyone, sign autographs, and take pictures. The mascots came in first and Riley wasn't too excited about them...but then the real fun started. All of the guys were so sweet and sincere, and they all LOVED Riley...but who doesn't?! When Riley saw everyone start coming around and signing their names with markers, she decided that was fun and wanted to sign her name on everything. Some of the players would come to her and want to sign her calendar...but they had to wait until she was finished signing her name first. It was pretty cute. We had so much fun, and even though they lost we enjoyed watching the game. Can't wait until next year!!

Nana, Riley, and Juction Jack

Riley giving her autograph

Riley and Brandon Backe

The Big Puma!!

Carlos Lee

Hunter Pence

The "other" Pumas!!

Go Astros!!

My little purple people eater

I love this picture for 2 reasons - Mainly because she is so stinkin' cute, but also because I have always been drawn towards all things purple. Growing up I loved the color purple...only I had trouble pronouncing my r's, so it sounded more like puwple when I said it. One of my dad's favorite stories to tell is from one of our trips to the grocery store...we were standing in line and I was so excited to see the elderly lady in front of us had "a puwple purse, a puwple shirt, and puwple hair!"...and loudly pointed this out to everyone. Now, 20 something years later...it's funny to me that my life once again is revolving around the color purple. Purple is the color the American Cancer Society has designated to represent all cancer survivor's for their annual Relay for Life (these glasses were actually part of the gift given to Riley at this years Relay for Life in Brenham because she was the youngest Cancer Survivor there). Purple is the color, God willing, my now almost 4 year old daughter will proudly be wearing every year to participate in the Survivor's lap. Purple is the color that will now always bring a smile to my face, and purple is the hair color that I will glady sport to the grocery store 50 years from now to help make the day of another little girl in line with her father.

Happy Friday!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We, for once, have nothing planned. Josh is working, so the kids and I are going to hang out at home...and I can't wait! I will need this time to gear myself up for next week's steroids. We go to the clinic Wednesday for chemo and a spinal tap...then we get to go with Sunshine Kids to anther Astros game Wednesday evening. We will also get to go into the locker room to meet the players and take pictures...can't wait!!

I leave you with pics of my monkeys...

Martha, thanks for the do-rags...the kids love them!!

Happy (late) Father's Day!!

We had another fun filled weekend. We got to spend the weekend with Nana & Pops, and then yesterday got to spend the day swimming and hanging out with Nani and Papo. Riley is still doing great. If it weren't for her super short hair-do, you would never even know she is still battling cancer. That is a very good thing.

We hope all you dads had a great father's day. We are very lucky to have such great men in our lives. Pops and Papo...thank you for loving our kids like they are your own. You are both the best at spoiling them and sending them back home. Most importantly, thank you for letting us steal your wives away when we need them for help. Josh, thanks for being the best daddy ever. Riley and Hayden look up to you, and have so much fun with you...especially in the garden!!


We go back to clinic next Wednesday for chemo and spinal tap...and start another 5 days of the dreaded steroids. Yuck!!

We love you daddy!!

Papo, Josh, and 2 little monkeys

Pops

Fun at the park

Feeling great in '08!!

Riley is continuing to do great, and definitely enjoying her summer. She and Hayden don't stop until they fall asleep. This past weekend they both got to go camping at Lake Somerville with Nani and Papo, and then got to spend some time at Nana and Pop's house. I'd like to say that Josh and I had a relaxing kid-free weekend, but we were just as busy...the fun times of summer!! Yesterday, Nana took Riley to the Brenham Clinic to have her blood checked and everything looked great. Her hemoglobin was 12, and her platelets were 237...all in the normal range!! So, barring any major medical disaster we will continue to enjoy our time away from Houston...we don't return until the 25th for Vincristine and the make-up spinal tap.

Riley's hair is coming back with a vengeance. Yesterday when they got home I was telling her how long it has gotten, and she corrected me to say "No, it has grown short". Short or long, it doesn't matter as long as it keeps growing. Pictures don't do it justice, it's so soft and fine you can't really see it. I told her it won't be long and we can spike it up like Uncle Jairus does...she didn't seem to excited about that idea...said that was only for boys. Sorry, Uncle Jairus.

Please continue the prayers for all the cancer cuties. Paige was admitted yesterday to begin her second round of chemo, and so far so good. There are a couple of other kiddos I keep up with, their blogs are actually listed to the right, Hans and Erin. Both of these cuties have relapsed Neuroblastoma, so please say some prayers for them. Also, when Riley was inpatient back in January there was the cutest little girl next door to us, Chloe...she turned 7 that week. Anyway, she has alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and they have recently found more tumors...the sad part is she has reached her lifetime maximum of the "big gun" chemo that has been working for her. So, now their plan is just to keep her comfortable and pain free. Her website info is www.caringbridge.com/visit/chloeschmidt. Please say some prayers for her mom and grandmother...they have a lot of fun activities planned for Chloe in the next couple of weeks.

Check out all this hair!!

Is it hot enough for everyone?!

Nothing new to report here. Riley just finished her monthly 5 day round on steroids...and all I have to say is WOW. This was 5 of the toughest days to date. I'm not sure why this round affected her mood more than any other, but it did a number on our princess. Nothing would make her happy, and she could never quite figure out what it was she was hungry for. Fortunately for me, I got to skip out on the last 2 days to head to Arlington for some of Shelby's wedding showers. Poor Nani was left to try and tame the beast. But, the good news is we are done for this month and things should start to return to normal...for the most part. We are all looking forward to not traveling to Houston as much, although it does mean I have to start working 5 days a week again...I'll admit I got a little spoiled on that end. I think I can manage, though.

I know most of you who read this page also check in on Paige's site...but in case you don't, Paige found out some great news last week. She is in remission!! The chemo is working and thankfully for her this means her next round of chemo won't be as harsh as the first one. I believe she should be going in either this week or next for her 2nd round, but I could be wrong on that. Please continue to pray that the chemo continues working for both Riley and Paige...we want our babies to stay healthy and continue to enjoy the summer heat.

Enjoy your week everyone!!