What a Bumpy Road!

Well, just when we thought it was going to be easy for awhile, Natalie keeps getting nauseous. This is so frustrating because she is getting much less chemo right now and should really be feeling pretty good. They gave us some new medicines to try for nausea so we will see in the next day or two what happens. She hasn't been able to go to school the past three days. I have never wished time away like I do now. I want it to be the end of 2010 so bad. That would mean we were done with this madness. I just want my girl to feel good again and get back to her normal life. I know and trust she will but time just can't move fast enough for me these days.
I know this is just another bump in the road and we will get over it. We just have to be patient (again).

Life is Good!

We are so excited that Natalie has been able to go to school for the past week and 1/2 and is doing great. Her friends help her around campus and everyone has been so good to her. We have sure enjoyed the break in her treatment. She couldn't get any chemo while she was on the antibiotics from the infection she had and they also had to give her blood counts time to recover so Nat hasn't had chemo for a couple weeks now. The bummer is is just drags the treatment on but the breaks are so needed and nice. She feels good and that is awesome to see.
We will be back at it starting Thursday. Nat has to get chemo every 10 days for the next couple of months. That is a lot less then the last phase (thank you Lord) so hopefully life will be pretty normal for her for awhile.
We love normal!!!

Make ~ A ~ Wish

We just met the three most incredible men tonight. Rick, Gary and Kevin from the Make A Wish Foundation came over and brought us dinner and wanted to discuss Natalie making a wish. At first when we were told she would be granted a wish we were a little freaked out. We didn't understand that this foundation grants wishes to kids all the time that are going to be just fine. They just have to be dealing with a chronic or life threatening illness. We thought it was a last wish kinda thing.
Well, these three wish grantors are sure to be life long friends of our family. They were the neatest people. If we never got anything more then the 2 1/2 hours they spent with us tonight we would still feel so very blessed. Our entire family enjoyed them thoroughly and what a special gift they give families with their compassion and love they show in doing what they do. This is the 71st wish Gary will be a part of and he himself is a Leukemia survivor. Love that! For Kevin and Rick, Natalie was their very first personally chosen child and what a perfect fit. Leukemia is very close to all of these men and has touched them personally in some way. What an absolute blessing God gave us tonight and we are so grateful.
Wishes Really Do Come True!
Love ~ The Erwin Family

Back to some Normal Stuff !!

Natalie got out of the hospital Saturday and got the clearance to go to school Monday. She did great. She even made it all day on the first day, which surprised us. She is so strong and has such will to do stuff in amazes us. She enjoyed seeing all of her friends. She was certainly pooped when she got home and needed a nap, but she is handling it great.
Thanks so much for all the well wishes and sweet notes from everyone. It is so so nice to have such support.

HOME AT LAST!

Once again we are home. Thank you Lord! These week long stays at the hospital are bruddle. Thanks to all our faithful friends that pray for Nat, her counts went up last night from 147 to 540. In one night that is a big jump. God is good and He hears us cry out to Him.
The doctor said today that Natalie is fine to go to school on Monday. She is so anxious to get back and see all her friends. I am sure when the homework starts she will re-think that one. :-)
The next couple of months should be easier on her. That's what they tell us, so we sure hope so.
If you ever have to take your child to Banner Desert Peds. Dept. rest assured, you get great care. We are so thankful to the team there and appreciate all of them very much. At least when we are at our home away from home, we are in good company.
Thanks again to everyone for hangin' in there and praying consistently for Natalie. It truly is what keeps us going.
Love ~ The Erwin Family