Relay for Life 2012

today Saturday march the 24th 2012 is the Ipswich Relay for life, this year we did the survivors walk like the last two years :)  Alex asks all the time about this so I try to join in or sponsor someone that need the support that is walking as a team, we did try get a team up and running but had to many things on our plate this year to pull it off so maybe next year we can as we should be back home with family and friends that I can get to join in ( need a team of 10 to 15 so 2 or 3 would not work lol,  Alex wants to join in as well) we did get photos taken this year for the paper, with another Child so will be looking out for the photo Alex 7 and the other little girl is 4 ♥

 Photos from today

the photos below are from the last two years we have walked and stories that have got into the paper or photos from paper

photo from paper March 2010 

our first relay for Life Survivors walk March 2010

Youngest Relay survivor with Ipswich Mayor March 2010

proud survivor March 2010

story in paper march 2010

relay for life October 2011

2011 October Relay for Life

another paper Oct 2011

story from paper Oct 2011

today I met another 2 families battling Childhood cancer and not doing so well :( also have heard that 4 relay survivors from last year missed this one due to losing that Battle, I know they are doing gene testing and also other treatments being looked into but until the testing is finished and trials start and we hear of someone going into remission there is still no new cure this all needs funding like so many other things in our world

adding this again 

today 3 years ago

March the 22nd 2009 the Day I finally got into a Dr's a Sunday at that but we get told she has a lump (tumor) on her Liver and possibly just FAT!!! we are told to get in for urgent Ultrasound the next day asap on Monday, no instructions about this scan only asap, so today 3 years ago I take both girls to imaging for Alex to have a scan, we got sent away as Alex had to fast so we went window shopping for a little while, the sonographer does her work then gets up with a worried look and brings another person in to double check the scans, this is alarming me but I am staying calm for Both girls and trying to keep a steady head, they ask about a CT scan I was not asked to get one so they call the referring Dr and Alex gets a Chest X-Ray before we are sent straight back to the Dr with only the scans and nor report???

we are told by the Dr to go straight to the Mater Hospital in Brisbane as he suspected its definatly a tumor and we would see our little lady get very sick before she gets better ( no mention of Cancer as a word and still the liver) but we did understand what was happening and I was fighting to stay calm for the girls still.

while walking to the car I called home hoping to Catch Pete before he went in for afternoon shift but I just missed him so I called the mobile and he called back with-in minutes even before I had got into the car, we decided that he would come home and we would all go in together lucky the GPS on my phone works ok? we had no idea where we were going? 

at the mater we waited for 5 hours before we were seen again she was not urgent and in no real pain? once in the Dr said its a Kidney Tumor and excessively large so we were referred to the Royal Children 's Hospital as they have Oncology ( we now knew it was cancer 100%)  we get instructions to the next hospital and they gave us sandwiches and we were back on the road seeing Brisbane in the Night lights, 

the the RCH we had been referred to a specific oncologist and told he is one of the best (Dr Tim Hassall) he told us what he though she had and that it was on the verge of rupture which will make things 100% worse if that happens due to massive spreading so she was admitted straight away

sorry for the marathon page you can read  this back in May 2009 may be slightly different as aI remember more or forget details but it is still there like a reminder that things can change in a heart beat but I am so grateful to see my girls every day enjoying life to the max ♥

January 2009

February 2009

March 2009 before diagnosis

April 2009 after Alex was diagnosed and started treatment RC HB

time to go home April 1st 2009

hair loss started April 2009

Alexandria today March 2012

so today is burnt into my mind and every year I am grateful for what we still have, I would like to see no child go through what Alex has been through so we need a cure,

always let those you love know how you feel, we are only here for who knows how long and we never know what tomorrow holds for anyone.

Happy Harmony day to all for Yesterday as we celebrate diversity and enjoy all cultures ♥
Harmony Day is celebrated around Australia on 21 March each year. It's a day when all Australians celebrate our cultural diversity
Harmony Day

D Day for Alex

Dental today and Alex went to school for the first half to try keep her busy and keep the stress away,  I also worked in tuck-shop this morning, she had 2 teeth pulled after lunch  and we had to go to another clinic as they had no stitches and she needed 2 so we went to the Ipswich dental clinic and they thought she was so brave as they have adults that react worse than she did

Elliot keeping Alex strong at the dentist today she got squished  along with Mummies Hand ♥ My Brave super Trooper

home and she is experiencing pain so another dose of panadol to keep her comfy and a soft food dinner  Robyn wants McDonald's so Alex will get a sundae and custard when  she gets home ♥  me and Daddy-ho will have Chinese it has been one very stressful week and I am so glad it is all over for this month with the Rel;ay and camp to look forward too ♥

we also got call back about Relay for life and this year Alex is no longer the youngest walked at the survivors walk ( this doesn't bother me ) but knowing how many children have to go through all this is what upsets me :(
I was sad at hearing a 4 year old was walking this year ( Alex was 4 at Diagnosis ♥)

Logan's Run Bracelets from Tooth fairy for Alex

Logan's Run Bracelet for Robyn from Tooth fairy for being good at the dentist she has not yet lost a tooth but needs her broken one out soon, they called back yesterday and I have to try get her to wiggle it and hopefully it will come out that way and if not we have to have it removed mid April as it is infection the bone etc and has also a abscess under the tooth :(

6th March Ultrasound and Xray

Traffic at a Crawl 

we had an ECCO today like an ultrasound done on the heart to make sure she is fine and the Chemo has not done damage to the heart this was at 8.30am so a big day again :/  we had traffic issues on the way in and I had to call at 8am to let them know we were still held up in traffic and would be late, we arrived at CCS at 845 and I rang their office hoping someone may be there so I could get a lift to the RCH and get there sooner and was lucky I had just missed Margie she had just dropped another family at the hospital and they had also just said that I had just pulled in as they left but we got a lift and rushed up to weigh in and then wait for Alex to be called out, we get called in just after 9am and all looks good so we then head straight down to radiology for a 9.30am Ultrasound and then Chest X-Ray these show any change in her chest and abdomen and will let the Dr's know if the Cancer is reoccurring but we have been so blessed that she has stayed clear everywhere and Stable on the mass that was in-operable♥ they still have issues finding the mass near her aorta but it all looks good so that is all I needed and back out to the waiting room for the X-Ray when in Walks Alex's Favorite Nurse Jerry from when she was sick he is looking good and I grab a photo :) he was surprised at how well Alex is doing and even more so when I told him Miss (Trouble) Robyn is now a prep in school and 5 :o
Alex had her snacks while we waited then some lessons at RCH school in outies and then in to see Dr Tim, All looking good and he is happy with Alex :) said her kidney pain could be growing pains but everything is the same and looks good :)
we head out and make next appointment in June  ( back to Wednesdays ) for a CT scan so contrast and IV  then head out to call and get a lift back to the car at CCS.

I called CCS the other night as we would be there before anyone was available to get a park. as this is not our normal day we go Wednesdays Normally but today is Tuesday due to ECCO, and all is ok just parked and caught up after for coffee and chat

Ultrasound 

with Jerry ♥

having a snack break and sitting on the croc

construction in park over road

This would have been a day I needed Robyn picked up from home and possibly school also, but she has not been well all week with a fever so no school today, she stayed home with daddy, on a good note Robyn is looking like herself now and fever has broken  so both back to school tomorrow :)

last week Robyn had her dentist appointment and the broken tooth is an issue it could be broken and I am waiting on a call back as to what they will do next? it is possible that they will pull that tooth as it is loose and hopefully has not effected the gum and bone underneath, the private dentist didnt even XRay that tooth so hope all is ok ( I worry about Robyn too she is my Baby )

Robyn getting her first X-Ray (dental though)

Robyn sitting in the dental chair

I have also got paperwork for the girls to go on Junior Camp this year and they are looking forward to it in April off to the circus then camp and lots of fun will get full details later and where drop off and pick up will be at a closer date, now Mummy and Daddy will have a weekend of quiet to maybe catch a movie and Dinner plus just some relaxation time ♥

Sick Robyn ♥

we had a good Saturday with Daddy working on a show car  while I got 2 new tire's on the car as we had no spare, played with my Camera outside and listened to the rain and enjoyed the slightly cooler day, the neighbors had a Big Party that night and I was the only one to stay up late watching Haunted Mansion ( Eddie Murphy), Robyn woke at 11.30pm Crying so she came to bed with me ♥

Sunday  Daddy-ho was not 100% Still, then Robyn went down hill fast with a Fever and she seemed fine in every other way so a small dose of panadol to help and her fever dropped to 38 and stayed there steady, Robyn had the fever all day and even Panadol didn't drop it below 38 she ended up vomiting and not really eating Dinner even though she was Hungry hope she is better soon ♥ her fever started back up soon after the first 2 hours on the panadol,  not happy as Alex has scans in 2 days and hope she doesn't get sick any more than she has been this last week, Alex has not been herself all week no real energy spikes but then seams depressed and sad and sluggish :( she did have a day or 2 where her left side was sore ( remaining Kidney side) we stayed in my bed and watched Shrek 4 eva after on blue-ray :) Alex was with us and I hope I have not put her at risk of getting this too just before scans :(

Monday (today) Robyn was up at 5am very chirpy and happy but at 7.30 when I got up for the girls to get ready for school her fever was still there and she was light headed and wobbly on her feet so we took Alex to school and she stayed home with Mummy watching The Never Ending story 2 in bed ♥ I gave her a shower and she ate (No vomiting today) but fever never went under 38 til now at 6.30pm :/ she is still feverish tempo is now 37.9 and possibly back on the rise, Alex will be going to the RCH for her scans tomorrow I called this morning to see what I should do and unless she gets sick between now and the morning it is a go ahead, Robyn will stay home with Daddy and rest up so I hope her fever breaks and she starts to feel better soon ♥
I am all set for the mornings early start 6.30am as we have to be at the RCH by 8.30 park at the CCS and walk up to the hospital :)

Photos of Miss Robyn resting in my bed today ♥

we have ECCO at 8.30am, Ultrasound at 9.30am plus Chest X Ray then back to outies for Dr Tim appointment and then we get to head home, Alex has to fast for 6 hours but luckily most is while she is asleep :)

Alex's Temp Tatt

Robyn's Temp Tatt

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