Round 4

We are headed back to Iowa City tomorrow morning.  I can't believe we are already on round 4 of chemotherapy.  These past few months have flown by.  Addie is doing so well, I told her Dr. yesterday that I have to remind myself that this is still going on because of how fantastic she has been doing.  She has been packing on the pounds and those cheeks of hers are back in full force!  We have been enjoying being home and having a "normal" life.  This has been the longest we have all been under one roof in the past two months and it has been WONDERFUL.  There continues to be so many things to be thankful for, Praise God!

The next round of chemotherapy brings more scary side effects...
She will be on three drugs this time and instead of just having chemo for about 2 hours/day, she will have the infusion continuously for three days.  The main side effects are kidney damage (once again, her poor kidneys... please God protect them) and heart damage.  Please pray specifically that God would guard these organs and keep them untouched by the medicine.  The other short term side effects include blood in her urine and mouth sores, please pray that these will be avoided.  Please pray that her sweet little body continues to endure the treatments and that her attitude/spunk would stay strong and spirited.  Pray that she would feel good this round and that we would spend our time riding her bike around the halls.  Please pray that we would come home and she would stay healthy and happy.  Pray that every cancer cell is killed and that her primary tumor would NOT exist after five rounds of chemotherapy (this would be a miracle, we are planning on 6 rounds and radiation).
Please Heavenly Father protect my baby, keep her heart and organs strong and resilient against this awful treatment, please keep her happy and healthy despite all the torture we are putting her through.  Please HEAL HER COMPLETELY and let it never return.  Please let the side effects be minimal and let there be no long term damage.  Please Lord let us only remember the memories of this time and let it not be evident on our sweet Addie Bean or her body.
HEALING thoughts and prayers.  Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers.  Everyone continues to be amazing.  I am overwhelmed each day by the generosity of those around us.
 
GO TEAM ADDIE

Addie's counts were so good this past week, she got to enjoy the birth of her baby cousin and Grandpa Darwin's birthday party!! The fact that she was able to do both of these things is unbelievable, so blessed and so thankful!!!