Day +20

So, there has much improvement over the past 2 days. Her diaper rash is slowly getting better again and she has been awake, alert, and playing much more yesterday and today. :) Good stuff. Her counts finally began to drop today as a result of being off of the growth factor and that is expected. So for today, her WBC is 4.0 with her Neutrophils at 2.2. These are still great numbers but we can expect them to continue to drop over the next few days while we see if her new bone marrow can step up on the production without help. GROW CELLS GROW! I forgot to ask the doc when he was in, but I think Gracie is supposed to have her engraftment checked in the next day or so. This is when we find out if Gracie's new cells are taking over or not. I'll let you know when I know. In the meantime, pray for 100% engraftment!!!

On to the not so good news... Gracie is retaining fluid again, so we are back on the Bumex (the stronger diuretic) and its on a continuous IV drip again. Like we've mentioned before, its really important that Gracie doesn't retain too much fluid so that we can keep her lungs dry. So back on the Bumex we go and hopefully Gracie will become a pee pee machine again. :) She has something like 2 lbs of extra water weight on her little body. Yikes.
Looks like we're going to be staying in the hospital this week, despite everyone's optimism. Mommy is secretly relieved to be staying a little longer. I'm sure you can all understand why. They're looking now at maybe getting out next week, so we'll just see how it goes.

Occupational Therapy came by this afternoon and Gracie really showed off her stuff. She used her pincher grasp we've been working on, pulled some baby beads apart, and pushed buttons on a camera toy. The therapist was very impressed. She also colored for the very first time so now Mommy has a sheet of scribbled paper to hang on to forever. Awwww.

Gracie's still having some problems with the medicine taking, but she's choked a few things down. She's still so easily nauseated, so I just don't know if we're going to make it out of here without the NG tube. I have my fingers crossed though. You never know what this Amazing Grace might do.
Bonus: Gracie has started putting things in her mouth again over the past day or so which is a great sign that she is feeling better. Hopefully food and meds won't be too far off. :)

We miss everyone so much and hope you are all well.

xoxo.