Busy Busy Busy...

Well, our trip here to Minneapolis has been a busy one, and we really have enjoyed being here and seeing so many people who are so special to us. We've also had fun visiting a few of our special Minneapolis restaurants and favorite stores, and Gracie has charmed and smiled her way through every moment of it.

So for the important news...
Gracie's appointments on Thursday went very well. Everyone we have seen are just amazed by how wonderful she looks, how happy she is, and how much she has improved. Gracie's transplant doctor, Dr. Tolar told us that he is usually hesitant to say it but that Gracie is a true example of a successful transplant. My heart soared at that statement, and I could not help but to give him a huge hug and thank him incessantly. We discussed the next steps that Gracie will take, and provided her engraftment is still good and stable (we'll get that news in about a week or so) we will begin to start tapering her CSA (anti-rejection med) over the next 6 weeks or so, and we will also be able to have her central line removed in the next month as well. We are so excited!!!!
Gracie also had an appointment with her neuropsychologist, Dr. Bjoraker. This was another great appointment! We went through a few hours of assessment testing and it turns out that Gracie has made some huge strides in development since transplant as well. She has almost overcome the setbacks she suffered due to the transplant and she never ceases to try something new. We are just so proud of her and Dr. Bjoraker was really impressed with her progress.
We also sneaked up to Unit 5D to surprise our special friends who took such good care of us when we were inpatient. We were so happy to see 2 of our most special nurses, Carolyn and Jenny, and Gracie was happy to see them too! She gave Jenny some big snuggles and lots of smiles all around to everyone. We chatted for a few and caught them up on all of our great news before we had to let them get back to work. From the unit, we headed to the rehab center to visit with our friend and awesome speech therapist Mary. Gracie gave her a big hug and more snuggles and we shared with her how well Gracie is eating and babbling. Gracie even said a few "dada's" for her. Mary was so happy to see her Gracie and she was also impressed with all that Gracie is up to these days.
The next day we went back to rehab to visit with Susan, our physical therapist, and Gracie had no trouble showing off all of her motor skills- crawling, cruising, climbing, playing, pulling up... everything you can think of. Susan was also really impressed with how far Gracie has come in just a few short months.

Saturday was the day of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program's 40th anniversary celebration and reunion. What a wonderful celebration!!!! We are so glad we stayed for it and we had so much fun. Gracie was great and I think she was the youngest transplant recipient present. She met lots of people, yound and old, just like her and Jimmy and I were both touched and inspired by the presence of so many survivors. We heard from the doctors who started the BMT program here at the U of Mn, and even from a Minnesota Vikings Football player who also went through a transplant here this summer... just like Gracie.
And wouldn't you know it, Gracie the celebrity and her mom and dad were on the local news here in Minneapolis last night! We hope to have a link to add here to the blog so you all can see, otherwise, we'll try to post the video here in the next few days.

We have lots of pictures to post as well so we will get to that asap. We'll be flying back home tomorrow and while we have had so much fun back in Minneapolis, we are looking forward to the many comforts of home.

Much love.