Posted September 15th, 2009 by Mama
how about some soup for that matzah ball!
Sorry for the long hiatus with the not blogging. Morgan has been doing pretty great. She is finally off of prednisone - yeah! The only upsetting episode each day are her stomach pains. It seems that now since she is not eating as much, acids are building up in her tummy, giving her some major pains, but we’re working thru it. Just trying to get her to start eating again…matzah ball soup seems to be a pleaser.
I started home schooling Morgan through a virtual charter school I found on-line. Did you know that there are four types of cloud coverings? No? I do, I do…and a bunch more stuff I never thought I would learn. Besides reading, writing and arithmatic, I teach art, science, history and introductory to music. Motivating either of us each morning is a challenge, but so far so good.
Morgan’s hair continues to grow, as does her texting skills to her friends who have started school as well. Morgan watches the clock and waits to see what friends she will see each day after 3pm. Her humor is back, as is her ability to wrestle her mom to a pin. We were told that Morgan was doing so well, we were able to skip this weeks visit to the doctors. We’ll check in the next couple weeks with another update!
Posted August 28th, 2009 by Mama
We have been very busy with the freedom we have now been granted since we are 90 days out from transplant. Morgan’s favorite time has been going to restaurants - ahhh true daughter mine.
We continue with her busy social calendar with Max, Sydney, Abby, Rachel, Aden, Olivia, Mason, Josh, Jason, Hannah, Harley, Holden, Aiden…and all the parents and relatives associated!
However, TODAY, was the true celebration of swimming in a pool! Keli has a friend, Jen, who let us take over her pool. It was FANTASTIC!!! Keli watches our dog Bruno, who would not get off the diving board, and just laid there while the kids worked around it.
Posted August 15th, 2009 by Mama
free video player & free video platform
video player, online video, video tools
flv player - video editor - video pluginvideo blog + wordpress plugin + video remix
morgan-in-the-water
Ventured out today after the sun was lower, so that Morgan could take advantage of a sprinkler park in the city. She was hesitant at first, but as you can see, she eventually took the plunge.
Reports from the doctors are very good. We have been cleared to SKIP this Tuesday, and are not due for our next check-up until next Tuesday. Morgan’s energy level is back to that of a “normal” 8-year old…so I am exhausted!
Posted August 9th, 2009 by Daddy
free video player & free video platform
video player, online video, video tools
flv player - video editor - video pluginvideo blog + wordpress plugin + video remix
free video player & free video platform
video player, online video, video tools
flv player - video editor - video pluginvideo blog + wordpress plugin + video remix
Morgan is now on a much better road to recovery! She has managed to get through the dreaded GVHD, (for the most part), and her personality, and happy disposition are making a strong comeback. These last couple of weeks have shown significant improvement. As we are weaning her of her medications, her counts are still fluctuating, and there has been some give and take, but the Doctors say it’s normal, nothing to be alarmed about, and she is doing just fine.
In other news, Morgan has graduated to the next level in fine arts, Metallurgy, or wire art to be more exact. We started to dabble a while back, but never really made and headway. We recently gave it another shot, and Morgan took to it like a duck to water. The art desk has now turned into a jewelers bench, and Morgan spends a lot of time there. She is still somewhat reluctant to have her picture taken, and gave me some grief in doing so, but I just could not resist. So here is a video of Morgan doing her thing, and some of her creations.
Posted August 5th, 2009 by Mama
(Morgan and Rebecca in June)
So we received a good report from the doctors today at clinic. The steroids are being reduced a little more. We’ve lost (OK, Morgan, not me) 2 pounds, but are still quite hungry. The doctor asked Morgan how her rash was, and Morgan asked “What rash, mom, what’s a rash?” Seems she doesn’t remember the ordeal back in June so much - thank G-d!
Morgan had a great weekend with her dad at his place. She was soooo excited to stay with him, he spoils her rotten. She is back to her social queen-ness. Today she had a playdate with Ava, Sydney and Abby. Sydney stayed for dinner - brisket. Morgan watched that timer for the full 3 hours waiting for that buzzer to ping! Tomorrow she sees Tr. Carol and Rachel. Thursday she’ll see Harley and Mercedes, and most likely Max on Friday. We’re starting to take calls for next week…
Morgan’s hair is starting to grow back, but she thinks she looks like a boy. I tell her she looks adorable. She continues to amaze me, and make me crazy all at the same time. Wouldn’t change it for the world!
Posted July 29th, 2009 by Mama
Doctor’s check-up went great yesterday. Our numbers had dropped some last week, but the doctors felt that the changes in medications may have caused that to happen. This week, her numbers are on the rise again, so that means her body is fixing itself. What this means is that the quarantine restrictions begin to lessen on AUGUST 20th! The countdown begins. We get to go to “not crowded” restaurants - goodbye to mama being Julia Childs everyday, movie theaters, FRIENDS HOUSES! Morgan is so excited, and so is mom!
Posted July 28th, 2009 by Daddy
I wanted to expand on Ame’s post a little, and give everyone an update on Morgan’s progress. It’s been a slow recovery for Morgan, but she is making a strong comeback. You may have noticed that there have been no new pictures of Morgan posted as of late because she’s just not ready to have her picture taken yet. I really think she’s holding out for a grand debut when she is good and ready.
She goes to the clinic at CHOP every Tuesday morning for her check up, and each week they have been steadily decreasing her medications as her body starts to work on it’s own. The GVHD has drastically subsided, but there are the tell tale marks of what she has had to endure. Her personality is coming back more and more each day as she gets better. We actually have full conversations, where only a week or so ago there was little more the subtle acknowledgments.
The long and short of it is, as I’m sure we all agree… She is an amazing child that has taught us all a few new lessons on life, and now she’s ready to get on with it!
And now presenting her latest, “The Bee”
Posted July 28th, 2009 by Mama
Still eating me out of house and home. Current menu items are HOMEMADE mashed potatoes and Ribeye steak…every day for the last 6 days! Mornings and night!!! Morgan did want me to let you know that she has started to excersize. We walk about 10 blocks a day…OK, OK, so it’s to the frozen yogurt store, BUT it is yogurt, and not icecream.
Posted July 20th, 2009 by Mama
My goodness, this girl can EAT! Morgan now wakes up quite early, and fixes herself a bowl of cereal for her first of a dozen courses for the day. Once my eyes open, she can have me cook something for her. Right now she is loving Dole peaches and Purdue chicken nuggets. Snacks are FRESH parmasean cheese, grated - not stirred.
We walked 4 blocks yesterday with Rebecca. Our goal was to get to the frozen yogurt store - all centers on food right now. We ended up driving, but she did walk those 4 blocks and 4 flights of stairs. She is definitely laughing a lot more, and the smiles come more regularly. We have had Rebecca, Max, Rachel, Sydney and Abbey over for playdates over the last week. Each time she has more and more energy.
Running to find some children cookbooks…I think it’s time for my Morgan to start learning to cook for her Mama!
Posted July 13th, 2009 by Mama
OK, not Vegas, but Atlantic City. It was my birthday this past weekend, and because Morgan was doing so well, I was able to slip away for a couple of days with some friends. I am way too old to stay out until 3am two nights in a row, but somehow I held my own. I had thought that I should have a “do over” year, being that this past year has not been so great. Then I realized, why would I want to do over this past year?!
I have not added to the blog as of late because it all came crashing down on me the day we had to re-admit Morgan back into the hospital for her GVHD. It honestly was the worst experience/nightmare I never want to repeat. To not have any control to fix Morgan’s hurt was paralyzing. The doctors feel we are on the other side of the “major” danger zone of GVHD, so I am beginning to breathe again. Doesn’t hurt that Morgan’s appetite is back with a vengence, and I am once again Julia Child, constantly cooking for the little princess, who gained back 4 of the lost 12 pounds so far.
I lost my voice somehow over the weekend, but probably would have anyway when Morgan announced to me last night while we got ready for bed - “Mom, you know what? I’ve never felt better!”
