We have a tooth! FINALLY after a long wait I noticed a little tooth is tentatively poking through Lucy's gum today. The other girls are very excited about this development and are keen to inspect. I'm pretty sure they will be disappointed. I'm always astounded at how long the little teeth take to fully emerge once they erupt.

Lucy was a bit happier today although spiked a fever again this afternoon. Hopefully it's just the chemo that is causing the fevers rather than an infection. It was only very mild and she was only a little bit grumpy this time. Still eating ok so that's good.

I've been reminded this week that although God doesn't promise us many things we think we'd like him to, one thing he does promise is that he'll never leave us. We are truly never alone. And as I read a children's version of Psalm 139 to Lucy today, I was reminded that every day of our lives is written in his book. It doesn't necessarily make the day easier, it's just good it's not a surprise to the God who made and loves us and promises not to leave us.

Finally back at the hospital today after a number of days away. Lucy was going well but today has spiked a fever and has been a bit sad. Also struggling a bit with some pain in her gut. Otherwise ok, and at least one 'benefit' of her feeling yukky is that I get lots of cuddles!

Enjoyed a lovely visit with Karin today - thanks for coming Karin and to Baden for minding the kids! Love you heaps.

Sadly Lucy has decided that it's party time now as she's had some panadol and feeling a whole lot better than she did before. Here's hoping for a good night's rest for everyone.

Well we're back in hospital and Lucy is hooked up with her last round of chemo. She was a little off yesterday, but otherwise going well. I am a bit sick with a cough and croaky voice meaning I can't be at the hospital right now - especially as we are sharing a room with a very sick little girl who really has no immune system - so Adam is there with Lucy. I haven't seen Lucy for over 24 hours and I'm missing her. Her little growly noise that she's been perfecting lately, her gorgeous cuddles and her smiley face. Such a treasure!

The other girls are going along well at home so thanks for your prayers for them too. I appreciate your prayers and support and love so very much, and more than ever right now.

Well it's the last round of chemo coming up, probably starting on Sunday or Monday. Lucy has continued to be well and her bloods have recovered well so she is good to go.

Despite this good news it's been a rough week. We are struggling and it feels like the wheels are all falling off. If you pray please pray for us....

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Cor 4:16-18)

In these days where my troubles can seem far from light and momentary, but rather heavy and unending, I am trying to rest on the sure promises of God and fix my eyes on what is unseen. So glad that he is holding onto us all and watching over our lives. My life. Adam's life. And the lives of our girls. Your life too.

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

² My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Well here she is with her new look. Still happy, and dribbly! There seems to be a crazy amount of dribble going on - surely this must mean teeth or something!! The worst of it is that she often dribbles so much that it soaks through her top and all over the gauze dressing meaning I have to redo it. Oh well, worse things have happened....

Like Adam being away all week again! He's still stuck in Mudgee, although thankfully the issues he has been trying to sort out have finally been resolved. Thanks to a big pothole his car is less than happy - the cab on the back of the ute actually came right off and apparently there were a whole lot of awful noises and things falling off. I didn't feel hopeful that he would come home today when he said "well I can drive straight....". Mmmm, hopefully roadworthy by the morning so he can limp home to be properly repaired.

We have been going quite well this week despite being on our own - today Jasmine enjoyed her 3rd and final orientation visit to school. She's got the uniform and quite keen on wearing it at every opportunity. We also really enjoyed catching up with the lovely Chapmans today, as well as an afternoon with the Noakes yesterday. Thanks for making the days fun ones lovely friends!

Lucy is still well, and her blood counts have recovered nicely, although we are putting off the next round of chemo a bit as her white cell count is not quite high enough and because Adam and his parents are both going away next week. Hopefully we will get in next weekend to start this final round of treatment. Almost there!....

Well it was lovely to see the sun again today, especially after a pretty flat week. Feels a bit like we've hit a wall recently, but trying to look forward to the end of treatment. Technically Lucy is due to start the next (and last!) round of treatment on Thursday, but it's unlikely that her neutrophil count will be high enough meaning the treatment will be delayed.

Adam has had to go back to Mudgee today to fix up some faulty gear, and smooth some ruffled feathers. Grrrrrrr. Girls are a bit put out that he is away again, so please pray for them and for me as we get through the next few days. Not back to the hospital till Wednesday - it's nice to have a little longer away from the place although Lucy does keep threatening to take us back with temperatures staying in the mid 37's. Just as long as it doesn't go higher little girl!

Hope you got to enjoy the sun today before the storm!

Scraping by

Well just scraping by this week.

Adam has been away and his trip has even had to be extended a night! Mum came to help on Monday, and after a trip to the clinic on Tuesday we headed to Killara for 2 nights with the wonderful Burkes. Home today for school orientation for Jasmine and Early Intervention with Lucy. Miss Lucy certainly knows her mind, and was seriously objecting to being encouraged to move and do things in the way the physio wanted her to move rather than her own way!

Lucy has now lost pretty much all her hair, which has been surprisingly difficult. I'll get a picture of her and her new 'do' soon - we haven't had the camera out much this week. We feel like it makes her look a bit younger, and it is probably better in the long run as her hair was getting a bit patchy. Anyway, it's a bit of an obvious, in your face reminder of what's been happening and that yes, she had leukaemia and we're giving her chemotherapy. Things we always knew of course, but she never looked like the other kids in the hospital with their baldy heads, so maybe subconsciously I didn't really consider her part of the 'club'. Going to the clinic on Tuesday made me realise in a new way that she really is in the same club.

It feels kind of silly to say all this, but I just keep learning that even if you know something is going to happen (or even likely to happen), you can never quite prepare for how you'll react when reality hits. Trying to learn to roll with the punches a little more and not be freaked out by my own reactions or anyone elses.....

More photos will come soon....