The Softie Dog Saga

OK so those of you who know Cade well, also know Softie Dog. He is Cade's FAVORITE friend that he's had since birth. Softie dog is not soft or cute. In fact, he is ratted to the point that there are small crumbs and such stuck in his fur and he has a very distinct smell that doesn't go away in the washer. He has had one leg sewed back on twice and an ear once. He is currently losing beads through a hole in his belly. He is not pretty, but he is Cade's world!!! Cade sleeps with him, takes him to school in his backpack, and holds him in the car. Well, as you know Cade is in Indiana visiting Gran and Pop Pop. I received the most disturbing phone call ever at 10:30 last night. It was Cade crying to me that Softie dog was LOST! He was exhausted and said, "I just want to come home!" Gran had dropped Cade (and Softie) off at Pop's clinic and then Pop had taken Cade home. One way or another, Softie didn't make it home. Pop and Gran both made separate trips back to the clinic at like 10:00 to try to find the missing Softie. They even spoke with the housekeeping staff to no avail. Once I got that phone call, I was beside myself! Cade has only spent one other night in his life without Softie, and it was a rough one. I felt so awful that I wasn't there to comfort him and I couldn't fix this for him! I was seriously contemplating jumping in the car and driving to Indiana. I didn't sleep and worried about him all night. I called first thing in the morning and he was still very upset. Which totally made me upset, and Gran upset! All because of a stuffed dog!!! One of our extended family members, who shall remain nameless, actually told me in the midst of this crisis, "Mandy, it's a stuffed dog, and he is five. Maybe he'll just have to deal with it!" Those were obviously the words of someone who doesn't have a five year old with a softie dog! If I can't be there with him, softie needed to be!

BUT... WHAT ONCE WAS LOST, HAS NOW BEEN FOUND! After many more phone calls from Gran, Pop, and I, I got ahold of the information desk woman that happened upon a beat up dog ("teddy bear" I think she called it) yesterday in the concession area. She said, "I have him right here at my desk right now!" I seriously almost broke into tears of victory. I wanted to just tell her everything starting with, "You see, my daughter has leukemia and gets lots of attention which makes me feel very guilty about her big brother and this dog is his favorite thing in the world, and he is away from home for the first time ever and ..." But I just settled for an "Oh thank you so so much, this will make my little boy so happy!" But what it really did was totally calm me down! When I got off the phone with her, I felt like a 100 pound burden had been lifted off me! Cora and I were jumping up and down and cheering! When in the world did I get to the point where an ole raggedy stuffed dog can rule my world???? All is well...Peace is restored!

HV Jenkins High School Showing Us the Love!

Once again we are blown away by the amount of support we have received from the community! Rob's school's baseball booster club is hosting the Saturday's Game as "Cora's Day!" We are not exactly sure what will take place, but they have totally been promoting it and are donating to her Medical Fund. We are so thankful! Thank you, Warriors!

All Things Medical

Things are pretty medical around here lately as you can imagine. It has become second nature, as you can see Cade and Cora are both becoming very medically savy. This past Saturday we attended Memorial Hospital's teddy bear clinic where Cade's softie dog and Cora's pink bear Max went through a wide range of medical treatments. Cora was much more open to Max receiving treatment than Cade was. Max readily went into surgery, the x-ray machine, and got his hurt paw casted with a pink cast. Softie dog and Cade were very reluctant to receive anything but a check up and a temperature check. Cade didn't want band-aids on Softie and would absolutely NOT let him go to surgery! Cora embraced the experience, Cade was afraid Softie wouldn't be comfortable to sleep with anymore! Go figure!

Cade left yesterday to go home with Gran and Pop Pop until Friday. I honestly didn't want him to go, but he's having a ball being an only child. Cora misses him desperately, although we are enjoying not having to drive out to school and do carpool twice a day! Cora has the week off chemo, so we are just playing and getting things done around the house. Next week we will make up for the week off with chemo on Monday and an EKG on Wednesday. In the meantime, Cora seems to be feeling really great! We are hoping that her counts will be up so that she can get her chemo. Stay tuned for pictures of what the girls were up to this week!

Calm after the Storm

After 2 doctor visits this morning things seem to be improving around here. Cade is nearly healed! After pumping him with tons of meds his leg looked almost normal this morning. Dr. Stone said it looked great and gave him the OK for school. I am so thankful that went away so quickly. What a nasty surprise. Cora went to the clinic just to check counts and her ANC was 1254, dropping, but still OK. Nothing eventful, just as we like it. Cora has to go next week to the hospital for some type of heart test to get a base line as to how strong her heart muscle is before we start some stronger medications. (Scary, but just a precaution!) Her next chemo phase won't officially start until April 6th. Until then hopefully our posts will be pictures and nice happy things! Thanks for prayer for Cade and Rob!

When It Rains, It Pours!!!

It is pouring at the Garola house! But we are just putting one foot in front of the other, and actually we have to laugh cause if we don't we'll cry! Here's the latest...this time, it's not Cora (thank God!) Last Wednesday night I woke up at 2:30 am to Rob talking to his dad on the phone and pacing! His palms were sweaty, he was pale, and he felt like his heart was skipping beats or about to beat out of his chest!!! He was sorta freaking out. He thought he was having a heart attack, but no chest pain! He hadn't been able to sleep all night and the heart thing had him nervous, so at 2:45 he drove himself to the ER after his dad's advice to go. I felt like the worse wife ever just letting him drive himself, but he didn't want to wait on me getting hold of someone to come over at 2:30 am! Long story short, the doc did all sorts of tests to find nothing really wrong. Which usually means a pretty profound panic attack. As a precaution he followed up with his doctor and ran tests and he is wearing a heart monitor for 2 weeks just to be sure it was nothing more! He feels much better now and we are pretty sure it was probably nothing.

THEN...(hold on it gets better!) on Sunday we went for a bike ride and played at the playground for what seemed like hours. We got home and Cade said, "Mommy, my leg feels like I'm wearing a boot." I pulled his pants leg up to find that he had an insect bite with clear liquid coming out of it and his entire lower leg, ankle, and foot were hot to the touch and totally swollen. I said, "Yikes Cade, your whole leg is swollen!" Which was the WRONG thing to say because then the drama started to ensue! He was crying, whining, and hopping all over the house all night last night. We thought he had been bit by a spider and assured him it would be better by morning! It wasn't! It was still swollen, hot, and red this morning so I took him to the pediatrician to find out what type of strange insect had done this! WRONG AGAIN!!! Dr. Stone took one look and said, "This was NOT from an insect bite, it may have started out that way, but his leg has an infection." He said he wasn't sure if it was a strep infection or a staph infection or what but he treated it as staph!!! HOW IN THE HECK DID HE GET STAPH LIVING IN A HOUSE THAT IS FILLED WITH CLOROX WIPES, LYSOL, AND BOTTLES OF FOAM SANITIZER? When Cade gets in the car after school I treat him as though he has just left an infectious disease center! OH THE IRONY! So...Dr. Stone gave him 2 shots and 3 antibiotics and wants to see him again first thing tomorrow morning just to check on him! He said after all these meds he should be fine and back to school tomorrow or Wednesday. Of course our concern was Cora, but as long as they aren't bathing together (which they're NOT) and she doesn't touch Cade's wound, she should be fine! When I told Rob I seriously thought this may trigger a panic attack, but after the initial shock we both just had to laugh! Thankfully, my parents are visiting right now and have been helping out at what feels like it's turning into an infirmary! Tomorrow Cora has to be at the clinic at 9 am and Cade's pediatrician appointment it directly across the street at 9:30 so Gran, Pop, and I will have to divide and conquer! PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO COME NEAR US, WE WON'T SHARE ANY DISEASES WITH YOU! All the patients are following doctor's orders, and I AM TAKING MY VITAMINS! I WON'T BE NEXT!

Clinic Day

Today was a clinic day. She went for vincristine and methotrexate through her port. This was her last day of interim maintanence chemo! We are just crusing right along! Her ANC was 3600 or something crazy like that! So no germ worries right now, which is great. We only go next Tuesday to get her counts checked and then the following week on April 4th she will begin "Delayed Intensification" which is probably gonna be yucky, but after that she will be on Maintanence! Hooray! Light at the end of the tunnel!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

Our neighbors must think we are crazy! Our street is really mostly very quiet. It's lots of older couples with several young families mixed in, but for some reason we are the loudest ones on our street. We are always outside with some sort of drama... a huge fight breaking out (between Cade and Cora mostly), a total tantrum meltdown complete with kicking and screaming, cowboys arresting outlaws and throwing them in jail, very very loud singing, pirate attacks, home improvement projects that usually go wrong at some point, or the formation of a full on search party in search of the one year old husky escape artist (this one usually involves some form of name calling and screaming from mom upon the finding of the dog.) Take a look! You might see this if you are passing by..... The knights prior to the attack of the princess. Leia, the runaway looking innocent. Trust me, she's not! Hide and seek with hippo. Cora thinks every outside game must include some costume item. This day it was hats. Mama had to wear one too. Don't you wish there was a picture of that!


Not sure what this game was, but it was so cute we had to stage a repeat for a video taping!

Garola Update!

OK ever since my post on Cade yesterday I am feeling sorta guilty! Maybe I shouldn't have said quite so much or been quite so honest! Today Cade has received like 3 gifts and I have talked to 3 others who have told me they have things for him! I hope you all know that by no means was that the point of that post WHAT SO EVER!!! What fast acting friends we have! So really... my kids are both great! I am just a crazy, neurotic mom that reads way too much into things, and we HAVE ENOUGH TOYS FOR AN ARMY! Seriously!

Our clinic visit today went fairly well. We opted to NOT do the versed before the shots just because this was actually the last (I think) time she had to have those shots at least for awhile. So of course, she screamed and cried like crazy when the nurses doubled up on her and laid her on the table to put needles into her thighs! (I would have screamed and cried too!) But immeaditely afterwards they brought her a Miss Spider and 3 baby bugs that sings and gift #1 a hotwheels blaster set for Cade. Once she saw those she forgot all about the shots and was having a blast playing with the nurses and Miss Annie (The Play Lady). We were finished by 10:45. I love the quick visits! We go back next Wednesday for Vincristine and Methotrexate through the port.
Thanks again for checking in on us!!!

CARE FOR CORA RUN

My sweet, sweet friend Stacie has been working for months to organize this 5K Run/Walk fund raiser for us. She has done such as great job and has overlooked nothing. I really don't know why I deserve such fabulous friends. She is still working with a few local businesses as sponsors and several other friends are helping her with details. But, you can start registering now! The race details are on the flyer above and if you click the title of this post it will link you directly to the printable registration form. It's going to be a really fun family event! I hope we have a great turnout! A portion of the proceeds will go to CURE childhood cancer. Mark your calendars for Saturday May 16th at 10am!

CADE

Sometimes when I look at those precious brown eyes it breaks my heart. I am sure every mom feels like this about their kids, but lately, I feel like this more than ever with him. It's sorta crazy, I can talk about Cora's treatment, side effects, drugs, behavior, everything without even thinking twice about it. Then the minute that someone asks me, "How is Cade?" I can feel the tears welling up. Cade is so sweet, so well intentioned, and such a pleaser. Ever since Cora's diagnosis, I truly worry about him. Cora is getting tons of attention, gifts, and cards (rightfully so!). And I really feel like she is doing great. Cade on the other hand has taken a total back seat to his little sister. At home we try very hard to give him special time, attention, and gifts (when necessary). But the second we go out anywhere it starts...The questions, "How's Cora?, We're praying for Cora. Oh look, It's Cora!" It's sorta like she's a celebrity. I love that people care so much for us and the intentions are so great. But I know Cade has to get sick of people saying, "How's your sister?" The minute they see him. He answers sweetly, but sometimes I can just see the eye roll or quick change of subject. I have noticed small changes in things that he does such as looking for sympathy over everything and a bit of a decrease in his self confidence. If I were him I would just feel like screaming, "WHAT ABOUT ME? WHAT ABOUT HOW AM I?" But he doesn't. We are so lucky to have such a perfectly sweet boy! I am probably reading way more into this than I should, because that's what mom's do is worry, but please pray for Cade too! And next time you see Cade please ask how he's doing (for mommy's sake!) :) Both of our kids are so special and we feel like we are the luckiest parents ever!

Pictures!

Last weekend photographer, Tammy Williams, did some pictures of the kids. She did such a great job and captured their personalities perfectly. Here are a few!

Shamrock Run and St. Baldricks

The Garolas had an eventful weekend filled with green and shamrocks! On Friday night Cade (and mommy) ran the 1/4 mile kiddie run downtown then the whole crew cheered mommy on as she ran the Shamrock Run 5K.


Then on Saturday while Daddy's baseball team chalked up another win, we visited the mall for the St. Baldrick's Day hospital fund raiser. Lots of people shaved their heads including 2 of Cora's oncologists, Dr. Whittle and Dr. Johnston. Dr. G skipped out on the shaving, but she and Cora watched intently!

Spinal Today

Well today we went to the clinic for day 31 of the Interim Maintenance phase of chemo. She had to be sedated for a spinal tap (to check the fluid for abnormal cells and to inject chemo into the spine). Then she had to have Vincristine and Methotrexate through her port. It went fairly well. Her ANC was 945, dropping as expected, but not too bad. Mommy stayed in the room for the spinal without crying or passing out! She was even able to watch! It was fairly quick and we were done at lunch time. We won't know results from the spinal for a few days, but we are hoping and expecting it to be clear as it has been. We have to go back to the clinic this Friday for a double injection of Peg in the thighs (NO BODY'S FAVORITE!). We kicked around the idea of giving her some versed just to ease her anxiety and help her forget the shots. We will think more about that, I just hate more medicine than necessary, as if she isn't already getting enough, but if it calms her it may be well worth it! 28 more days of interim maintenance and then we are on to delayed intensification, which will be yucky! She seems to be feeling pretty good. Her biggest side effects seem to be nausea and muscle weakness in the legs. She has lots of energy and today weighed 32 pounds. The steroid bloat is officially gone! AND...she still has hair!

Cora is Savannah's LLS Honored Hero

Cora is going to be The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Honored Hero for the Leukemia Cup Regatta late ths summer. Click the title above as a link to the LLS Newsletter!