3/30/2011

I am so happy that Aly is feeling so much better today.  She has been wanting to get her hair cut shorter, even before all this came about, and now more so, so I took her to have her hair done.  She really enjoyed that and it looks really cute.  She is over at a friend's house, right now, playing.  I asked if she wanted to go and see her classmates in the morning, before we have to be at the hospital and she gave me a definite yes.  So I think that will be good.
One of the effects of this tumor, that she's been dealing with, is it causes a diabetes effect, yet doesn't show up on tests for diabetes, because believe me I had asked about that!  I can't remember what they call it, something like diabetes insipidus.  It doesn't let the kidneys hold onto liquids the way it should so, not only was she visiting the bathroom all the time, she was always drinking like she could never get enough.  We discovered that she was getting up around 3 times a night to drink and use the toilet.  They started her on a medicine yesterday, that controls this and Aly was so happy to report that she slept great and didn't have to use the bathroom at all last night or much today!  She did have to get up for a nose bleed though.  It has just been quite amazing to put all the pieces together, finally.  On Friday, the nurse kept asking, "Has Aly had this_____?, does Aly do this______?", and it was a "yes" to most all of the questions.
Tonight will consist of packing/planning for her hospital stay.  She has been asking a lot of questions, but remains positive and upbeat.  I talked with her today about all the people who care about her and are praying for her.  It has really been the first day she has been feeling good enough to have some conversations about it all.  I took time to show her some emails that were directed to her and I think she was really happy about it.  She is a smart little cookie and is understanding more than I think we all realize.
Thank you neighbors for the hospital care package and the recorder was a fabulous idea.  We may even have Aly use it to record questions that she comes up with.  Thank you, EVERYONE, for your support as we start this journey.  We are so blessed to have people offering so much help and it is amazing to see a community come together to support Aly.
Many of you have offered meals, and we will gladly accept.  Our neighbor Holly has offered to help coordinate this for us so, if you are interested in helping in that way please email her at hollygraziano@embarqmail.com. We may not need them right now, but possibly in the weeks/months to come.