Monday, November 5, 2007

Before & After




We are so excited to report that we are finished with steroids! I can't express to you how totally miserable this experience has been! When Grant was first diagnosed, and we met our friend Colby, his mom, Hope, told me that if we could handle steroids, we could handle anything! Well, let me just say, "Amen!" Ahhhhghh! We hate Dexamethasone! I thought that nothing could be worse than the Prednisone, but I was wrong!

In other news, we were thrilled that Eden was baptized last Sunday by her dad. She was a beautiful little princess and we had a great time with all of our friends and family at her dinner. Eden is a big help to her very tired mama and has been such a trooper through all of our trips and Dr's visits with Grant. Even if she does refuse to do her part in the Primary program next Sunday, she's still a good girl!

We have the week off from chemo this week and are count dependent next week, so we are enjoying a little break. Hopefully Grant will come down off this steroid high and return to normal by the end of the week. Cross your fingers!

6 comments:

Dianna said...

Congratulations to Eden!
We hope that Grant starts to feel better this week.
What a great family picture! Everyone is getting so big. We'll have to come visit soon.
Love, Erwin's

Susan Hancock said...

Shout it from the tops of the hills- Grant has finished 21 days of the mean drug!!!!! My hat is off to Emily and Kevin for their complete and total ability to care for Grant 24/7 through many hours of whining and even more hours of tears from a little boy.

Grant has gained over 15 pounds in just 3 weeks- that's about 35% of his total body weight. He looks like he could explode if you poked him with a pin, but this is a side effect from the dex. He has had terrible pain from the nerve endings in his feet and hands from the medicine- but the worst battle is for Grant to be able to decide which of all the foods on this planet can calm the insatiable hunger that he experiences about every 2 hours. Some of the top winners have been manwich sloppy joes, velveeta macaroni and shells, plain grits- no butter, rotini noodles with Kraft Italian dressing, Outer Island potato wedges, and their cheese rolls if Miss Linda made them, Pizza Inn pepperoni pizza and bread sticks...

You'll notice how specific the food is- macaroni of any other kind would not work, neither would potato wedges from a million other fast food restaurants- but that's ok, because Grant did it!!!! Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah.

If it seems that we are excited to see this day- YES! So now, we hope that today will be easier, Grant will begin to return to someone that resembles the Grant we know (and I don't just mean physically-) and Kevin and Emily can breathe for a few days.

Bottom line once again- Grant is still precisely where the doctors want him to be. We are praying for a smooth completion for this phase in the next 5 weeks, and then "maintenance" will begin. Our most sincere thanks for all of the prayers and expressions of love to Grant's family. Check back soon!

The McKinneys said...

Way to go Grant!!! When Michael was on DX, he would get up in the middle of the night and fix himself popcorn, poptarts, chips, you name it he ate it. He would tell me that he knew he wasn't hungry, but that his head was telling him to eat and that nothing really satisfied him. He would ask Dr. Blatt - how much longer? We didn't like them at all.

Take care Nelson family and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers DAILY.

Love you guys --
Kristi

leah said...

what a PERFECT little smile in the second picture! :) i miss grantsky!

Anonymous said...

Wow - this must have been so hard for all of you! I'm so glad these days are finished and you guys can all relax for just a little while.
And how BEAUTIFUL is that family portrait?!? Gosh. And Eden certainly looks like a princess. She is so lovely.

Thankyouthankyouthankyou a million times for coming out to my wedding. You really did save the day with your words of wisdom and organizational abilities!!! I love you very much!
Kel

Anonymous said...

Wow, it is amazing what steroids can do! I am so happy that you have conquered the worst. As for Eden you are even more beautiful then the first time I meet you. I am not sure how that is possible, because way back then I thought you were the cutest little girl next to my neices that I had ever seen. Congratulation on your Baptism! Keep up the good work. You are the oldest Grandchild in the Hancock family, just like my Landon is in the Phelon family. Heavenly Father sent you guys first because he knew you would be the kind of examples to all those who follow you that you needed to be. Lots of love to each of you, Stephanie Howard