Wonderfully WICKED Wednesday!

Wonderfully WICKED Wednesday!

We were at the hospital for a long time yesterday and we were worried that they were going to tell us again not to go to Wicked but they knew we were going to go and we did!

It was the most amazing thing. It was better than I imagined. There is a huge metal looking dragon that is over the top of the stage as you enter and then there is a map of Oz with Emerald City sparkling green in the center. The costumes were really creative and of course the acting and singing were fantastic! Tayzia was sitting next to Devree and they would sing along with their two favorite songs, “What is this feeling?” (Loathing song) and of course “Popular”. Devree still had the urge to urinate before the intermission and I knew there was no way that we could get through the crowds to go to the bathroom during so we I had to hike to where her chair was and load her in it and we went to the bathroom and we got back in time to see “Defying Gravity” where Elfaba flies. It was so wonderful,. Of course we wanted to see it all and by the time everyone let us through (it has been sold out every night!) I even cried at the last because I realized that one of Devree’s and I’s dreams have been fulfilled inspite of cancer! We made it with only 10 minutes till the Medicine room closed to get her TPN hooked up.

Devree wore her mask and even plastic gloves. We used the sanitizer a bunch. Today she is going to get an ultra-sound of her bladder and Urinary tract today. She is still having lots of problems where she has to get up hourly to urinate. She isn’t having as much pain. But yesterday we did use the morphine for pain.

We are looking forward to better days soon.

Love, Shana and Devree

Allanah Comes!

ATTENTION FAMILY! I put more pictures on yesterday's blog because Devree finally felt up to helping me. Take a look.

Yes Alan and Sue Staggs brought Allanah and Erin 200+ miles each way to come and visit us. It was a perfect day because Devree needed a lot of uplifting. While I took Alan, Sue and Erin around St. Jude's on two different tours, Allanah and Devree talked. As soon as we would leave the room the whispering would begin. Then when we returned, they would stop. Devree was in the Medicine room for 4 hours getting platelets, blood, andancitron, benedryl, ativan and the antibiotic for her lines.

We were able to take them back to the Target House for dinner. Alan's parents live in Missouri and they came the extra way to visit. I still can't believe it! How wonderful that they took the time and effort to visit. It meant alot to both of us. Thank you so much for thinking of us.

Nica if you are reading we got your birthday package and it was awesome. Devree uses her "Burt's Bee's and she has her stuff in your handbag right now. We loved getting the package.

The doctors still don't know why Devree is having trouble in her urinary tract after tests. They have given her a pill that is supposed to take away the pain, but it still hurts. Breck is coming with someone in his ward to help give Devree a blessing to help her with this latest problem.

We talked to Kim, our favorite nurse practitioner, and told her that we are still going to "Wicked". She told us that she is going to pretend she didn't hear us. Because by the hospital standards, Devree's counts are too low to go out in public. We are going to take extra precautions.

Thank you for all of your prayers.

Love, Shana and Devree

Tuesday's Surprse!

This is Talon's new buzz cut that he didn't want me to take his picture. He said "My hair will be as short as Shay's when school starts!" I said "That's okay because Shay has lots of girl friends."

Kallie, Devree, Celest, Tayzia, Paul (trying to hide behind Talon) Talon trying to cover his adorable buzz cut with a hat.

Yesterday we had a wonderful surprise and met up with Emma Wilcox. She was the girl we met when we first got here and we took pictures of her with ther sister Clarissa, and her adorable baby brother David. I forgot my camera and therefore I was hoping that Emma would come with her Dad to the Target House dinner last night, but they didn't come. Emma is here for her 3 month check-up and looks great. She shaved her head again because she said it is hot. She had really long hair and after radiation and chemo by pill, it came out in two big round bald spots. Her dad said one day they were traveling in the car and Emma said "It's hot!" and proceeded to roll down the window and then the rest of the family had long hair all in their faces because it just literally blew off her head. Emma gave Devree and I a huge bag of goodies. Mostly for Devree's birthday but Catherine (the Mom) sent me some good books to read too. Thank you very much Wilcox family. Sorry Emma you and your Dad didn't come to the dinner so we could get your picture.

Last night we invited the Rices to come to Target House last night because there was a dinner and I thought we could enjoy Family Home Evening together. Shay and Dane are having a blast and wanted to make sure that I was not going to make them spend the night in the Target House. We got to meet Tayzia's friend Paul and he is a cute kid and very funny. Tayzia remarked to Devree as Devree is lounging in the Amy Grant room, "Devree, Paul thinks the "Twilight" movie is dumb. Devree replies "Paul you come over here and I will show you what is dumb!" as she weakly hits her fist into her palm. It was so pathetic, we all laughed and Paul said "I am very comfortable right here."

It was a fun evening, but alas this morning we are at the clinic at 7am because Devree has pain when she urinates. We told B clinic yesterday, and Devree was up all night trying to urinate. She is starting a low grade fever too. Yesterday the doctors told her that she shouldn't go to see Wicked on Wednesday night. We were planning on going anyway. I guess this is a way to really stop us, because they will probably put her in the hospital. It is such a great disappointment because Devree has wanted to see Wicked for about 3 years or more and has had the music on her IPOD for as long.

Today a very special guest is coming to visit Devree. It is a surprise and it is someone from Dayton. She is going to be really excited if she can start to feel a little better. I brought my camera this time.

Miss 4th of July!

The wonderful work of love by Brenda Griffin. She made an awesome "Memphis Memory Quilt" that has all of Devree's favorite things. Jonas Brothers on one side, Twilight on the other, Disney Cars and Finding Nemo, Teletubbies and even Low Rider our dog. She put the Young Women colors on it for all of the Young Women to sign and purple hearts for her family to sign in. It even has purple Monkey fleece on the other side.

Inside watching the Devree DVD. Celest made an awesome DVD with some of Devree's favorite songs and all of these wonderful pictures of when she was a baby on up through most of the blog. It made me the Mom cry!

About 60 people from Germantown ward came to Devree's surprise birthday party at Breck and Celest's. It was wonderful to see that many people care about Devree.

A purple lei that twinkled and a birthday crown to wear.

Miss 4th of July courtesy of Grandma Janie's awesome Birthday box.

It was an awesome weekend starting on Friday night. Even though Devree threw up 5 times before the party started it was an awesome party at Breck and Celest's. We love the Germantown Ward and Breck and Celest and family worked hard to make it an awesome event.

We still had to take Devree back to the medicine room for her IV anti-nausea drugs and her TPN but all in all it was a fabulous day.

Saturday started bright and early to take Todd and Noble to the airport in Little Rock. It was sad to see them go. It was nice to have the whole family together and we were able to sleep in the Target House for a total of 3 nights, even if we weren't supposed to. It was so lovely to have the family together.

I took the boys and Devree to downtown Memphis on Saturday night to see if we could see any fireworks before we had to take Devree to the medicine room at 9pm. We had to fight for parking and they saw a few but our most eventful night was eating at the famous "Huey's" that has world famous burgers. Shay said we had to eat there again before he flies out on Saturday. I will be driving Shay and Dane to Little Rock for them to fly back to Las Vegas for a family reunion.

We did find out that Devree's lack of being able to walk is also caused by Vincristine that is one of the chemo drugs that they give during and 6 days after. It is called a "foot drop" and causes the walking. Devree has been in a wheelchair and has a walker for around the house. She will be getting her leg braces this week.

The boys sure put spark in our lives. They are always loud and rambunctious but they have been good at the hospital when we have to wait hours. They are at the Rice's now so they will have fun with the cousins for the next few days.

Devree's 2009 Birthday

Devree did the 'V' word a couple of times this morning. She has a tougher time getting the pills in her system, her favorite is to take her medicine through her IV. The anti-nausea cocktail is in and as you can see, Devree is having a fun birthday so far. We have a lot of fun planned for her!!!

Our family tradition is, "Breakfast in Bed". Devree's eyes are saying, "You know I'm not going to eat that? Right???"
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Shay gave her a bag that he won at Bingo last night. Dane gave her a Camp Rock notebook that is inside.
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Dane gave her a Camp Rock notebook that he won at Bingo too.
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What is this? Noble gave her some accessories for her IPOD.

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This is a Jonas Brothers concert book she got from us. We gave her a funny talking card from "Hoops and YoYo". The boys had to listen to it about 10 times each.
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Devree said "THIS IS THE BIGGEST CARD I HAVE EVER GOT! It plays the blues where the whole card vibrates.It is from Grandma Janie. Grandma Janie is Aunt Mary's Mom that has sent Devree such abundant awesome stuff. She got movies, and 4th of July and birthday decorations and the most amazing 11 glittery hats.
*** An awesome Twilight Calendar from Grandma Janie.
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Some DVD's from Grandma Janie.
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More DVD's.

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A glittery cowboy hat.

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Todd called this the Jamacain "Sorting Hat" like from Harry Potter. Devree quips up in her best Jamacain accent. "Yo know maaan. They gotta learn that magic too."
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Purply glittery.
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Black and White cow print glittery.
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Musical Note glittery.

We have many more gifts. Thank you to all. We will spread the pictures out later. Devree has thrown up now 4 times and it is not quite 2pm. We are hoping her Medicne Room drugs will let her enjoy her own birthday party.

Thanks so much for the calls too.

We love you all. Love the Hamblins

One step forward 40 steps back

Yes this is Shana and it is 3:45 AM. Yes I am very upset. Yes I can't sleep. And YES, I would never make a good doctor or nurse for that matter. Yesterday has been one of those times that you have to ask yourself "WHY?"

We get to the hospital ysterday and I told Devree that we would be taking a walk after a TV show she was watching. Before the show was done, however, a new physical therapist came in and wanted to do some work with Devree. She brings her back in a wheelchair and tells us that Devree no longer has the use of the muscles in her feet up to her knees and will not be allowed to walk until she gets braces to help her walk. They send the Orthopedist who just happens to be there only on that day of the week to come and make casts of her legs with regular cast material and Devree gets to choose the different patterned plastic in which the braces will be made. She chooses a midnight picture on one and a butterfly pattern for the other.

Devree also talks to her Psychologist during all of this too. Todd and I had been talking to the psychologist right after the PT person took Devree. So when Devree got dropped back off, we let Devree talk to the psychologist. I had to leave. I do not understand why you let a sick girl who doesn't think logically decide to stay in the hospital when she could have gotten out of the hospital and had to walk everyday! Why does that sick girl not understand that she has just set herself back by who knows how long because she "doesn't feel good enough for walking"?

When I got back to the room and waited for the psychologist to leave, Devree knew enough to try and hide herself under the covers. I whipped back those covers and I said "YOU no longer get to choose about your health welfare! You do have a choice about whether you have a smile on your face or not. But I am choosing for you when it concerns your health until I can see that you can be logical about what is best for DEVREE!

She isn't allowed to exercise or walk until she can wear her leg braces. So here we go with the 40 steps backward. It really is too bad, because now she will probably have a walker too, to help with her balance. She really is Grandma Rice.

Next week there are even more surprise visits by people she knows and loves. We have tickets to see "Wicked" the Broadway musical on July 8th. She will have a surprise visit on the 6th and a different one on the 7th.

We look forward to her birthday tomorrow.

"My Sisters Keeper"

Every morning I have been going down to the exercise room with the 3 boys. They love that place and I get a good workout. Todd stays at the hospital because he is so kind and generous. He tells me that soon enough I will have to be at the hospital. The boys and I have been sleeping in and our apartment is a mess because we hurry and get to the hospital on the shuttle. We don't come back to the apartment till really late every night. Monday night we stayed at Breck and Celest's till after 11pm.

Yesterday we get to the hospital and there is Devree with her ordered lunch of grilled ham and cheese sandwich, tater tots, peas and pickles on the side. She said that everything tastes funny. She also had a red splotchy cheek. Devree has no skin coloring except white white skin with a few brown spots from the radiation where her hair will be on her head. Any coloring at all is signs of alarm. Sure enough she had a low grade fever. She only ate a couple of bites. She "conveinently" got the fever right before the Physical Therapy lady came. Devree hates physical therapy and any exercising. I got her up for a walk, the day before, but not before she got so angry at me and threw a pillow at me. I said "Oh! This is good exercise too. Here is the pillow back. Now do you think you could throw it a little bit harder this time?" When the PT lady and nurses heard about that they teased Devree and said "Oh what a terrible mother you have to try to keep you out of ICU or help you feel better by exercising!" They love to tease her like that. The wonderful thing, is they are all mothers and they know my perspective! Devree got drugged up to try to bring her fever down, so she slept all day. She did well though about getting up every two hours to do her urinating so the chemo drugs don't cause more problems in her bladder.

Todd and I went on a date with Breck, Celest, Bill and Brenda. We went to this little Italian cafe we discovered and then we went and saw "My Sister's Keeper". Brenda was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it because it is about a 15 yea-old girl with cancer. I said "A good cry is always welcome too." Well the movie was really good but it was more about a Psycho mother and a dysfunctional family. There were a few moments that hit home to Todd and I but mostly we enjoyed it. It did bring back some feelings for everyone that watched it because everyone is related to cancer in some way and knows someone with it. I just felt so bad for the other kids in this family that were ignored. Todd and I try really hard to include the boys in everything and follow-up on things that are happening in their lives as well as Devree's.

But back to Devree. She turns 15 on Friday. We are planning a huge surprise celebration and are hoping she will be out of the hospital and able to attend her own party. If she doesn't get out of the hospital, we are bringing the party to her! We have already received many birthday presents. Thanks everybody!

Love, Shana and the rest of the Hamblins