Visitors!

 A small pile of hair.

 Great Grandma Braisted who acts like she's 65 : )

 These two were literally beaming when they saw each other!

 GraceyAnna was pulling Karagen's hair out by the handfuls.

High tech daddy and Gracey-she thought Mommy's cell phone was a great chew toy *smile*

Stem Cell Harvest

Waiting to go in for the surgery to place the line in her groin (top right leg)

 Waking up from anesthesia.

 Her face is very swollen from the high dose steroid she is on.

 In the PICU waiting for the machine to start.  She was so hungry and her legs hurt.

 The Stem Cell Harvest Machine.

 Karagen was given a sedative to help her relax, she slept the whole time.  She had been up many times throughout the night before going to the bathroom.

Her stem cells, Liquid Gold : )

Shaving Her Hair

Karagen told GraceyAnna that they would be bald buddies : )

When she first saw herself in the mirror she was very upset, but after a long hug and a cry together she was ok.    Jonathan and I told her that she was beautiful.  I  told Karagen she gets more beautiful everyday!

National Rehab Hospital

 Arrived at National Rehab Hospital Monday, April 23, 2012

 Karagen had a lot of fun at this hospital, the schedule is busy and fun.  Here she is working on a bag, she put "Take one day at a time" on it.

Back at Children's on Wednesday evening.  This shirt is from Steven Curtis Chapman-the song that it represents moves me to tears when I think of Karagen.

Transfer to National Rehab Hospital

Monday, April, 23, 2012

 Waiting for the ambulance team to come

 On the stretcher

 Getting in the ambulance

She enjoyed her first ambulance ride

Waiting to be transported.  Karagen has learned a lot of patience, so has Mommy.

Family Visit/ Hospital Pictures

   Saturday, April 21  Grammy borrowed The wheel chair : )

Mom Roberts traveled from Binghamton, New York all the way to Henderson Maryland, all by herself, a 5 hour trip!  We were so proud of her!

 Sunday, April 22- cousins Aubrey and Austin

Left to right- Karagen, Aubrey, Austin, Andrew and Kelly.

They came all the way from Indiana to see Karagen.

Getting Through

   Our daughter has cancer and our world has been turned upside down.   It's the small things these days that mean the most-  It doesn't take much to make me happy, here are a few of the things that have made life a little easier for us, these are not listed in order of importance because I am an unorganized thinker....just ask my sister *smile.


1.  Big girl pull ups-they make the constant trips to the toilet more bearable and the accidents easier to clean up.


2.  Hugs- From anyone...even strangers


3.  Visitors- Whether at the hospital or home, people visiting us helps us to feel supported and cared for.


4. Listening Ears- Even if I've already said it, or I cry about it again, an understanding ear, makes a HUGE difference.


5. Encouraging Words-  Said to us, or Karagen or the children at home, words of affirmation go a long way to keeping us upbeat.


6.  Coffee-  Go ahead, laugh. : )  I have a hard time getting awake in the mornings without coffee, and love the comfort of this warm, cozy beverage.


7. Crying out to God (literally)-  He is never busy and His presence lifting me up and showing me moment by moment to keep my eyes on Him.


8.  Pray-ers-  All of those special people who think of us throughout the day and stop to pray....for us....for Karagen.  God HEARS!  


9. Faith and Belief- That God sees everything that is happening, that He is an Omnipotent and Loving FATHER who already knows the end and every little thing in between.


10. Smiles-From Karagen, they literally light up my whole day!