Moved!

OK, it's time to move to a family blog for our general family blogging. So go to costleyfamily.blogspot.com for an update of our summer fun and our becoming Texans. I will continue to keep y'all updated on Izzy's health here:

We have been very blessed as Izzy has gotten through half a year of Maintenance Chemo with only 2 ER runs and a hospital stay. The rest of the time she has felt amazing for having cancer and has been able to be a kid again. Our hearts go out to Morgan--one of our best cancer friends from Ann Arbor--who is taking some of her last breaths. She is 13 and adored Izzy so much so that she would bring a gift for her every cancer center day in hopes of a smile and a hug. Morgan is one of those kids I will never forget. (shot from last fall--steroid buddies :)



Izzy had quite the summer:

Boating at Bear Lake with Grandma and Grandpa Costley


Spending some precious last moments with Grandpa Kofoed

Playing the days away with cousins

Moving to Texas--loving sleeping upstairs in a pink room with Ryan

Now she is on to a new hospital and the works. This Thursday, the 7th, she will get her spinal tap and start the dreaded monthly 5 day dosage of steroids. We are praying for a good experience at the Dallas Children's Hospital. I'll keep ya posted :)

Izzy's Grandpa

This is a quick note for those of you who have known Izzy's Grandpa Kofoed and his struggle with cancer these past 10 years. He passed away peacefully in his sleep last night, July 10th, just a few hours after his 68th birthday. We are grateful he has been released from his sick body and is resting now. We will be having his funeral Friday, July 18th at 10:30 a.m. in the Middleton Stake Center.

Thank you all for your concerns and prayers--we have felt every one of them.

Little Hiccup

Izzy came down with a fever a week ago in which some heinous virus caused a 103/4 degree fever, her ANC to plummet down to 100, and her red blood cells to be completely anemic. She ended up with a 3 day hospital stay and a blood transfusion. With as good as she's been feeling, it was a little reminder that her body is still putting up with a lot.

Now her counts are almost all back to "normal" (up to par with maintenance expectations) and she is having fun swimming in Grandma and Grandpa Costley's pool and playing the day away.

We caught the end of the Bear Lake get-away after our hospital stay--all the sweeter after convincing our doctors to let us out of prison a bit earlier than planned.

Pile on Aunt KK

Shredding on the Flowrider

We are in Utah now visiting my (Cory's) family. Izzy is doing really well, but has put on quite a bit of weight with this round of steroids. We are thinking that her body is finally trying to catch up with a imminent growth spurt on the way.

Yesterday we went with my family to play on something called the Flowrider. Here is a quote on what it is from the website. "The attraction operates by high volume pumps generating a continuous sheet of flowing water (approximately two-and one-half inches thick be up to thirty-four feet wide) over a specially designed soft riding surface. This stationary 'sheet wave' can be ridden just like a similarly shaped wave that moves in the ocean." Izzy had an amazing time shredding the "sheet wave." Here are some pictures of her mad skillz.

 

 

 

(After they shut the water off, Ryan got to play in the puddles for a bit.)

Spinal Tap in Idaho

Izzy had her monthly spinal tap yesterday in Boise, Idaho. Kerri explained the process a couple of posts ago, but here are some pictures. We feel priveleged to be working with some great healthcare professionals again.

 

 

 

(As opposed to being accompanied by smiles as shown here, in the past this procedure was escorted by much discomfort and grief.)

Our New Home!!!

We are excited to report MISSION ACCOMPLISHED on our house-hunting trip to Dallas. We went knowing the area and price-range we wanted and were able to catch an LDS family with 6 kids right before they put their house on the market ready to meet our needs (not wanting to keep it clean and show it for 2 months). We couldn't be happier about it and are excited to live in the same neighborhood as Scott and Mindy and the Bairds, and close to the Strattons and the Stones...YEAHHH!!!

Izzy update: She has fought off a couple fevers and one ER trip while in Utah. Thanks to continued prayers her fever came down (which never happens) on its own while we were away in Dallas. Otherwise she is doing a pretty good job at keeping up with her Idaho cousins for now.

Idaho Appointments

A quick note to let y'all know that we got Izzy through her first appointment in Idaho and were very happy with the doctors and facilities. For her spinal tap, they did things a little differently. They gave her Propopol--a drug that puts her to sleep instantly and she wakes up within 20 mintues or so...just long enough to retrieve her spinal fluid and replace it with some Methotrexate chemotherapy. We had to go to the NICU and have a whole team of doctors there for it to happen due to the increased risk of putting her out. Izzy woke up and I told her she could eat and she was very surprised and ecstatic she had already had the procedure done. Usually she has to scream it out for 5 minutes through the pain. We were excited about the change-up.

As for the rest of us: We are loving being with family in Idaho and Utah. We love and miss the rest of you. Cory and his Dad are having the time of their lives in Greece, Italy and France. Happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mammas out there!