Shrek rocks!!!

Daddy & Immie after in front of the huge Shrek poster

All over!!

Immie, Kods and Jas

Immie, Fiona and Kods

Kody's Footy Season

Kody playing for the Royals Footy Club

Then closer....pic taken

Kody ready to play FOOTY!!!

Met up for Half Time

Saturday, 16th of June 2007

Pediasure..what else!!

Just hanging around on my fav.food supply!!!

I'm hiding....

Boo...

could it be any cheesier!!

These boxes on Pediasure (what Immie ate through her tail - nasal gastric tube) sure got a work out by Imogen perching on them and posing, they were just the right height.
16th of June 2007

Full of fun...is what we are!!

Cheeky Immie and Serious Alex

I think I can make u grin Alex!!

mmmmm..I wonder....

Full of Fun..is what we are!!

What's cooking

Da Alex

Whata funny smile!!

Cheesey Grin!!

Emailed on
15th of June 2007

Hi all A few people have rang me today to ask about the CAT scan yesterday, so thought I had better let every one it went well. They only last about 20 mins, its just the prep up to the result eg fasting on food for 6 hours and fluid for four hours, that drags on and can be very stressful as it is done under GA ( general anesthetic).
All Immie wanted was eggs and meat (bacon) before it, and woke up screaming for eggs and meat after it. She then had everyone running around the hospital finding her some, and then decided that was not really what she wanted and continued on to eat 3 mandarins and one orange and some circles (burger rings). Kids - hey???, oh too be able to eat whatever I wanted!!! and have no consequences!!. Anyway we will have some results, some time - who knows, there is never a great rush for results..you get very use to it, and if it is a rush then normally that is a huge concern.
We have another appt on Monday and then we will have some more counts and see how Immie is going and when she should be ready for the op. We also got the totals from the fabulous daycare centre for the fete on the 2nd of June, the rough totals are just over $6,000, with a amazing donation from the church connected to the daycare of $2,000 - now does that just restore your faith in human kindness. We can't thank any of them enough it is just amazing!!!, we are so blessed and lucky!!!.
Today Imogen and I went to Full of Fun with my friend Margaret and her son Alex, the kids had a ball, and me and Margaret struggled to keep up with them!! ( well I know I did ; ). Then we went for a long walk to pick up school kid, Kody. It was wonderful to be in the sun, and watch that cheeky grin and beautiful girl, Imogen, walking strongly and confidently by herself!!. Well hope all of you are having as super day as us,
Love, Hugs and Rainbow kisses
to you allFiona and The Holmes Gang xxxoooo

Check ups and the CAT scan

Back into hospital for a few test to schedule the op hopefully,
what a beautiful photo...

Look at that whispy monkey hair xx

Granma and Immie giving LOVE

Imogen waiting for the scan to happen

Home - HURRAY!!

Where home again - hurray!!!
Immie and Granma getting breakie ready

There is that beautiful smile

Email recorded on the 12th of June 2007

I think today...i was finally running on my last piece of energy...We had been waiting in hospital till Immies counts came up, but we really had been waiting around to have our GFR (kidney test) with the original drip that got installed last Thursday. Anyway half way through the GFR the drip gave up the ghost and the whole GFR was a failure, because you have to take blood every hour for 3 hours then twice in the last hour and everything has to be on time...and we were never going to get a drip in time..so argh another frustrating time.

We also found out that Immies op, now depends on her counts (as her platelets are low) and it can't be just any day as the surgeon only works friday. The communication at the hospital this week has been hopeless, it so frustrating to be waiting and guessing what doctors, oncologists and nurses are thinking. Its almost like when u get diagnosed u should get this new part of the brain that knows every thing about cancer and it is expected that u do!!.

I had a discussion with Imogen's oncologist today, that made me feel like the idiot and ended in me crying. Least we got one thing done today the echo (the cardio) test, who knows when we will find the results from that..a month...a week...you just never know.

We still have the CAT scan on Thursday and a Full Blood Count and another audio test ( I hope to get this cancelled as she will not be on the ball after a General Anesthetic). At first I was concerned and worried that the op would not be for another coupla weeks. I now think it will be good for Immie to have a break before the op, just not to big a break!!. She will definitely be more ready and repaired (fatten up etc..) if it is in another week or two.

Anyway keep sending yr positive thoughts and prayers as sometimes I feel like they are the only things propping me up....

I have been trying to write the things I am grateful for and to look on the positive side of life..heres a few...
- for my beautiful husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ( jason add that!!!!! - heheh);
- for my super children, both so strong , loving and caring;
- my family - supporting and surrounding me with their love;
- for living in Australia, with health care for our children under public cover;
- for Imogen smiling hugely at me to stop me from crying;
- Being alive and able to enjoy my life, even my dishes and washing and the space - you definately take for grated your space at home until u r isolated in hospital.

Lots of Love to all
Fiona and The holmes gang xx

Hospital stays

What long legs!!!

Immie got this fishing line late one night,after she had thrown her nasal gastric tube up again..she got a suprise because she was sooo very good getting it put down again.

Immie getting the fish organised

what can I find?

11th of June 2007 Hanging out...

Sticking stickers with her Nana rug on...

I am not sure about moooorrrree photos

I think.....

In the comfortable recliner...NOT!!

Our heros - the nurses of 3b : )

Nurses...I am not sure what we would have done with out the fabulous nurses on Ward 3b, they are there for your child and some times even you the parent. They work tirelessly at providing care for your child, answering questions from the parents, soothing the tears, (from both the child and the parent : ). We have met some of the most caring people while on 3b, they are there when the tough gets worse and the good gets better. Without them we can honestly say we would have struggled even more.

Thank you so much to all
the nurses of 3b, and everywhere else we treked in PMH.



Nurse Claire and Imogen

Nurse Rochelle and Immie doing blood pressures

Nurse Lizzie and Immie doing pulses

Nurse Zac ( jack as Imogen fondly called him) and Immie playing with her taps

Email recorded on the 9th of June 2007

Hi all
Well I am home again for my Saturday nite R & R and coupla glasses of wine...Jason is holding the reins...Immie thinks that is fabulous!!.

We have had a few draining and eventful days with being admitted ( as Jas told you all), hitting temp of 38 taking blood cultures, growing staph, removing our permant pic line ( yep Mr pic is no longer, back to bloody IV lines and praying veins don't collapse), taking two shots at getting the IV line in as immies veins, don't want to play any more. Then yes then hour sleep and the creaming and crying all night.
Luckily yesterday (Friday), only a few chucks, and a lot of sleep catch up, then a audio (hearing) test - We failed miserably, Immie was not at all interested in the blinking boxes with dorothy the dinosaur and bob the builder in them after 5 mins ( I am asking what kid wouldn't..to me it was bloody boring). Anyway we will try again in the couplaweeks ( they wanted us to do it next wednesday, but we have persuaded them to change their mind as we will be there practically everyday next week). Then last night she only woke once...thank you god!!!.
Though today she has been drooling....mmmm...this usually means muscistis (have no idea how to spell this)...ulcers in the mouth..and the only thing that can fix that is neutrophilis ( immune system) kicking back up. Every day they are getting a little better. Next week we have another GFR (kidney test) on Tuesday and CAT Scan on Thursday, and then the operation with things being moved around every where> it could be at any time after the CAT Scan, it looks to be Monday the 18th of> June. We will let every one know as soon as the op is over and we know something.
We ask you to send positive thoughts, prayers and vibes that "the tumour will be easy to remove and Immie will be cancer free forever" to us for the next coupla weeks..that would be much appreciated. We are all still battling on, and taking one day at a time..sometimes one minute....at a time. Immie is still smiling and in pretty good spirit...kids are amazing and Imogen is a amazing super star.

Love to you all Fiona and The Holmes Gang

Back to hospital 8th of June 2007

Immie was really miserable this day, as her drips collapsed, and they could not find another vein to put a new drip in. They tried with no luck, then tried again about 5 hours later, with no non pain meds and finally got a drip in. It was a really hard day!!

We were back in hospital with a temp

Shona and Imogen busy painting

The email from this week 8th of June 2007

Subject: More Hospital !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all, just a quick note to say that we are once again parking the car at pmh. Immie went in for a check up on wednesday with a slight temp (37.3) and good old immie decided that while she was there she should top 38 and get admitted!!!! Have taken blood cultures as usual and have returned some bug so will be there for approx 5 - 7 days, apparently the usual time to wait in these situations. After only 1 hours sleep cause Imogen has a sore bottom all night, not exactly the news you want to hear!!!!!

Anyway, hope everyone else is having a better day than we did night!!!

Love always

The Holmes gang