Day 75

I think Bridger is a little home sick right now. He had a melt down because he couldn’t remember what pants he wanted to wear. I tried to have him describe what they looked like. Through his sobs and alligator tears he said “they are the color of dirt” the only problem was I only brought jeans for him to wear and none were brown. According to him they were “all wrong” and he fell asleep sobbing while I held him on his bed. Lately every time he says his prayers he gets all choked up like he is going to cry and he says “And bless my friends that I had to move a way from”. He is physically doing well but I think emotionally it is wearing on him. Today one of the family’s we met here in the RV center brought us a freshly baked loaf of pumpkin bread. It is these small and simple things that get us day to day. We have had an out poring of them. Thank you all so much for your kindness.

That was AMAZING!

The other day for a science project we tore in to a pomegranate. Bridger was very carful to remove every little kernel. When he was all done and had a nice full container of pomegranate kernels (that he of course never ate but wanted to feed to he birds) I took his picture and he said in a very slow but enthusiastic voice “That was AMAZING”! Who new?

On to Bridger’s health, his numbers went down as of Wednesday due to staring a medicine called Bactrim (I have no idea how to spell it, big surprise I know). He only takes it three days a week so hopefully his body will recover during the other four. They decreased his Gen Graft med again. This will help his numbers to go up. So the goal is for the numbers to even out through out the week. His HGB also went down He may have to have another blood infusion or they may try a medicine that helps. He has dry skin right under his eyes that looks uncomfortable; overall he is still doing great. We did learn some more about the Graft vs. Host effects. I thought when we got to day 100 we where clear for any major possible problems but I have learned that after day 100 there is a whole new set of worries. Symptoms before day 100 fall into the “wet” category like liver failure, severe diarrhea, lots of vomiting…. After day 100 symptoms become “dry”. As in loosing the ability to make tears, dry skin and sores, losing the fluid in your joints therefore possibly becoming stiff or paralyzed…. So you can see the worry will not be subsiding any time soon. But we have great hope things are going to continue to go as well as they have. Thanks for all the prayers. And don’t for get to get your AMAZING pomegranates this season.

Day 70

Bridger’s eyes have done nothing but itch for the last two weeks. We thought it was allergies, possibly a little bit of graft vs. host disease. But on Sunday as I was staring into his beautiful eyes I saw a most peculiar thing. Little jet black hairs are growing in underneath his blond eyebrows, and he looks like he has eyeliner on because he has new little black eyelashes growing in as well. The Dr said that when new hairs grow in it is extremely itchy. Another mystery solved. We also may be getting a big surprise for Thanksgiving we MAY ALL be going home for the weekend! The Dr’s say “It looks like a good possibility” granted nothing comes up between now and then. We haven’t told Bridger yet but are very excited about the possibility and are making plans as if it will happen we are harnessing our powers of positive thinking :). Doyleen has offered to go home with Blake and take on the daunting task of deep cleaning for me. There are some specific guidelines they have given us for prepping the house. I am so blessed to have an awesome mother in law who is able to help. We won’t be able to have visitors or visit anyone in our short trip but I know Bridger will love being at home. We debated if it would be too hard on him to come back to Houston but we will only have two more full weeks (I hope) left when we get back. So we decided it would hopefuly give him a boost and motivation to keep up the hand washing and be good taking his meds.... I think I forget how hard this is on him. He is only six and some times I treat him like a sixteen year old. I am trying to be better at understanding how he is feeling. It seams to make things a little easier, we where also able to decrease his meds again yesterday.
Have a happy day.

Day 66

After many days of persistence we finally caught a butterfly. Bridger was so happy! We caught it with his mosquito net from his aunt N. He kept it for a little wile just watching it with a smile. A few minutes later he let it go and said in a very sweet little voice “goodbye little butterfly” and the butterfly flew off. It made our day. It was nice because Bridger has been a little down lately he cries every time we have to go into the hospital and he is really done taking medicine. I get frustrated because I know he has to take I know he knows but it is a fight every time. Plus just trying to get him eat and drink is a full time job. He is however very happy when we are playing and riding his bike. I am so thankful he has a bike. The Dr's have lowered one of his meds, and he thankfully Bridger has had no negative side affects and is still doing great!

Day 60 Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Blake surprised us by coming in to town last night instead of coming this morning, so we were able to have a fun filled day. First we decorated cookies, Bridger made a “how to” video for you all just in case you need more sugar, we launched a Mentos and Coke geyser, and followed by throwing the baseball around. Later in the day we did some relay races, for one of which we balanced eyeball gumballs on spoons held in our mouths. We also ate doughnuts off of a dangling string with out using our hands, shot silly string and then Bridger rode his bike for at least an hour. He had so much fun all day he had a smile from ear to ear. We had a short break for dinner and then got his costume on. We headed out to trick or treat around 7:15. He made it to two trailers then he dropped his bucket, shield, took off his helmet and said “I’m too tired to trick or treat”. He left all of his stuff in the road and asked his dad to carry him. So Blake carried him for two more stops and then he tried to get him to stand one more time. He wouldn’t have it. We were back to our trailer, gave him his medicine, put his PJ’s on and he was fast asleep by 7:45. What a day. (still working on the video)

Coke geyser


On your marks get set... Doughnuts anyone? Trick or Treat? He is done. really done.

Day 56 more good news

Yesterday was one of those perfect fall days. (As fall as you get in TX) I woke up wanting to snuggle with Bridger because it was so cold. This was a welcome change form the sauna like weather we have been having. I love when the seasons change. The air was crisp and cool with a slight breeze. The sun was shining but a light jacket was needed. We played for hours out side chasing butterflies, seeing how close we could get to the squirrels, and looked in under and around everything looking for spider webs. We had a great time the weather was perfect.

Today we got great news that starting next Monday they will lower Bridger’s dose of Gen graft. It is the medicine that keeps him form getting Graft VS Host disease. He is doing very well. We will just have to watch his skin very closely for any new rashes or anything out of the normal, and his bowels as well. We hope he will do just fine coming off of it. We have no reason to think he won’t. This is all very good news most kids stay on the med for six months (we may too just in a lower dose) and some don’t ever come off of it from what I understand. We another happy thing about today is we got a package form our donor. She sent letters, a bunch of Lighting McQueen stuff. Her 6 year old daughter drew a great picture for Bridger and she sent an angel pin it has a quote about being a special healing angel…. Bridger wanted to put it on right away and wore it all day long in the middle of his color in his t-shirt. He must have for got he was wearing it because later in the evening when he looked in the mirror he grabbed it and then he said in a relived voice “Oh good it’s still here, I just love it”! It was too cute. Bridger got sick this afternoon. By dinner he was feeling much better and ate two peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

Above is the angel pin he obviously loves and below he thought he was so funny putting a hand wipe on his head. He giggled and giggled over it.

Day 54 and Bridgers Birthday!

Friday was Bridger’s 6th Birthday! He was so excited when he woke up and found streamers in his door way and all over the ceiling. He wanted his presents but I had them hid because we weren’t having the party until later when his dad came and I thought it would be too much of a temptation. It didn’t take him long to find his presents. Bridger, like a good boy told me he saw them with out peaking in the bags or opening them. We let him open one of his presents first thing. It was a new pair of running shoes he didn’t take them off all day. We displayed the rest of the presents out on the table and he didn’t even ask to open them all day. Later about 4:00 we where saved with presents from Grandma Dar (my Mom). We played out side with the new bow-n-arrow for a long time. Blake got held up at work and so we didn’t end up having the party until 7:00 pm. Finally, when he got here it was party time. We broke out the nurf swords and I honestly think we could have stopped there Bridger was so happy. They played swords for at minimum 30 min. and then we opened the rest of the presents. His big gift was a play castle with a catapult, he loves it. My favorite part about birthdays is making the cake, I’m not great at it but I think it is fun. It was a great day.

Saturday we played all morning with his toys. I can’t believe he is so strong with the sword; I have to really be on guard. He loves all his toys. Later we went to the Houston temple, Doyleen had never seen it. Then we watched a disappointing BYU football game.

Sunday I tried to find the local branch to go to church. I followed my GPS and couldn’t find it. I said a little prayer and turned the car around and out of the corner of my eye I saw a sign that said “The church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints institute of religion”. I had missed it because I was looking for a small church building, but instead found a two story pink house with white trim that was set back from the road. I drove down a dirt path I wasn’t quite sure was a road and found 4 or 5 other cars to park by. Once inside, I realized I had missed the sacrament but found a seat in the crowded little room of folding chairs and was touched by the spirit as I listened to the talks. After words I coordinated with the Elders quorum president to bring us the sacrament. Later at home we gave Bridger his primary lesson then they came to give us the sacrament. As soon as the prayer began I had a strong confirmation of the spirit come over me that this is Jesus Christ’s church. The spirit was strong and I felt blessed to have the sacrament, it has been way to long.

I know this is a long post but I have to give my thanks. I have seen the hand of God in our lives on a daily basis through this trying time. I have felt more love and blessings come than ever before. The people here in the RV center are all so kind. Fred the man that helped with his bike gave him a toy forklift on his birthday; others want to know if he has any diet restrictions so they can give him something on Halloween. How blessed we are to be living here right now. His primary class from church made a CD of songs for him and A DVD with ALL the kids singing wishing him a happy Birthday and talking to him one on one, along with some other things. He loved it all and it brought tears of joy to my eyes. The Woodfields always know what we need, even people form Blake’s work have been supportive along with countless of others. Thank you all so much. We have to many blessings to count.

One more thing at our appointment this morning Bridger had his Dr. appointment and he is a little dehydrated and lost a pound so we are on intake duty. He is ok other than a couple of headaches.


waiting for Dad's arrival.


The Cake (it is supposed to be a shield)





sword play



One happy boy!