The Adventures of Madisynn Hope and Braylon Robert

Wanted to post some pictures of our party we had at our house on New Years Eve. Unfortunatly I also have some difficult news to share.
Not sure if I can get it all right as a lot of it has become a blur, but I will try my best. On Sunday last week I had talked to my dad and he had mentioned that he had a cold and a fever. I had told him to get to the doctor, but being the guy he is. Oh I will wait a couple days and see if I can kick it myself. Well, I guess on Tuesday he realized he couldnt kick it himself and went down to the doctor. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and sent to the ER, where they ran lots of tests and ended up admitting him. Wednesday when I talked to him, he didnt sound good. He was on oxygen, sounded real short of breath, coughing a ton and seemed just upset. They had ran some blood test and they realized his WBC were getting close to being dangerously low. That evening they also realized that his RBC were now decreasing as well as his WBC were now down to the dangerous level. ALSO, that evening Derek came home with the news that he was getting deployed this summer. I wont go into details on this for security, but he wont be around for the holidays, and thats hard! Feel free to email if you want more info. So we were all just drained! How much more could we take?
So on Thursday it seemed he finally turned the corner as the nurse had put it. His WBC were at the same as the day before, still had a bit of a fever, but he sounded a little better!
Friday, they started running more tests. No fever since the day before. His WBC's and RBC's had decreased more and he was neutropenic. He had 0 neutrophils left, so any kind of infection could be very dangerous. BUT his pneumonia was gone already!! So that was great news! So Friday evening his fever came back!! Scary, since they wanted to make sure he had no infection. Lots of the tests came back negative and could not find the source of the fever.
Today, he sounded great! Talked for about 45 minutes with out him coughing. He had talked with a doctor who doesnt seem too concerned about the low blood cells, but trying to find ways to increase it. The good thing is that the pneumonia is gone. Still has lots of fluid in his lungs, and keeping him on antibiotics. Not sure when he will be able to go home. He finally seems ok with staying. He just wants to get to feeling better! This has not been easy on him and totally not easy on me being so far away. Most people know I am daddy's girl and wish so bad I could be with him. I have to keep telling myself that even if I was there I couldnt go see him as me and the kids have a bit of a cold. No one who is sick can see him, no touching him and people have to wear masks. So I will do my best from far away and call a hand full of times a day :) He sure is a strong guy and does not get sick often, but when he does, he sure gets it rough! He said today that when he has been going to bed at night, knowing the amount of support he has really helps him pull through!! So we are so thankful for everyone who has been concerned about him! He says he can feel it!! He has touched so many people, and we all NEED him to be strong!! He has too much stuff to do still :)
So if you could, please keep him in your prayers as he tries his hardest to beat this and get home and get some good rest!! Then, as him and his doctors decide what the next step will be. Guessing it will be chemo!!
Happy New Year