The beginning of a new adventure

Finally the day is here, Eva comes home, it has been almost seven weeks since she joined the world and as a now podgy normal albeit small baby she is ready to come home. We only hope that the set of lungs she has displayed this week was because she had such a big audience, on coming home we are sure she will ask for her food quietly!!?? We look forward to introducing her to you all over the coming weeks and months.

The view while lying in bed

Regards
David
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The week it should all change

We had an amazing time in the lake district celebrating our wedding anniversary, wow so much has happened in a year. We struggled being away from Eva for 24 hours but the time to relax and reflect on all that has been will be treasured. Whilst we were away Eva has thrived and all things going to plan will be home Friday, we are excited to say the least and can't wait. Karen is having a blood transfusion today which will re-energise her before chemo again tomorrow and leaves Wednesday and Thursday for her to recover before Eva comes home. Champagne will be flowing on Friday I am sure.
Regards
David
+447984533290

Spring in Harrogate

Regards
David
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A full day of bottles

Sleeping with dad after a full day of bottles, if Eva keeps this up it won't be long until she is home, how exciting, we can't wait.
Regards
David
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My big day out

The christening of the pram, we had the joy of being out of the hospital today, all three of us, what an amazing feeling for us to feel almost normal and be out of the hospital environment, the picture and video tell it all.
 
Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koBjMauBZlk
 
Video 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfxQjRUMs_U
 
Video 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMI4ebPZvK0

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Karen's amateur bath video

I know Karen is doing really well when the day after chemo she is able to come and video bath time, it is really amazing how strong she is, we both have had belief and faith and refuse to give in ever, we feel we are reaping what we sowed.
 
Bath time tonight and a video albeit a little shaky, don't worry they will get better!
 
Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DznBI3vlXac

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The sun is shining in more than one way

Today we had some amazing news, the chemo and us are beating that bastard chemo. After one cycle of chemo Karen's numbers for her tumour markers have halved, better than anyone expected, a cause for celebration, we both have tears of joy.
Regards
David
+447984533290

Food

Another day another bottle and some one on one time with mum. It is another stunning Yorkshire day going for 18 degrees, we have even started getting a tan!
Regards
David
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Bath Time

Finally we have been organised and captured Eva at bath time, as you can see from the pics and video she seems none to phased by the whole experience.
 
Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNfHuMEDgbk
 
I am sure it wont be long and she will be having them at home!
 

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Putting on the weight

How fast they grow, Eva no longer looks like a prem baby as she fills out, she is now just small but growing at a huge rate of knots in readiness to come home.
Regards
David
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Always chilled out

Eva is going great guns and each day that goes by she is closer to coming home and us to being a family, four weeks seems far too long to have a daughter and not have her home under the same roof as us.  Eva is such a relaxed baby and continues to make it easy for us to be parents, I think Eva is our training wheels and keeps us upright and on an even keel.
 
Karen is day two after chemo and amazes me, she has managed to be almost normal today and even put together a great risotto tonight so the rest goes without saying.
 
Our friends Andrew and Helen are getting married tomorrow and we are so pleased we will be able to share in their incredibly special day, it means as much to us as it does to them and to see Karen dressed up to the nines and looking stunning I know will see me shed more than a tear.

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Those late night feeds

Tonight Eva had the pleasure of my company for her 11pm feed, as always she was so content, ate and then straight back to sleep, long may it last.
Karen had another bout of chemo today, a very long day all in all but no allergic reaction so another load of the good stuff is in doing its work, long may it last.

What a great Easter

The sun was shining and you would even call it warm over Easter, we had a great time with even managing to fit in a couple of walks and as you would expect spend as much time as possible with Eva.  North Yorkshire is stunning when the sun is out and you would struggle to find a place as picturesque, I even managed a few rides and runs.
 
As you can see from the photo and video, Eva and Karen are a picture of contentment. Karen downloaded some nursery rhymes and that is what you can hear in the video, we took in our docking station and ipod, Eva loved it, so no I haven't worked out how to add music to our videos, yet anyway.
 
Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjTZ7JMpv6o
 
Another week means another chemo and three days of things being really hard for Karen, we can only hope and have faith in the fact that it is working.
 
Hope you all had a great Easter.

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Sleeping, Eating & Growing

Our first Easter in the UK and as a family and both Karen and Eva have gone from strength to strength, I am so incredibly proud of them both and it has been so incredibly special to have this time.
Eva is doing what she does well and continues to get closer to coming home with each day that passes.
Karen still has her ups and downs but many more ups and is ready to once again face chemo on Tuesday, I don't know how she does it, her will and strength gives me mine.
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A Very Happy Easter

Have a great Easter and enjoy the over indulgence that comes with it.
The last four weeks of been a little up and down with a few challenges thrown in for good measure and the support of you our friends and family has enabled us to be home for Easter, have a special one.
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Bonding time, I must be getting better at this.

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A full stomach

My first full bottle feed, this Harrogate place must be good for me as well as mum and dad.
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Every kid needs one

The Hartley's deliver another great kiwi tradition, the buzzy bee, we look forward to many hours of fun.
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Pictures of the first bath

Belated photos, thought you all might like these!?

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Time for a change

Onward and upward, Eva was moved yesterday and everything went to plan, video attached, she is now settled and only 5 minutes from home, and mum, she too is now home, a night in her own bed and waking up to the sound of the birds was a very special and long awaited experience.
 
Video 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_JaQlY5ypo
 

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Time to move on

Finally the last night in Leeds, everything is all arranged and in place for tomorrow, Eva is ready to go and as you can see from the attached video really concerned about the impending move!
 
Video 1
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJyc6AtXHEI
 
It has been a long haul, just over three weeks so we are looking forward to normality, well for a while anyway, Karen is again feeling really well and as of tomorrow she is an outpatient so it is a really big day all round.  I went to Eva's new home at Harrogate Hospital Special Care Unit this morning to butter them up, I think it worked, it is a really nice ward and the people are bubbly and friendly.

Start out at 100% and pick it up from there.

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As Easter fast approaches so does coming home

Karen and Eva are both doing better than even we expected, Karen will have chemo as planned tomorrow and then homeward bound she will be. On the same day Eva will head to Harrogate so we will all be close if not quite together for Easter. We had a great weekend and Eva is taking some of those much needed calories through a bottle as well as the tube so if she keeps progressing at this rate then she should be home in three to four weeks.
We hope you have all planned a great Easter, a four day break doesn't come a round that often, enjoy.
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The first bath

It would appear our daughter is a water baby, we and Eva were treated to her very first bath and what a special moment it was. It would appear Eva loves the water and it wasn't long into her bath that we think she actually fell asleep, she is so chilled out, long may it last.

Mum, she is getting her strength back every day and has that sparkle back in her eye, it has been a joy to have her back, and therefore as with Eva, long may it last.
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Good morning

I am awake, good morning, Karen and Eva are doing great and only a few days until Karen comes home and Eva moves to Harrogate hospital.
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Mum is back after the latest round of chemo

Eva and Mum hanging out again, cuddles and long ones at that.
 
Video 1
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNCHOIdkpYA
 

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So it doesn't drive everyone nuts

For the sake of everyones inbox's please don't replay to the emails you are automatically sent as these then go to all and sundry, if you would like to email us then please do so at david.whyman@hotmail.com.
 
A quick update
 
Karen is having another really good day even after chemo, all things going to plan she will be home Monday night, how great will that be, we both are so incredibly excited.  On the Tuesday Eva will be moved to Harrogate so she is only a five minute walk away, getting closer to being all under the same roof. So fingers and toes crossed we things will go to plan.

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A big thank you as more sponsors come on board

A big thank you to our new sponsors, Phil & Annette and Jeff & Linda (The Grandparents), we are the proud owners of a pushchair / stroller / pram all in one and like a ferrari red is faster so red it is, we got a three wheeler for anyone to borrow, well with Eva in it anyway and take it for a run.  I am sure as all of your are exercise fiends then you will be chomping at the bit.
 
Karen is in the post chemo days and as of this morning wasn't doing too badly, it is just the degree of shit that these days are and today so far is just shit, Eva is doing fine so apart from that just once again A BIG THANK YOU to the Grandparents.

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