5 Days of Chemo Down, One to Go!

When I left to catch the last shuttle back to Ronald to sleep last night Shayne had started a Captain Underpants book (We discovered at the bookstore yesterday that there was a new one!!). I'm in the middle of reading her "The Report Card" which is also very humorous and by one of her favorite authors - Andrew Clements! I keep offering to turn on the TV, but she much prefers stories. She is eating well and she had a restful night. I received a text message back at Ronald about 1AM which said, "We pooped! (Well, I didn't, Christi did!)" Shayne is so funny. Yesterday, we learned that if she didn't have a bowel movement, they wouldn't be able to give her one of her chemos on Monday. You go, girl! (hee hee!) Monday's chemos are supposed to be the harshest. After today's infusion of the Topotecan (sounds like a tropical bird, eh?!) we're hoping to get another four hour pass to get out of here. Temps have dropped into the mid-40s, but it's still much better than back home where I understand there was a huge snow storm. I'm not sure what we might do, but I think she'd like to go to the Ronald House to play - if we can push a wheelchair that far. I wish we had her jogging stroller here - next time!!

I also thought if some stores were open on Sunday she may enjoy shopping for a new hat/cap. I vividly remember packing them away not so long ago. While in her room she asked me what I was doing and I said, "Boxing up your hats to put in the basement." She said, "Why don't you give them to the hospital for another kid?" I told her, "Well, if your next treatments involve high dose chemo, you're going to lose your hair again and you may want these." I remember the shocked look upon her little face and I felt horrible. Now, we realize she's MUCH older and those little hats aren't going to fit. She was right, I should have just given them to the hospital then!

Thanks to the power of prayer and to (hopefully) the chemo, her back isn't causing her pain this morning. She says that her eyes are "better" - even though they still have yet to return to normal. (The rest of the "puffiness" in her face has completely resolved, whew! Now come on, little eyes- restore!) She said, "The lumpity bumpities on my head still hurt - because the nurses keep touching them." Last night before I left her, I touched her jaw and sure enough that nasty "lumpity bumpity" (to borrow Christi's words) is still there too. My heart just sunk and I cried all the way back to to Ronald. I am very thankful; however, the pain is gone! During my 6:30 AM walk over here this morning, I had planned to duck into the Catholic church to pray, yet there were gates up and there were homeless people sleeping in the doorways. So sad!

Christi's blood counts were not available yet when we walked down here to the "Teen Room" so she could play "Neopets" and I'm using the 2nd computer so I'll update with them later. (We haven't yet downloaded my email properly so I'm not fully "in business" as I'm only able to check my email sporadically and not in an organized fashion. )

FUNNY: Christi likes being in charge of pushing her own IV pole and has politely reminded me, "I'm 8 1/2 now."

Shayne stated last night that he needs to get back home. "Shayla" has come out of our mouths time and time again. I'm hopeful that Christi and I will get home in the near future, if only for a little while before returning again. She really wants to make it to her 4th grade class's Valentine's party stating, "Christmas and Halloween parties are okay, but it's the Valentine's party that is my favorite!" Today is Sunday so we're not going to get any information about what lies in our future until Monday, but it appears that this chemo is a 21 day cycle instead of a 28 day cycle. We also anticipate her getting really sick - since this is the first high dose round she's had in years, it should hit her hard and I'm not certain which hospital she should get to when that dreaded fever spikes and how she should arrive there. I just wish CHOP was not a ten hour commute!! A lot to think about yet..........

Middle of the Night Blood Counts:
3.9 white
10.2 hgb.
92 platelets
2,032 ANC