Miraculously, Madelyn did NOT get the stomach bug. We are so relieved; my eyebrows have started to unfurl. My sister bought us Clorox wipes. I wiped every handle in the apartment a couple times a day. I wiped the toliet and sinks several times a day. I wore a mask all day long. I put sanitizing gel on my hands every 15 minutes. I was the definition of OCD. I think it worked.
The rest of week was still difficult though. Madelyn has had extremely unreasonable behavior a couple of times a day. It has been infuriating, depressing, confusing and exhausting. We are in Seattle tonight and have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. This new behavior is at the top of my "questions" list. Is it one of her medications (the side effect descriptions do not list this)? Or is she starting to react emotionally to this complete lack of control she has over her life. Peter and I are both guessing it is the later. The Childhood Leukemia bible I have been reading and, well, finished weeks ago (OCD) lists several books to help parents and kids deal with some of the emotions. I went out and ordered them all.
Phia too has had a hard week. She was left with my parents again one night during the "sickness" and woke up that morning to another unusual situation. Grandma was gone (in Seattle because Peter got sick). My Dad does great with MJ and Phia (he raised four girls for pete's sake) and Phia loves Grandpa... it's just that it was another unusual situation. Poor thing has no routine anymore! The next night she spent with Ashley. Which was different, but probably a really good thing. Ashley is a great source of comfort for Phia and she is missing her so much. Peter had a hard time not having Phia home (he was starting to feel better that night), but he would have been no fun and it was good for Phia to be with Ashley.
It makes me so happy that my girls have strong relationships with adults other than their family. I know that this will be influential for them not only in the immediate, but in the future. Madelyn was taken care of by our dear friend Janet from age 9 months until she was almost 3 years old. Madelyn still feels a strong connection with Janet, 2 years later. Ashley will be the same for Phia. This is good. It makes me happy.
Overall, Madelyn has had wonderful energy this week and is walking better than we've seen in a while. Before bed tonight she asked if she had "just the pokey tomorrow" or "the pokey and sleepy room" (spinal tap). I said "just a pokey to get your blood counts and a talk with the doctor". She had a big smile after that. Tuesday, she has Physical Therapy in the morning and then we head home! I suspect it will be a good week.
If her counts are where they should be on Jan 31st, she will begin a phase of treatment called Interim Maintenance (approx 8 weeks). A somewhat calmer period before we start another intensive treatment period (another 8 week stretch). During this intensive period we will be in Seattle full time again.
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