It's been awhile since my last post. We've entered what feels like a strange world of "back to life"... it's a new normal, but it is life minus the feeling of crisis. I'm not sure it is easier, but it is better.
We did NORMAL things this week. We went to a Super Bowl party at the Harrington's. I went for a walk with three of my favorite gals. Madelyn had a spend the night with the Rutz' Clan after we all had pizza night together. Peter and I did FOUR photo shoots. MJ and Phia played with Ashley, Alaina and Avi. We had wine with the Fowler/Dawsons while the girls screamed and ran around throwing pillows (well... actually Peter was the instigator of that part of the night). Madelyn went to school from 7:30am-8:30am with Miss Tina one day. Peter and I went for a hike and had an awesome lunch at Adrift just the two of us - thanks to our beautiful, thoughtful, much loved friend Ashley. We played in Mom and Dad's hot tub. Peter had a climbing night.
As I write all that down I am amazed. In the middle of it, Peter felt a little head-cold coming and Phia had a runny nose. Madelyn and I went to Seattle early to "stay clear" of the sick-ies and for her appointments. We arrived Wednesday morning and my good friend, Shelly and her boyfriend Scott stopped by that evening. They brought gifts and added laughter to our night. Thursday morning Madelyn had her appointments until 12:30pm and then we napped most of the afternoon (both of us). Come 4:30pm we got ready for some more visitors. An old client emailed me when he received our Christmas card this year. He too had Leukemia when he was a child. It was such a good night for me... hearing his experiences, remembrances and feeling his solidarity. Thank you Matt! Friday morning we went to my sisters for a few hours of play with the cousins and then Physical Therapy.
Madelyn has started sleeping in a little longer in the mornings. Her energy is still good, but she is a little more tired, having some nausea and a little pain. Her temper tantrums seemed a little better this week. We awoke a little late Thursday morning - at 7am - and I immediately had to put on her Emla cream (the "magic cream" or "numbing cream"). We brushed teeth and headed out the door at 7:30am. First appointment was at 8am. Her red blood cells and platelets are good, but her white blood cell count is still down and her ANC is down. This means we have to be even more careful about her getting sick. Her body can't fight off infection and if she were to get a fever she would immediately be in the hospital.
Hem 33.7 Plat 348 WBC 2.6 ANC 801
If her ANC had been 750 they would have not given the Methtrexate / chemo. Luckily it was still high enough. We don't want her to have to skip a dose. The chemotherapy wipes out both the bad cells and good cells, but we want to see her numbers recovering back to where they were before. with each appointment, until the end of March, her dose amount will be increasing. I am concerned abut the next appointment.
Next week MJ has a whole week to be home and then the weekly appointments start again. Starting the end of March we will be in Seattle full time again and the really intense part of treatment will begin.
On a lighter note, I have started recording some of my absent minded behavior. I'm astonished by the quantity and frequency. I have never before had my brain so preoccupied. It's even worse than "newborn-no-sleep" brain. Here are a few examples:
- I took a bath before bed the other night. I put my bra on then my PJs and climbed into bed.
- I found the milk jug in the cabinet.
- I have washed my hair twice in the shower (instead of one wash and one condition) several times.
- I pulled the sheets off the bed, to put clean ones on, and somehow put the dirty sheets right back on.
- I was doing the dishes the other day and stood there dumbfounded. I couldn't remember where I put the silverware in the dishwasher (um, hello???).
There are many more ... :)
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