If you keep up with news in Seattle you probably heard the story about the "blue trees" in downtown Seattle by Australian artist Kon Dimopoulos. He painted the trees around Westlake a bright blue (not harmful, water-based paint). It was pretty cool. Madelyn and I happened to stay in a hotel close by after her ER run last week. We were walking by and she went right up to the artists helping and said "what are you guys doing?" They told her and then she said "can I help?" So in true Madelyn fashion she was part of an international art project. By the time we arrived back at our hotel she was covered in blue :) The artist and his wife sent Madelyn and Sophia a sweet note and package (with two stuffed Australian Koala bears!) saying thank you for her help.
http://www.kondimopoulos.com/thebluetrees/westlakeparkseattle/
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017895829_bluetrees.html
Madelyn had her appointment at Seattle Children's on Monday... i.e. she feels pretty yucky right now.. but that girl just keeps on going! Her energy is low, she feels week, she is in pain and nauseated. She has needed a nap each morning, but has made it to school around 9:30am or 10:00am. Madelyn's school is a small, busy, bustling place. There is always a lot of wonderful activity going on. But if Miss Madelyn is tired well... she doesn't care one bit. She pulls out a blanket and pillow, finds a corner and settles down for a power nap. All of her buddies know she has a week of "not feelin' too good" and then she we will be back to being Madelyn.
Her counts this week:
Hem 37.1 Plat 258 WBC 2.5 ANC 1362
They are pushing the chemo again- increasing her daily 6-mecaptopurine. She will also start on a medication to help with neuropathy. Unfortunately, it is starting to rear it's ugly head again. She has been having ankle and foot pain and complaining of a feeling "pins and needles". She has also begun falling more than is normal. She asked me to make sure and talk to the doctor about it. So I made a note on my monthly list of questions and then asked Madelyn to talk discuss it without any Mommy involvement. It was a pretty cute conversation and Dr. Jessica was impressed with how well and coherently Madelyn spoke about how it felt.
Other than that she is super busy being six years old right now. Lots of tutu wearing, dance class going, horse drawing, swimming (like a fish) and getting very close to that "click" moment when reading starts to make sense. (I am been feeling the need to brush up on all those vowel rules. It's really hard to help her with reading when I don't even know why we say it like that!) She is getting excited to start softball for the first time. She got a glove and bat with Grandpa Jim last week. And man, of man, does that girl know how to hit and throw the ball!
Peter and I are beginning to think about the end. I know, I know... it is still 10 months away. But that isn't a year anymore! That is only 10 more "bad" weeks. I hope my heart will be able to take going off chemo. The waiting, the watching, the hoping for no relapse.
Here are some recent photos of my beautiful, strong, spunky, super fantastic, sparkolicious girls...
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