The New Normal

Day 21 of 1,278

Carson continues to lounge around the house. His normally pleasant demeanor appears every now and then...but usually NOT when people visit. (Sorry folks!) He did perk up for a brief bit when his friend Andy came to visit today. But only briefly.

Carson's cheeks continue to grow by the day. You know how when kids take and hold a big breath of air and their cheeks puff out? That's Carson, except he looks like that all the time. (It's actually very cute.) He also still has his hair, although it might be a tad bit thinner. (We're not sure if it's thinner from the chemo, or if we're just looking at it more closely than ever before.)

Carson contemplates how he can pocket Andy's toy truck. But Andy is on to him!

We are all honing our skills as short order cooks. (Look out Hell's Kitchen!) We trip over each other, running at breakneck speed from one side of the kitchen to the other to satisfy the Czar's latest craving. But the cravings just keep on coming. Today, it went something like this:

• Grilled cheese sandwich (x2)
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• Pancakes (morning and evening)
• Hot dog (x2..or was it 3?)
• Chicken nuggets and fries (McD's)
• Fruit snacks (x3)
• Chocolate (after morning and evening meds)
• Bread - just plain

Now, I have to say...he didn't eat it ALL. He mostly would take a few bites, then say he's done and send it back to the kitchen. Thirty minutes later, of course, he'd ask for it again. If nothing else, we have lots and lots of food in the house. We never know what he's going to think of next.

Of course, with all this food in the house, it's not easy for the rest of us...especially me, the human garbage can. There's always something cooking...some sweet smelling aroma floating through the air. It's tough resisting the urge to eat your way through the day!

Carson is still tired, but was at least more talkative today...which is a good sign he's feeling a little better. He went on a ride in the car (to the drive thru at McDs), and he talked the entire time.
If we could get the rest of the body feeling as good as the jaw muscle, I think he'd be in really good shape!

This evening Carson wanted to go for a ride in the stroller down to the bike trail. This wasn't just to go to the bike trail, but rather to see the fire station which is down right next to the bike trail. Our timing couldn't have been better. As soon as we got there the firemen pulled one of the fire trucks around back to wash it. And then they tested the chain saws! And then one of the ambulances got a call! Carson was absolutely beside himself.

Is there better entertainment for a 3 year-old boy?? Thankfully they didn't know we would have PAID to watch this!

For Jennifer and I, we are trying to get our lives back to "normal". Some things have not changed. For instance, we went on a six-mile run this morning. We are still slow. I went out to Fountainhead to ride the mountain bike trails earlier in the week. Yeah, I still stink. We gave the dogs a bath. And we still wonder, "Where the heck does all that hair come from?"

It's not the same as the normal before leukemia, but at least some things haven't changed. :-)

Monday is round four of chemo. Go Carson!!

Paul