A Round for Everyone and a Belt for Carson

What started as two trips to the ER with Carson nearly two weeks ago turned into a bout of sickness for everyone. We all had some version of the stomach flu over the next week and ended up full circle with Carson and tummy issues again last Saturday. Thankfully, this did not turn into another trip to the ER.

No one has been sick with something for 3 days now, so maybe we are over this. (I say while knocking on my wooden end table next to me.)

To celebrate a new period of wellness, Carson and his friend Andy tested for and received their very first Knee High Ninja belts on Tuesday evening. It is so strange to me that I again caught myself holding back tears over the "9 seconds of discipline" that it took for Carson to earn this belt.

With Francesca, if she'd done Tae Kwon Do, she would have gotten her belt. There would never be a question, it was expected and practically taken for granted that she would succeed. We would already be thinking about the next thing on our list and making plans for that event.

How different it is now; I am actually able to cherish the moment! How sad, and wonderful at the same time, that it took a child with cancer to teach me this?!

The New White Belt Knee High Ninjas

Like Things Used To Be

Things are back to the way they used to be last year: A weekend swim meet for Francesca and two trips to the ER with Carson. After all, we couldn't just leave well enough alone; with only ME going to the doctor weekly. That would just be RIDICULOUS! Who would have thought that such a thing could occur?

Carson came home from school on Friday complaining of nausea, stomach ache, etc. He had no fever; and after a consult with the clinic we decided to take the "wait and see" approach. So, we WAITED, and about 8 that night, we SAW that he now had a fever past the magic tipping point of 100.5.

Phone the on-call oncologist (which amazingly was NOT Dr. Chao this time), head to the ER. No symptoms other than congestion, cough and fever. ANC count high enough to go back home after a round of IV antibiotics. Plan to repeat tomorrow. Amazingly, this is all accomplished in just under 3 hours. I think that's a new record for ER visits - or else we're just getting way too used to this.

In the meantime, I stayed home and got Francesca ready for her swim meet, woke her up at 5:50 AM and sat around for the next 5 hours to watch her swim the 200 Free. The boys slept in until 9:30, which they needed.

No fever on Saturday morning. I took him back to the ER in the afternoon and we were done in about 2 hours, which prompted a celebratory dinner at El Tio where a large quantity of chips and tortilla soup were inhaled.

Feeling better at our 2nd visit to the hospital. Coloring a SpiderMan picture and watching Madagascar.

Now we are at Sunday. Francesca and Paul are home from the swim meet - it is only 9 AM. There was no power at the pool, so the meet got cancelled. Does it ever end?!

-Jennifer

We are Expanding

Monday's spinal, chemo, antibiotic and IGg infusion with Carson went well, if you don't count the fact that this go round, the spinal was at the hospital, and it wasn't until 3. This required Carson to be without food or drink almost all day, but he did great despite his hunger.

I took the opportunity to fast along with Carson- praying for all our cancer family whenever I was hungry (which was a lot) You know what? I made it! And anyone who has been around food and this family knows it is hard for us to go without.

Carson made it too with his counts. His ANC came in great at 920, which is right where it should be. And now, we're going to try something never attempted before, expanding the time between clinic visits! Can you believe it? We now do not have a scheduled appointment until March!

I'm expanding too......

my waistline, thanks to the delicious food delivered to our door this last month,

.....and in the "too much information category"..... my bust line.

I have been to the plastic surgeon four times now and reconstruction is underway in a noticeable way....well, at least it is noticeable to me. Thank goodness for modern medicine.

Anyway, it is mostly good expansion around here...I pray your week expands before you in a good way too!

-Jennifer