Last weekend Mikayla had some fun. She got a gift certificate to get a pedicure and manicure for her birthday. We decided to take her cousin along with us for her birthday present too. So we had two little girls ready for some girlie fun.
Saturday night we had some visitors arrive at our house for the week. The Avery's are back in Iowa! And this time they didn't bring snow, they brought warm temperatures and it has been GREAT! The kids were so excited to see each other again and it was like they had never left. We have been enjoying having them back this week.
Monday was March 16th. You knew that right? March 16th is a day we will never forget because that is the day Mikayla was diagnosed. I would be lying if I said my thoughts didn't go back to that day two years ago, because they did. But it wasn't a bad thing. I am so thankful for where we are today and how Mikayla is doing and most of my thoughts were, "WOW, it's been 2 years!" I remember when they told me the treatment would last 2 1/2 years, my first thought was "how am I going to do this for 2 1/2 years?" and now my thoughts are, we are almost there, I can't believe it is almost over. Honestly, Monday the thoughts came several times throughout the day but overall it wasn't consuming my thoughts. It was a great day and I was feeling thankful. So much to be thankful for.
Tuesday we went for treatment. This was spinal tap week and I wasn't looking forward to it. We spent our time waiting (the pharmacy took forever to send up the chemo!) with Becky, a teen with ALL, Mikayla loved talking and playing with Becky and it helped both of our families while we waited for our chemo. Becky and Mikayla were trying to bargain for who was going to get their spinal first. Thanks Jan and Becky for making clinic fun Tuesday!
While we were waiting I was standing in the hall and the Nurse Practictioner grabbed me and handed me a bunch of paperwork. She then proceeded to talk to me about scheduling Mikayla's pre-op appointment for getting her port out and what off treatment life will be like. I was so stunned standing in the hall hearing these words. We knew the end was coming but it was very surreal to be talking with her about it. It just hit me, we are almost done. This round will be Mikayla's last full round of chemo. (Each round starts with a spinal) She will get her last dose of IV chemo and spinal tap on June 9th, she will continue steroids and oral chemo until June 13th and then we will be done. We will probably wait to have the port out when she gets back from camp as she will go to camp on June 14th. I can hardly believe that I am even saying these things, it is so close now and I am excited and nervous all at the same time. We will just take it all one day at a time.
Her spinal tap went well and her counts were good (ANC 1170) we will be checking counts again next week to see how she is doing but they seem to get elevated with steroids so that would not surprise me at all. Speaking of steroids, it has been a rough week with those. Mikayla is having Roid Rage pretty bad this week. It is so hard on her and me. I feel bad because she can't control it and you never know what is going to set her off. It is especially hard for the kids in the house to understand. My boys are used to it and dread steroid week but the daycare kids and Avery boys are not sure what to think of her. I feel bad for them too. How do you explain the medicine that is supposed to make her better makes her act like this. Oh, well we will get through it. One thing I will gladly say goodbye to in June is STEROIDS!
Yesterday Mikayla had a field trip to see how Maple Syrup is made. It was a fun time and a beautiful day. I was so excited that I got to go along, I don't usually get to go on field trips because I have other kids at home, but we could all go on this time. Mikayla was extra clingy to me, which was the steroids in her but it was ok. At the end of the field trip we all got ice cream with real maple syrup on it. Mikayla fell in love, she wanted to bring some home with her but silly mom left her money in the car. That was all it took to trigger one MAJOR steroid fit! Screaming and fighting me to get in the car and all the way home. Poor little William was looking at her like she had three heads. It was hard to have her act like that in front of our company, good thing Mimi has a little experience with that, but it still was not fun for anyone. At least we had a good time at the nature center, I just wish she wasn't on steroids when we went.
This is how she usually ends up after a fit...
She is sleeping on Biscuit, her dog (it's a toy). She is still loving that dog! LOL
Last night we went skating with our church group. It was a BLAST! All the kids had so much fun. Here are just a few pics from last night.
As always we are keeping busy, taking everything one day at a time. The kids are on spring break next week and I am sure we will have lots of fun next week too! Thanks for checking in.
Christie
