Painful to Perfect

7/25/2011:  11:20 PM

This morning was awful. Davis woke up with an upset stomach, took one medication, and then refused to do the rest.  Kyle stepped in. After a ton of persuasive coercion and Kyle's you're-going-to-take-this-medicine-now approach, the medicine was in, and the day improved.

a couple of bums

clay masterpiece

By afternoon, Davis was feeling - and acting - like his old self again. A good majority of the afternoon was spent hearing Annakate scream as Davis chased her around the house. Ocassionally, they would make a truce long enough to watch a little TV and eat a snack.

After supper, it was time to get our creative juices flowing. Davis worked in clay for awhile and changed his mind shortly thereafter. Mrs. Hess, Ashmore art teacher, and Ashmore School sent art supplies to play with, so both Davis and Annakate tried their hands at sketching.

art mania

outside . . . finally!

Davis couldn't bring himself to get in the pool this evening, but he did try. He is much more content sitting in the recliner inside, but we value fresh air and outdoors.  We made him hang outside for awhile before heading in.  I think it did him some good.



That brings us to tonight.  Davis set up a party in the living room.  He poured cokes and pulled out his puffed Cheetos.  Annakate grabbed the boombox and a quick dance party was underway. I loved it. The only reminders of cancer were the visible port in his chest and the medicine still needing taken.

crazy!

This week is all about routine. Kyle thinks that Davis will benefit from some more structure, and I agree.  Davis slept in his own bed last night - the first night in weeks.  (He has been sleeping on an air mattress in the living room.) We have started eating our meals at the kitchen table as a family once again. Tomorrow, he will get up at a decent hour and take all of his medications before a pre-determined time. We want to get him in a consistent routine to prepare him for school. 

new hat

We have noticed a tad bit of hair loss. Although Davis still has a full head of hair, he has noticed if he grabs his hair or rearranges it, he loses 20-50 or so little pieces. No worries though. He received a couple of new hats in the mail, and has a few baseball caps as well. I know that this is hard for him, and I keep reminding him that it is temporary. 

Tomorrow we will head over to Sarah Bush for our weekly CBC.  Again, the routine. We are hoping for a stability or climb in numbers. This could mean that he has nadired (a medical term meaning that his counts - his blood - have bottomed out or reached the lowest point).  The idea is to wipe out nearly everything (white, red, platelets, neutrophils, etc) and allow his system to rebuild healthy blood.  I dread Friday because it means another round of chemo, but I know that each chemo treatment brings us closer to remission and closer to being cured. And yes, as most parents with a child with cancer, the cancer is very much ours.  We are fighting this battle as a family. 

We continue to love and appreciate all of the support we have felt from family, friends, and neighbors this week.  We are so very blessed.  We continue to ask for positive thoughts and prayers because the road ahead is still very hard and long.  I pray every day that God gives Davis strength and builds a hedge of protection around him. We pray for short term goals (remission) and extremely long term goals (no long term side effects, forever CURED!).  We are trusting that you are doing the same.  May God richly bless you and your family.

We will keep you posted.