August 3
Allyson did really well recovering from surgery Tuesday. You’d never even know she had surgery as a matter of fact! Friday, we went in for chemo. Dr. Rob looked at her new port incisions and said they look just fine. When we were in, we scheduled her last bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap of this phase of her treatment. Remember, this is the biggie…we’re hoping for the “all-clear” so we can begin the maintenance phase of her treatment. Dr. Rob said once kids get into that phase, things become more “normal” again. We’ll go in once a week for counts and some sort of small dose of chemo. We need to go in every twelve weeks (over the next two years) for biopsies. Her hair will continue to come in. (If you haven’t seen her, her hair is really coming in now. She still has less than she did when she was born, but it is really starting to thicken and get longer.) He also said as long as things stay on the right path, her counts should be OK and Ally should feel really well throughout the next few years of treatment. THANK GOD! I have seen my baby look and feel so sick these last months. It is been such a roller coaster ride…I’m ready to get off!
Benjamin was so much fun this weekend. Yesterday, Ms. Kathy, the parents as teachers educator, came over Saturday morning. I love it when she comes over. She always makes us feel so great about our kids! She’s amazed at Benjamin’s speech and says he’s developing just fine. I knew he was, but it is still nice to hear that from someone else. He just played his little heart out all weekend. He repeats everything and says so much. Yesterday, he dumped over the Lego box and told me, “Made a mess!” Hey, he’s honest… He’s becoming a hugger. He’ll just come up out of no where and give you hugs. Oh…he’s starting to try to sing with the radio in the car. You can’t really understand the words, but you can tell he’s trying to sing the songs. It is sooo cute. Both he and Ally can really belt out a song, let me tell you!
Today, we went shopping because it was a tax-free weekend. Ally and Benjamin were so cute. They were each in a stroller. We’d pull them up next to each other or facing each other, and they’d play and giggle. They entertained everyone around us. One little old lady sat and watched them for the longest time. Her daughter kept trying to get her to move along, but she wouldn’t. Finally, she came up to Brad and starting talking to him about the kids.
The kids got Brad a remote control boat for Father’s Day this year. After dinner, we went down the the little pond at the entrance of our subdivision so Brad could run the boat. The kids loved watching! Benjamin kept saying, “Boat, boat.” Ally was impressed with all the circles the boat was making. I think Brad had a good time too;-).
Ally goes to Camp Rainbow at the Cancer Center tomorrow. I am not sure exactly what that all entails, but we’ll find out. I know there’s lots of games, a juggler, water play of some sort back in behind the center in the the yard. I’m not sure how Ally is going to take to all of that. She’s not great when it comes to lots of noise and lots of “activity”. All we can do is try and see what happens. Sometimes we can get her used to her surroundings by staying back a bit and then participating. Again, we’ll see…I hope she does OK. I really want her to be able to participate in things like this. Dr. Rob and I talked about that whole sensory thing (his daughter has Down syndrome as well)…he can empathize.
We’re sending Ally back to daycare Tuesday-Thursday this week. Next week, she’ll be there all week because I’m back to school. The week after that, she’s back in school.
I’ll let you know how camp goes tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed!