Loooooonnnnnng Day

I am posting from the Almost Home Unit at Children's today. We have been here since 8:30 this morning and we will be here until six. I am sitting next to Ally and can barely keep my eyes open at this time. SO, in efforts to wake myself up...what better time to get the entry done.

Today, Miss A had another spinal tap. Dr B took care of the procedure, with three residents there to observe their first ever spinal tap. She does go under conscious sedation for that, so it does not hurt her. The only tears of the day were when they initially accessed her port. That doesn't even hurt, or at least that is what she says, because we put Emla cream on it to numb the skin. But she does get upset in anticipation of the needle poking her. The spinal fluid was again free of any cancer cells, which is why they keep giving her the methotrexate into the spine. Thank God for that . They started her IV chemo at about 1...and then they have to follow it with lots of IV fluids because that particular chemo is really hard on the bladder. They also did the ARA-C chemo, and will be coming to our house tomorrow between 11-12 for another dose.

The day down here is long. Luckily today we had a few visitors (thank you McKays, Mrs. Booher, and Pa). She requested Chinese for lunch. She has really been great today. Awesome spirits. I just told Jerad that she is as close to the old Ally as I have seen in a long time. Making beaded necklaces in red, white, and blue...playing everyone at Uno Spin...impressing her Dr and nurses with her red, white, and blue fingernails...doing a puzzle book...and watching endless episodes of Icarly. I bet I am the only Mom out there who has all the Icarly shows memorized. It is so quiet around here. Everyone is off for the Fourth of July holiday. Chemo schedules allow no holidays though...we had to keep on going.

So tomorrow is the Fourth of July. My Dad just finished building a pool at his house. It will be the first time that we are able to use it. And, he even has a 38 foot waterslide! It should be a really really fun day...we are having our friends up there for a little party. And the hometown parade too. I am just hoping HOPING that she is still in good spirits tomorrow and this current does of chemo does not knock her back. I don't want nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. I just want her to have one good day where she is actually feeling like a kid again. I want her to swim so much that I even talked to the doctor about Saran Wrapping the area around her port...it is remaining accessed until Monday for the home health chemo. So that is my prayer wish for her today. Just one more good day and then we will take it as it comes.

I just said to her "Ally, is there anything you want to tell your followers on the blog?? I can type it here"
And she said "Tell them that Daddy is weird"
See....the old Ally is in there. Just waiting to bust back out.