Summer Days

Absent our disease, today would have been absolutely the most perfect summer day. It was the perfect temperature...warm, not humid, with the perfect breeze passing through. Every flower is at its absolute peak of blooming. The kids are all really into summer now, school is far enough behind and far enough ahead to be completely absent from their minds. The pool water is all warm now and the clouds were making funny shapes in the sky.

Today, Ally actually asked me if we could go to the Walnut Grove pool. She loves to go there and get grilled cheese sandwiches and fries for lunch. In a typical summer, we would go there once a week. We haven't been there at all this year. "Sure", I exclaimed and proceeded to call everyone I know to meet us there. The more the merrier, always my mantra. Plus, Ally doesn't "ask" to do much. She has really been feeling well these days. We packed a big bag of crafts/beads because she couldn't get in the water. (Her port is currently accessed.) I figured we would stay about two hours, and we ended up staying over three. She did great. Amazingly enough, most of the kids ended up hanging right with her. She brought her perler beads again and even the little boys were crafting it up. I was shocked that the other kids did very little swimming. What great friends that she has to do that with her. She ate, she smiled, she got a treat from the snack stand...her Dad even met us there for lunch. Her brother played with his friends, her sister practiced her swimming with Mommy. I felt the summer sun on my skin and for a brief moment I forgot our situation. We were as close to normal as we have been yet. All of the kids were happy and I had three straight hours with no complaints from Ally. Wow.

They line up their towels and eat their grilled cheese.

Doing the bead projects at the table

What is more perfect than sitting in the shade under a 100 year old tree?

We headed home in time to give Ally her antibiotic infusions. On the way home she asked for a Frosty from Wendys. As always, I said "sure" but then that means I have to get one for the other two kids too. And they had just had ice cream at WG. Ah well, such is life. Gotta give the girl some extra calories whenever possible, so it was a double ice cream day for all of them. Isn't that what summer is all about? Carefree and happy to be. It is summer, after all.

I am afraid tomorrow is going to be another tough day. She is gonna get slammed with chemo. A spinal tap with methotrexate, two shots of Peg-aspariganase in her legs (and they hurt for weeks after), and vincristin. Vincristin is the evil chemo that they had given her that whole first month. It is a really tough one and also causes the horrible constipation. I feel pretty sure that she is going to need blood too. She seems quite pale to me today. Most of all, I am hoping that we get some further information on her infection and that these antibiotics are clearing it up. So a long hospital day is in front of us.......