Week 2, Round 1

Yesterday, Elizabeth had her second day of treatment using the new chemo regimen. Thankfully, we do it all as an outpatient in the day hospital still. It is a 6 week protocol that we are following, which breaks down into:

Day 1: Avastin (90 min), Irinotecan (90 min), Leucovorin (15 min), and 5-Fluoruoracil (15 min)
Day 8: Irinotecan, Leucovorin, 5-Fluoruoracil (IFL for short)
Day 15: Avastin (60 min), IFL
Day 22: IFL
Day 29: Avastin
recover through day 36

We are doing 2 complete cycles (rounds) before re-evaluating further treatment options.
Today is day 9 of the first round.

Elizabeth went to ballet class today and did everything (except the jumping, which we've already told her is perfectly okay), although it took most of the class time for her to warm up, attitude wise, and finally smile.

Yesterday's chemo was quite interesting. All three boys accompanied Elizabeth and Mom to the hospital. They did rather well... that is, until Mike and Matt went to the playroom. Apparently Matt decided to wait until the last second to tell Mike that he needed to go potty. Needless to say, a Nintendo game is truly more important to a middle-schooler then helping a younger brother to the bathroom, so Mike didn't exactly move too quickly. Of course, Mom has since stopped carrying extra clothes for almost 4 year old Matt because this sort of thing doesn't happen any more... HA! Poor Matt had to wear one of Elizabeth's pink Barbie nightgowns (we always bring extras to chemo for any leakages or vomiting). His concern as Mom was changing him in the bathroom was if they would laugh at him in the playroom for wearing it. When Mom asked if they laughed when he peed all over the place, and Matt said no, he readily accepted the idea that they wouldn't laugh for him wearing a nightie. Didn't really matter anyway since Elizabeth was done with her chemo at that point. Matt was rather adorable tromping along in a pink Barbie nightgown, though. It is almost frightening how "boy" he really is.

We were watching that new reality TV show called something like "So You Think You Can Dance"... there was a young man on there who did a ballet-type routine (complete with tights, minus anything covering them up) and ended with a gymnastics type dance using a dance ribbon he twirled through the air as he leapt about. Matt watched with his crinkled nose and disgusted look on his face before saying,"That boy is dancing like a girl." He seemed to be a combination of both disgusted and confused. The dance critic on the show asked the guy why he was dancing like a girl when he was "obviously a boy"--and Matt verbally agreed with him. So you all can understand why Mom really did feel bad about putting him in a pink Barbie nightie. I guess we won't be taking him to see any ballets that have men in them!

Mike had a great time at Boy Scout camp in Big Bear over the week of July 10. He learned how to ride a bike (he's never been big on that) and completed 3 merit badges: First Aid, Woodcarving, and Art. He's also been going by the names "Pinecone" and "Dough Boy" ever since.

Danny is uttering "ma-ma-ma-ma" whenever Mom walks by him now, and he is practicing his standing in his crib. Dad is very happy that he is "turning into a real boy", while Mom is sad about how quickly our last little one is growing up.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANGEL STACEY ON THE NEW LITTLE MAN IN HER LIFE!
WELCOME LITTLE JASON!

Elizabeth hasn't lost any hair yet, so we're still hoping she won't. Thanks for remembering her in your prayers.