It is steroid week again. If you would have asked me prior to Sharmi’s cancer which one was worse steroids or chemo? I would have confidently said chemo. However, now that I have had 9 months of experience, steroids are definitely worse! It took me 10 hours today (rushing) to pack up the kids for three days at Grandma’s house. I usually over pack to get in all of the cute cloths, but this time I only packed the basics. But taking care of two kids, competing for my attention, and Sharmi’s extreme neediness resulted in a very long day of packing. Dean is out of town for the week and so the girls and I have come to Grandma and Papa’s house so that they can help me manage the attitude and food cravings. It helps to keep her spirit happy. It also helps protect sister. When Sharmi is on steroids she gets jealous of Chantel when I hold her and Sharmi swats at her. Poor Chantel, she will be one tough kid after surviving through Sharmi.

Sharmi’s labs last week were “good.” This means they are at the desired low for leukemia patients. Her anc was 1300. Their target is to keep them between 1000 and 1500 during maintenance. (Normal for healthy people is 1500 to 5000.)

This week we saw Sharmi’s actual doctor. I really love her! I asked her three times about whether they would really be able to catch it if Sharmi started to relapse. I explained why I was so distrusting since it took 6 months to diagnose it in the begining. She was very patient and real about it. I was concerned because, two nights before her appointment Sharmi woke up in the middle of the night crying out, “pain meds, pain meds.” Once the pain meds began to work she was able to tell me that her legs were hurting. Dr Thompson said that it may just be growing pains. I hope she is right.

Chantel is trying to help me type, so I better go before I drop my parents lap top on the ground.  I hope you all have a good week.

Cheris