One More Day Down

So far, so good.  No fever and Lucy is just rocking along.  Thankfully we had an uneventful day today.  I took pictures of her with her new physical therapist today, but just realized that that disk wasn't in the camera today.  What a brainless moment.  Her ANC was 100 today, so we are basically on lock down.  We will get out of the apartment for trips to St. Jude and that's about it.  Some people are brave and go out more but right now we are good to stay put.  Visitors are being kept to a minimum, too.  Her doctor told me today to think of her as a newborn before her vaccinations.  No crowds, lots of sanitizer and no one in her face. 

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On a completely random note, did you ever wonder what a person with Celiac disease eats for lunch?  I'm sure its been the most pressing thing on your mind, so here you are....

Caramel rice cake with white chocolate peanut butter and tortilla chips with hummus.  The hummus was already gone when I took this picture :)  Pretty boring, but surprisingly good!

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I've had several people ask me lately about Lucy and Ella's understanding of her cancer.  It's pretty simple, because that's the way we want it to be.  When Lucy was diagnosed, the Child Life Specialists at LeBonheur were wonderful to explain to both of them, in terms that they could understand, what was going on.  She said that Lucy had "sick spots" called cancer and that she needed surgery and lots of medicine to make her better. 

We generally take each day/phase of treatment as they come.  For example, we never talked about Chemo until it was actually time to deal with it.  We still have not told her that she has 4 cycles to complete, will spend lots of time in the hospital and will feel like crap alot.  I just don't think it is necessary to fill her little mind with too much information.  The same for Ella.  I am willing to tell her a little more, but I am still fighting like mad to protect her as much as Lucy. 

 I know that they both understand more and comprehend more than I give them credit for, though.  Lucy has surprised me with some of the things she has said.  Most importantly, I pray daily that God will give both of them a peace and acceptance that passes all understanding.  It's a peace that I believe only God can provide.  I've said before, but Lucy has the most wonderful spirit about her.  Even today she was mad she had to wear her mask and hated every minute but through tears said "Yes, m'am.  I will wear it."  She just gets it.  It blows my mind honestly. 

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Also, to answer another question I've had alot, we are NOT using umbilical stem cells for Lucy.  We are using her own stem cells, which have not been affected by cancer and are healthy.  It is called an Autologous transplant and is the most effective in dealing with this type of cancer.  She will have another harvest in the next few weeks to collect the rest of the stem cells necessary for the last 2 cycles of chemo/transplant. 

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Ok, so that was my random post for the night (minus the pictures from PT, which were really cute!) I do have this really cool picture, though. 

Even Mike Ditka says "Go Lucy Go!"  Thanks Laura Drew!