One Tough Chick: Waiting...

So, now that were all caught up with the past on your blog, we can focus on today. Today is a good day because you are happy and healthy (other than the cancer). I am nervously counting down the days until your next phase. Its called Delayed Intensification, and its supposed to be pretty bad. Like the first phase, maybe worse. They say thats when you'll lose your hair, and they fully expect your counts to get to zero!

I hate, hate, hate the thought of watching you regress back to being sick, and I worry that you'll retreat back into yourself again. I am doing my best to focus on how well your doing today, and enjoy this 2 week rest until "the big ugly" starts on Sept. 16th. Only 8 more days...

Who knows...maybe you'll breeze through this next phase like you have the last two. Maybe you'll keep your pretty hair and continue riding your bike after treatments....probably not but I hope. Actually, I wouldnt be surprised. You have such an amazingly strong body!! The doctors and nurses, even, are amazed. They told us its not uncommon, for kids going through what you are, to be in a wheelchair because they refuse to walk from all the muscle weakness. We met a little girl at clinic named Daphne. She is on the same treatment schedule as you, to the day, and she was diagnosed almost 3 weeks before you were. She has had what the docs would call "normal delays" because of other issues. For example she was in the hospital for a whole other week because she got a fever and her counts were zero. She also broke an arm, and a leg because of bone weakness from the cancer. So many things we havent experienced, and I am so grateful. I look forward to the day when you get your patriarchal blessing. Im so interested to hear what it says about the strength of your physical body.... and its amazing ability to ward off disease. You must be on this earth for a very special reason.

Some pics of what we've been doing before you start the next phase...