Lots Happening!

Since our last blog we've had to deal with snow, a couple of trips to the hospital low neutrophils and Russell being away for a couple of nights.

We've pulled through with the help of our new friends Rachael and Oliver (parents of one of Samuel's classmates) who kindly offered to do both ends of the school run because Russell was away and Paige has neutophils of 0.3! and particularly our neighbor, Naomi, who came to our rescue, or rather my rescue on the night of the heavyish snowfall. Post Paige's recent hospital visit she continued with a hacking cough and very labored breathing. After consultation with Dr Millard I administered an inhaler but was still not happy and Naomi knowing me as well as she did, offered, AND took us to QA to have Paige reviewed. Her chest was clear..... she was just very badly congested - I was so relieved that I didn't even remember to feel silly! Naomi even arranged to borrow an electric vapouriser for Paige and picked it up on our way home - You are a star Naomi!

Paige enjoying her 10 minutes in the snow....poor child was so wrapped up she could barely move, complete with insulated wet gear, ear muffs, hat, scarf, gloves and two pairs of socks. All of this of course over her regular clothes and a cardigan.

Since then her cough has cleared with the aid of a vapouriser, humidifier, and strengthening blood count. She continues to blossom and flourish, her hair has grown so much she can now even have pony tails, of course they only lasted as long as the photos, but so what?! Her weight is holding steady just over 12kgs and everyone who sees her comments of how well she looks.

Her language and ability to manage her parents have also improved with comments like "ok mummy it's time to get lunch sorted" or "I'm a bit busy right now mummy, ok!"

She had chemo last Monday and was an absolute star about having her cannula inserted and thereafter chemo administered. Russell apparently gave her the option to look on at what they were doing or have the team do the necessary using him as a human shield. Of course she wanted to see what was being done and was quite well behaved all things considered! We even manged an uneventful week of dexamethazone, she started eating at the tail end and has stopped yet, when she stepped on the scale last night she was a whopping 12.8kgs.

Jenny her favorite Community nurse came over to get blood via a finger prick this morning and it went really well, it's probably a combination of Paige getting more accustomed to the procedure (yeah right) or that she knows and trusts Jenny. I firmly believe that it's the latter. On the previous instances we had to firmly restrain her during the process. So well done Jenny and Paige!!!

The biggest event of last week was our decision to start Paige at WestHill Park from March this year. I met with the Principal of the school and the Head of the Nursery. They were very flexible and extremely co-operative. They are quite ready to put all the required systems in place to accommodate Paige and to be as flexible as she requires - what more could a mother possibly ask for? I think she is quite ready for more stimulation than she can get at home. I am also quite anxious for her to socialize with normal kids her own age, be in a setting that is NOT a hospital and also exist with us. I have to admit just talking about it made me have butterflies in my stomach. We both need this, me being able to let go and her starting to find her own way.......

So great things ahead, bloods are good based on today's results, neutrophils are up at 1.4 and her oral chemo has resumed.  The next step is repeat bloods on Monday and thereafter the go ahead for our Trini weekend in Bath! We are hoping to spend to spend next weekend with two of my school mates Margaret and Asha who now both live in England. It promises to be quite interested three Trini women, a Bajan, an Englishman and a Danish man :-)

Cheers!