We took a family vacation to Florida during our two-week break between chemo sessions. It was a fabulous escape for all of us. She only got nauseous and sick a few times. For majority of the trip both kids swam, ran, played and thrived. We were really able to relax and not think about our next trip to DeVos. It was a perfect recharge to get us ready for this next phase of delayed intensification. I am extremely grateful for our timing and that we were able to go and get back before Covid-19 hit the US.

Madelyn is now on her second week of delayed intensification. She officially learned to swallow pills! We are so proud, and this has already proved to make our life significantly easier! Our deal was if she could learn to swallow pills, we would buy her the Nintendo Switch. Yes, I know, it was a bit overboard however last week she had to swallow 6-8 pills every morning and night!! Crushing that amount and mixing it with pudding, especially when she is nauseous, would have been terrible! She has been rocking taking her pills. She doesn’t use water which we find kind of odd. She places the pill at the back of her throat and lets it “slide” down. I would gag if I attempted this, lol but she seems to make it work.

She is on some new chemo’s and just finished her first week of high levels of steroids. Her hunger was insane for a few days and now we are experiencing the disruption of sleep at night. She is WIDE awake at 3 am. Lessoned learned to mom and dad, don’t stay up late drinking and playing her new video game! 

People have asked how we are doing with all the panic and worry about the coronavirus. Her physicians have said she is at a slightly greater risk than the average 6-year-old. However, they aren’t in panic lockdown mode at this time. They recommend we follow the CDC guidelines of social distancing. My biggest fear of all of this is if she gets it that probably means we all get it. Then who will go with her to hospital when she has to get poked in her port and arm? She hates being poked and really only wants mom. Average kids her age can probably fight through it without needing to take a trip to the ER. We have to go to the ER if she has a fever of 101 or higher. Then that raises my second fear. If people don’t follow social distancing and our hospitals do get over crowded what happens if Madelyn gets a blood infection or blood clot or any other complication of her current treatments? Those are all what ifs and not under my control so I’m not going to stress or waste too much time worrying. We are currently focusing on building enough Leprechaun traps to cover the whole house. They REALLY want to catch him this year. =) wish us luck!