Yuckies...

Poor Mimi had her first case of nausea for most of Friday.

Everytime an alcohol wipe was near her (they use it to clean off her "tubie" to insert her fluids or meds), everytime anyone came in with freshly washed hands in antibacterial soap, and to kicker was the "sleepy medicine" going into her port. She always said she can taste it in her mouth right before she falls asleep but this time it made her vomit. (sorry for TMI!)

Her Spinal Tap went fine and it was pretty quick so we were home by noon. Some people asked why Mimi keeps getting Spinal Taps.
Here is why:
Intrathecal (Spinal Tap) chemotherapy, methotrexate, is also given into the spinal fluid for at least 4 doses, each separated by a week. This chemotherapy helps kill any lymphoma cells in the brain or spinal cord.
I found this site to be neat (Mimi likes to see why she gets things done) http://spinaltap.starlightprograms.org/003.swf

We are home.

We got the okay to leave this morning and were home around lunchtime. Mimi did not have any fevers at all since Tuesday night and all her counts stayed pretty good.

Tomorrow is another Spinal Tap day, that she is not happy about, but hopefully Friday night movie night can cheer her up.

We spent the night at the Hospital...

Boo. Mimi had a slight fever (100.6, the protocol is to call as soon it is over 100.3) around lunchtime yesterday (Tuesday) I called the Clinic and they told me to bring her right in to the hospital.
She feels great and her blood work looks awesome but since she had a fever last night while she was here they will probably keep her here until tomorrow morning. She is watching movies and coloring up a storm, I am here with her coloring as well. Oh and she is determined to write Emilia in cursive right now she is able to do Mimi.

The biggest news of all her neutrophil count is "normal" is that she is able to have fruit - Real fruit! She has chosen an apple. I'll let you know how it was...

And it was YUMMMMO! She had two!

Friday's Happenings (Updated)

This Friday went much smoother even with a major delay due to a malfunction of some oxygen machines... something you always want to hear that the oxygen "machine" is not working properly. We got to clinic for 10am but Mimi did not go into the procedure room for her Spinal Tap until around 1pm! She did awesome though she got lots of art done, played some video games and had some visitors even Sarah who talks with her hands and talks to Aladdin! ;)

She will be going for Spinal Taps every Friday for the next 3 weeks and started a new pill daily. I will update with the exact study she is on when I get back to the computer. MagiBoo just got into soap...

Title of the project/research study AALL0331
Standard Risk B-prosecutor ALL
Part II - Post Induction Intensification
She was chosen randomized into the standard treatment arm (SS-IV) which will last 4 weeks.

Drugs:
Mercaptopurine (daily pill for 28 days)
Vincristine (IV push one time on day 1)
Methotrexate (intrathecal administration, spinal tap days 1, 8 and 15)
She is also getting her antibiotic three times a week two times a day.

Bring a buddy.

We had to go to clinic today for blood counts to see if Mimi is good to go for tomorrow's Spinal Tab. Iza got to go to clinic today also, they were both VERY happy to be there and Mimi did super today since her buddy was with her.

Tomorrow we will get the road map for the next few months. Mimi will also be getting another spinal tap tomorrow. She is not too happy since Iza can't come with her and also because she is getting the "sleepy medicine" that tastes like the poison apple... (I am not sure when she had one of those or if she had a talk with Snow White) Even though she gets the meds through her port kids get a taste in their mouth right before they go under and she remembers it everytime. She will be waking up to a chocolate chip cookie from Jess :)

Breathing is good.

My heart did the pounding thing again as I took Iza to the pedi on Saturday morning, she had a strange "rash", normally I would not even call the pedi but now I question everything... The pedi called Mimi's Onc. since she did not want to send me home without knowing what this rash was.

We were sent to the hospital for a CBC.

This whole time I tried to just breathe. This was around 10 am. Right after noon I got a call from the pediatrician "Iza's blood is fine" I cried.


Since Mimi is off the steroids for a bit and her counts are pretty good we decided to spend the day in a park with some friends, saw some monkeys, bears, oh MY!, eat ice cream, jump in a bounce house, have a boat ride, eat some more ice cream and my little monkeys fell asleep while chattering with their Barbie night lights. Today felt normal...

Blood counts and stuff.

We are still without internet at the new house so I am just now updating.

Yesterday was clinic day. Mimi did not have a good morning over there, she cried while she got accessed she said it hurt alot, she was starving, it was raining... The only people that got a smile out of her were her Dr. (who she LOVES!) and the lady who rubs her feet (massage therapist who comes into the clinic). She had a Spinal Tab and another Bone Marrow. We should have results early next week. The procedure went well and after waking up from her "sleepy medicine" she ate her Sun Chips and Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies all the way from Nana and Pops from Florida! She thought it was very cool to get cookies in the mail.

Blood Counts from Friday:
WBC - 14.6
Hgb - 11.7
Hct - 33.1
Platlets - 220