Playing and Relaxing

Katie Grace has finally succumbed. She is asleep. Little Katie No Nap has returned. She slept for a whopping ten minutes on the way to the pediatrician's office in Newport today, and that was it. While she pretended to sleep in the doctor's office, she was ever vigilant; she knew what to expect, and she watched the adults who stepped into the exam room very carefully. It was good to see Dr. Bannach again today. I know that lots of adults administer subcutaneous shots to their little ones, but I'm just not prepared to be the bad guy. In all honesty, it was funny but also a little scary to leave the hospital on Monday with chemotherapeutic medications in a simple plastic bag. I can handle the pills, but the shots? Not yet.

This treatment cycle, which is called consolidation, includes six (6!) medications, some of which are new to us. Katie's reaction to these medications has been very good so far. She continues to play with abandon. You should have seen her zipping about the Barton library this afternoon in a game of hide and seek. She has this odd new habit of screeching like a demented dinosaur, not because her verbal skills are in danger (they are not--she cannot seem to stop talking!) but because she likes to make noise. We were lucky. It was nice and quiet today, and the library's other patrons were willing to ignore Katie's quirks. Joshua learned how to stamp the date on the book return cards, and Katie wrote me a "note" reminding me to return my books on time. (I've decided that this is what it says, anyway...) It was so much fun just to watch both kids enjoying a very normal activity.

Joshua and I are looking forward to a very exciting day tomorrow--Walmart, dinner out and a high school basketball game. While I am most excited about our trip to Walmart, Joshua is happiest about sharing dinner in a restaurant. We are both eager to cheer for the Ranger boys. It is fun, now that he is older, to take Joshua out on the town. My mother used to take us out on "dates," and we always felt good about the extra effort she made to spend time with us. The activity might tucker us out, but we will enjoy our day. I look forward to taking Katie out on such excursions when she is old enough to enjoy them, too.

Let's hope she sleeps late tomorrow. (It's not likely, but I can dream...) Good night, all.