Change of plans... We go with the wind.

The weather and the treatment for cancer: no matter the predictions, sometimes it rains when it's supposed to be sunny and is sunny when it's supposed to rain. We can cry and mope and pout when it rains, or go splash in puddles and see just how muddy we can get. I've always been a fan of jumping in puddles. Just ask my mom (sorry about that Easter dress, mom... I was fashion forward. Somehow I knew those brown mud polka-dots would look lovely on light blue taffeta).

Tonight was supposed to be the starvation night before the intense chemo tomorrow (spinal, etc.), but we had a change in plans. Gideon was grouchier than normal on Sunday (yesterday), and I blamed the prolonged double daily dosage of steroids for this animosity for all living and inanimate objects within a twenty foot radius of him. He kept saying "OW!" throughout the day, and I would ask him what hurt, but I'd get, "NOTHING, mom! I'm FINE!" OoooOooo... a hormonal teenager at the tender age of three, huh? Anyway, that night I was changing him into his jammies and I noticed the band aid over his port had something seeping through. I took off the band aid and saw red rings around each of the puncture wounds from when he was accessed throughout the week. Each puncture had white in the middle and clear fluid seeping out. Sorry. I hope you're not eating. I immediately called the on-call Oncologist and was told to watch his temperature throughout the night. If a fever spiked, I was to go in. If not, I would have to go into the Clinic in the morning.

No fever all night was a great thing! When we went to the hospital, I was told that his blood count, the cancer, and all of the drugs makes it very difficult for Gideon's body to heal itself. It was a topical problem with "retarded healing" -- that is what the Oncologist called it (I will keep my thoughts to myself on that one)! So, we have topical antibiotics and Gideon's big chemo day will be Thursday instead of Tuesday. Wednesday night will now be the tired one. Well, more tired than normal...

Gideon did not like that Dr. Lobel had an owie on his hand, and decided to be HIS doctor. He put a band aid on his golf injury and the boy didn't stop smiling. He was being his lover of people this morning... my sweet boy. The nurse and the doctor were floored by Gideon's delightful banter and happy smile throughout this check-up. They said it is exceedingly rare for a child at this stage of the steroid treatment to be anything less than a monster. Of course they have not seen him at home, but it did my heart some good knowing that his positive nature and loving disposition trumps those chemicals coursing through his body (sometimes). Those glimpses keep me smiling, truly.