Little Miss Autumn had a wonderful weekend! Her cousins came for a visit which is always makes for a good time!
This week we will be in Santa Barbara only one day, Tuesday, hooray! The chemo she will have is fairly "mellow" and involves just a 10 minute push of Vincristine and then we can return home. The following week we will be there, at Cottage Hospital from Tuesday through Friday. It is a more intense chemotherapy involving hydration (due to the sulfates in one or more of the agents that can cause bleeding the bladder) to dilute the chemo over time.
This morning Autumn had some hair on her pillow and so we talked a bit about what that means to her. I brought up her friend Daisy (who is now done with her treatment) which seemed to make it more ok. It may even make Sage and Lindsey more nervous than Autumn, as they ask about it all the time! Kids are so funny, the things they ask about, what seems to matter most to them may not always be what matters to an adult.
We love you all!
Autumn and Family
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Hooray...tomorrow is the last day of radiation!!! Autumn is just about over it all right now. Each day as she climbs out of bed she absolutely begs me NOT to go to Santa Barbara. "Not Santa Barbara again!" she cries in frustration. A child that small simply cannot understand what is going on, why there are so many tasks to be done, why is she not doing what she normally does, as if we as adults have any clue, or can offer any sort of insight into such a world we hardly understand ourselves.
With children, the beauty lies in their innocence and more importantly in their perspective. They do not anticipate and project the future as an adult would, they live in the present and react to what pain or happiness that is occurring within the immediate future. Adults languish in their pain and discomfort for much longer than do children.
Yesterday, Autumn was able to see her friends at preschool and what a treat that was! Her teacher, Mrs. Dottie is so sweet and caring and just made a little space for Autumn to enjoy and be creative for the short while we were there. Seeing Autumn with all of her friends was enough to break down any barrier I had built over the past three and a half weeks, I began to cry and think that life doesn't seem fair at times. Children should be exempt from the cruelty of life, they just haven't lived long enough to be burdened these occurrences. I must admit that if something like this doesn't make a parent appreciate life, then I cannot image what it would take. Life is beautiful and we cannot ever forget that, any of us. Every day is so precious and meaningful and way too short.
We are going to have a small celebration tomorrow for Autumn's last day of radiation, what a trooper!!
With children, the beauty lies in their innocence and more importantly in their perspective. They do not anticipate and project the future as an adult would, they live in the present and react to what pain or happiness that is occurring within the immediate future. Adults languish in their pain and discomfort for much longer than do children.
Yesterday, Autumn was able to see her friends at preschool and what a treat that was! Her teacher, Mrs. Dottie is so sweet and caring and just made a little space for Autumn to enjoy and be creative for the short while we were there. Seeing Autumn with all of her friends was enough to break down any barrier I had built over the past three and a half weeks, I began to cry and think that life doesn't seem fair at times. Children should be exempt from the cruelty of life, they just haven't lived long enough to be burdened these occurrences. I must admit that if something like this doesn't make a parent appreciate life, then I cannot image what it would take. Life is beautiful and we cannot ever forget that, any of us. Every day is so precious and meaningful and way too short.
We are going to have a small celebration tomorrow for Autumn's last day of radiation, what a trooper!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Good evening!
Autumn has done very well the past few days! One side effect of the chemo and radiation is that one can experience too many or two few bowel movements, for Autumn it has proven to be the former. Sometimes we will be in a place that just doesn't allow for easy access to a bathroom, but that's just a small issue at this point!
A friend took the girls and me to see their school play on Sunday, everyone had a great time. It always feels good to be out doing things; it makes life feel more normal.
We are in for a long week this week, every day we will be heading to Santa Barbara. However, the week after we are there just one day! It's a "light" day for chemo and for that I am thankful!
Again, we cannot thank you all enough for everything that you have done and continue to do for Autumn as well as her family. This is a wonderful community to be a part of, we will be forever grateful!
Autumn has done very well the past few days! One side effect of the chemo and radiation is that one can experience too many or two few bowel movements, for Autumn it has proven to be the former. Sometimes we will be in a place that just doesn't allow for easy access to a bathroom, but that's just a small issue at this point!
A friend took the girls and me to see their school play on Sunday, everyone had a great time. It always feels good to be out doing things; it makes life feel more normal.
We are in for a long week this week, every day we will be heading to Santa Barbara. However, the week after we are there just one day! It's a "light" day for chemo and for that I am thankful!
Again, we cannot thank you all enough for everything that you have done and continue to do for Autumn as well as her family. This is a wonderful community to be a part of, we will be forever grateful!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Autumn had a great day today! We made it down to Santa Barbara for an early morning radiation appointment. She is sure in the habit of knowing what to do and what is expected of her during each treatment. I know that visualizing her friend go through the exact same motions has given her perspective (undoubtedly the word of the century!) on what is happening and the knowledge that she is not alone.
Next week we will have one more week of visiting SB every day for radiation appointments. She will have chemo again on Tuesday and then again on the following Tues. Thereafter she will have one four day session of fairly intense chemo which is monitored closely by constantly checking her white blood counts to make sure her immune system is able to handle the attack of the chemo.
We are taking it day by day and so far so good.
We love all of your comments, phone calls, emails, texts and fun things we receive in the mail. She feels like a superstar with all of you in her lives!!! Thank you so very much! :)
Autumn and Family
Next week we will have one more week of visiting SB every day for radiation appointments. She will have chemo again on Tuesday and then again on the following Tues. Thereafter she will have one four day session of fairly intense chemo which is monitored closely by constantly checking her white blood counts to make sure her immune system is able to handle the attack of the chemo.
We are taking it day by day and so far so good.
We love all of your comments, phone calls, emails, texts and fun things we receive in the mail. She feels like a superstar with all of you in her lives!!! Thank you so very much! :)
Autumn and Family
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