The Home Stretch

We just finished week 10 of chemo and now we've entered the home stretch where we no longer have chemo every week!!! We get to go three full weeks between doses, so every 3rd Wednesday we'll be heading down to Seattle. I am elated! Ella is doing awesome today. She received the chemo yesterday which usually keeps her nauseated and refusing to eat for 2 days. Well, yesterday she snacked a lot on the drive home and then ate pot roast and mango for dinner. This morning she's having spaghetti for breakfast! She also is chatty and clever/funny, this is a good sign that she's feeling well. I've realized that I can almost gage her temperature by her personality. "Mom, are you sure you want me drinking fluids? You don't think fluids will give me the flu?"= she's feeling alright.

She also finally received her H1N1 vaccine yesterday. Greg and I have been asking her Dr's each week if it was available, referring to it as H1N1 and hoping Ella wouldn't realize what we were talking about. Then one night she asked us "Why do some people call the swine flu 'H1N1'?"- no tricking this girl. So at the news that they had the shot and they wanted Ella to get it she burst into tears. As the nurses (yes, it took 2 and me to hold her down) were giving it she let out the loudest scream I have ever heard. Then we said "Ella, it's over, it's all done" She said very sternly "No it's not!" me- "yes it is, why don't you think it's done?" Ella- "Because it didn't hurt." Apparently the scream was simply in outrage to what was being done.

I have to say that other than the fact that she often makes a simple procedure more difficult by fighting, I am so glad that her personality hasn't changed. I'm glad she hasn't given up fighting for what she wants. She lets adult strangers know that what they are doing is not alright with her. She is one strong little woman! She did win one fight yesterday. They wanted to do another flu swab so they could clear her from isolation. She said she didn't want it and I supported her decision. I'm glad we were able to give her that little victory.