Cycle 2 Day 1

It's so hard to believe, but we finished the first 84 days of Long Term Maintenance. Wow!! Now we just have 6 more 84 day cycles to go.
Today we went in for a lumbar puncture with methotrexate and Vincristine. Today was Catherine's first LP in 3 months. We've never gone that long between LPs and I have to say I was very nervous that they would find something in her spinal fluid. As far as I know, it was clear, and if something were wrong, I know they would call me immediately so I won't even think about it. Of course wherever there is Vincristine, there is the beginning of a 5 day pulse of steroids. I've already done her first day of it without her realizing it. I stuck it in her PB&J sandwiches. The first dose was just after her LP when she had to lay flat for 45 minutes. She hadn't eaten anything and was hungry. Before I gave her her sandwich, I stuck a pill in it and she ate the whole thing without comment. As I write this, she just finished dinner - another sandwich - and again I decided to stick the pill in it. I watched as she ate and when she ate the piece I had stuck the pill in, she made a face. She then decided not to eat the remaining pieces of her sandwich because her tongue was "spicy". That was definitely decadron spiciness. I can't keep doing this though because I always like to tell her when she is taking medicine and I know if I ask her if I can put it in her PB&J the answer will be no and she will be suspicious every time I make it (she is certainly no dummy).
Catherine's school Christmas concert was this past week. It was so adorable. Some of the kids are such hams. I was a little disturbed to see Catherine fall several times while performing the choreography. It didn't seem right so I asked Dr. Elisha. He and Nurse Jenn just sort of looked at each other and smiled. Apparently, this clumsiness, if that's the right word, is a side effect of the Vincristine. It is very common and should reverse itself when she is done with treatment. I always have to remind myself that despite the fact she hadn't received any Vincristine in almost a month, all this stuff is cumulative and just building up inside of her.
So now we are just waiting for Christmas to come - I can't believe it's just around the corner. The tree and the decorations are up (and I am worried that Alex will soon bring them down) and Catherine has already found some of her gifts (I told her I was saving them for special occasions). Catherine's vacation has already started and she will now be home for 3 weeks! Luckily she has 3 birthday parties next week to pass some of the time as she is perpetually asking me to schedule a playdate for her.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannakah, and may I be the first to say good riddance to 2006!