Quick Update

I wanted to just write a quick update as we approach the end of Catherine's treatment - she has 17 days to go and Dave is on his way to Guilford now so that Catherine can get her last dose of Vincristine and start her last 5 day pulse of steroids (now there's a drug I can't wait to see go). Things have been crazy around here - both good and bad. On the very good side, we finally sold our other house. It took 10 months, but it's no longer ours - finally. Such a relief! I have to admit, I was a little sad after I dropped the keys off in the house and drove away for the last time, BUT we really love our new house and plan to be here for the long haul. For anyone who has seen it knows we can definitely grow into this house - with room to spare. In the middle of good and bad - my grandmother passed away. I say in the middle because although it is sad when someone passes away, my grandmother's body outlived her brain for 3 years. She had a massive stroke 3 years ago and her deterioration was very sad to watch. It was actually a blessing that she finally passed. Then of course there's the bad - Catherine had to go to the ER on Good Friday with a fever. Turns out she has RSV (she had it last year too). What stinks is that she has to be isolated at the doctor's office and she can't be around Aidan until she tests negative which could take weeks.
Now since Catherine's diagnosis, everyone in our family has gotten sick (which is normal), but me (normal because I'm a Mom I guess). I would always joke that I would get some raging illness the day after she finished treatment. Well, it came just a bit sooner and I have an upper respiratory infection and a fever. I have actually been running some pretty high fevers (as high as 103) for 2 days! So unusual for an adult. It sucks being sick. The fever hit Wednesday (I actually thought my aches were from Monday's power yoga class!) and Dave was in Vegas for business. Being a sick Mom with 2 young kids is tough because they still need you. So while I was huddled up on the couch, the kids stayed nearby (making a mess). And I still had to make them dinner (PB&J) and put them to bed. So I won't be totally surprised if Catherine does get sick, but I don't want her to feel the way I do. She woke up complaining about her throat so that's not a good sign. I've always been told that the end of treatment is tough and boy were they right. Catherine has been very anemic for 10 straight weeks, she has developed a rash on her face from all the built up methotrexate in her body (ironically, those damn steroids cleared it up a bit), the Vincristine has affected her fine motor skills and she can't hold a pencil correctly and I am starting to notice that one of her ankles turns out when she walks (again, the Vincristine). Dr. Elisha always said these bumps are good so I'll roll with it.

So that's the latest here. Thanks for checking in!

By the way, I haven't posted the pictures from Disney World because we haven't uploaded them to the computer. Hopefully we'll get around to it soon.

An Update to My Update (4/5/08)
Well, as expected Catherine picked up whatever horrible illness I have - although I just read in the paper that Yankee Manager Joe Girardi has it too! Last night her temp went to 104 so Dave and Catherine are at Yale (poor Dave, he was in Vegas for business and came home to all this - I'm sure he can't wait to go back to work Monday). Thankfully Dr. Joe is on call this weekend. He said that Catherine very likely has what I have, but with a fever that high they just can't take the chance that her port might be infected. As an FYI, the port is the primary reason for the hospitalization. Since it is a foreign substance in the body they worry about bacteria attacking it. An infected port is VERY DANGEROUS and it usually means immediate removal. So when she is hospitalized, she is treated with these crazy strong IV antibiotics to treat a possible bacterial infection until they definitely know what is causing the fever. Funny, just about everyone I know from the clinic who finished treatment, finished treatment sick and with a hospital stay - so once again, I take it as the norm which gives me comfort in some warped way. Let's hope the men in our family avoid this plague that has fallen upon our home!