Teusday's Sweet Word: Remission!!!

Happy Teusday!
Happy Treatment Day!

Happy News!

My disease is in REMISSION!!!

We had a rough start to our morning, because we were awakened by thunderstorms. I boarded the trolley during a break in the rain, but the trip to the clinic was encompassed by another band of storms. All of these storms had been predicted for early afternoon, but we should have known that the timeline was expedited at 3am. When we were outside doing mid-night business, the wind was gusting and blowing!

It seems that under the auspices of The Luke, I learned to be mildly thunderphobic. And so it was that...  I was a nervous wreck by the time the trolley pulled into SLVS.

All said, that's a teeny tiny very small trade for the wonderful news that they had for me!!!

The Mom is always nervous on treatment day. Dr. Novosad has asked her to monitor my lymph nodes, and those of you who know her know... boy-o-boy, she does! Having given the disease and its challenges a lot of thought, my the Mom has developed a plan for balance in our everyday life.

(1) She tries not to check me so often that she can't distinguish the difference from one minute to the next. [This is a struggle for a thorough, sweet boy obsessed the Mom. For a while, she was checking me 20 times each: morning, noon and night. Talk about a recipe for crazy...!]

And more importantly (2), The Mom and I vow not to allow the worry of the battle to rob us of our Happiness, Our Good Times, Our Treasured Days Together!!!

Cancer and Worry are the enemies.
And Faith and Hope are our Friends!!!

All that said, my the Mom does monitor me closely. And she has a very intuitive and intimate connection with me. She's very guarded with her hopes and fears, and she very rarely shares them. My results have never been a surprise to her, but she is often surprised when the news is good... and that she is right!

And today... in such a very wonderful way!!!
What a dream come treu...
Remission for The Bleu!!!

My treatment went well today, and I was happy to board the trolley for the trip home! I nibbled on berry treats all the way home, and enjoyed a late breakfast once I deboarded.

Our afternoon was quiet. The Mom slipped away to the grocery store for a quick shop. I supervised some of her chores once she returned. And we enjoyed one of our favorite guilty pleasures... the judge shows!!!

At some point in the afternoon, something mysterious happened. The bandage on my leg disappeared completely. Now... I've never ever been known to do such a thing. Could it be that I allowed Little Reufus to do it??? I join the Mom in hoping that this, too, will pass!

Speaking of RJ, he and the Mom started 'Beginning Competition' tonight. This is him worrying about whether "his trainer" will embarass him tonight!

"Awwwww, the Mom... Please to be real sharp! Please to follow direction! And please to not embarass me... again!!!"

"Ummm.... O... And I have I told you lately that I love you?"

Little Reufus came home thirsty and excited but tired. He told me he played lots of "get it" games of various sorts, and he loved them all. Quick sits and freezes were the focused commands. And there was a lot of emphasis on positioning. He said he did well, but the Mom was a bit challenged in terms of physical coordination!

I enjoyed my time alone with the big bed, the remote, a bowl of fresh waters and an open pantry door!!!

I was told it was a 'no antler' night...

I've protested a bit, but the Mom is concerned about my tummy. I may be ornery, but I also know her love for me. She told me to 'settle' and I did! After all, we've got a big day ahead...

Tomorrow, we're spending the entire day... at home... together!!! I hope we're spending a portion of the day online, giving Santa my wish list and directions to Venison Joe's!!!

And for tonight, we're offering up our Prayers of Gratitude. There is no question, we are blessed! We've got the best medical team in the world behind us, and our The Love Protocol nurtures Our Spirit!!!
Thank Yeu, Team Bleu!!!

Status of The Week With Very Important Prologue

Good Thursday Evening and Happy Friday...
Bring it on!!!

I'm a happy by nature, laid back and silly boy. I'm mild mannered, courteous, gentle and subtle... but if you really know me, you know that I have a big personality and a dry wit.

When I don't feel so good, I get kinda quiet and low key... and my the Mom says I 'shrink'.

My personality crashed along with my the Mom's last December and January, when she and I lost our The Luke. She and I did everything together and over time, we each began to come back to life. Then after some fostering trials and a lot of consideration, we decided to add Reufus to our family.

As The Honeymoon faded, life with Reufus Jackson Wright began to get a little... *scratches head, rubs chin*... let's call it "trying". Little squirt had boundless, uncontrollable energy, recognized no boundaries and had no respect for personal space.

And about that time... My personality shrank. And my the Mom assumed it was because Mister Fabulous was forcing us both out of The Space we called Life.

We invested a LOT of time and energy in restoring BALANCE to our home and family, but I remained reserved and a bit withdrawn... 

And then one Friday, my lymph nodes enlarged. The Mom worried over me until the following Monday when she could schedule an appointment with Our Doctor Mark.

The diagnosis of lymphosarcoma was both dreaded and expected. The Mom intuitively knew... and it had already been revealed to her in the same way it had been with Luke. [Story for another day].

The very worst times for the Mom are those that we call LIMBO.

We made quick work of extended tests and talking all of this over with Dr Novosad, who we already trusted with the Luke's care. And after much thought, discussion and consideration, together we plotted a course of action. We determined a Protocol. And we charged forward.

Over the course of treatment, my personality has BLOSSOMED again! I am fun. I am silly. I am ornery!!! My energy, interest and enthusiasm for Our Life has returned. And my the Mom knows now... I was sick, and not depressed.

Things have been going wonderfully, the results far more beneficial than any of the sacrifice! There isn't a regret in sight, and we have had the highest of Hopes!!!

Test time has come, however... You see, with our chosen Protocol, Week 7 marks a "gate", so to speak. This is the point that Remission is expected, as it is the time when The Enemy has seen all the ammo and all The Troops have to offer. And the rest of the Protocol is ineffective to risky if the stability of Remission hasn't been achieved.

This Past Tuesday marked Week 7 for me. And I didn't make Remission.
The Mom had postively thought herself (which is a feat, as all who know her will testify) into believing all is well and that my lymph nodes felt normal. I'm a BIG, SKINNY boy. Nothing about me can be compared, by touch, with any other boy. And with my personality in full blossom, my energy recharged, and my sense of humor unbridled... She had the highest of hopes.

Dr Novosad questioned the size of the last of the lymph nodes. He measured them with calipers, and then to make sure... he aspirated. And I guess, under the microscope... it is revealed that the disease, the Enemy... is still there.

So, after discussion with my the Mom... the recommendation that Dr N made was for me to postpone my Week 7 treatment... and to receive an injection of Elspar instead.

What, you ask, is Elspar? Elspar [Asparaginase]... is an enzyme that interferes with natural substances necessary for cancer cell growth. It works by killing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.

The initial few hours after the injection were tenous, as anaphylactic shock was a possibility. I tolerated it well, but because I was given a proactive shot of Benadryl, I was a little lethargic for a while. I also had some significant tummy upset... but I'm over it now, and I'm feeling really darn good again!

As happy as I am, and as good as I feel... there still is some pressure on me. If my test results reveal that I'm in Remission next Tuesday, I can resume my chosen Protocol... Week 7.

I hate to even acknowledge the possibility, but if I fall short of my goal again... We will have to plot a new course, try something totally different. And it would be far better in my long run... not to show The Enemy new weapons. I would much prefer to save those for another day. So...

Please to Pray for Me?
Remission is the Key.

Persnickety

I am joyous about the food preparations and servings... but I have an irrational fear about tile floors!

I will eat on the edge of them, but not fully on top of them.

Mom, who welcomes and encourages me ANY and EVERYwhere... thinks I am persnickety, about the tile floors.

And really... I have been encouraged to walk on them, spoken to lovingly and cuddled on them. I sometimes sneak onto them, but feel "caught" when Mom finds me there.

I have been here 8 months, and in that time... she has never scolded me.

That is not to say that she has not been forceful in two commands... "come" and "drop it", but that's because my two favorite games are "hard of hearing" and "chase me"!

Yes. I am ornery.

I'm gradually growing in comfort, though, because in the last month... I've pranced confidently (and absent mindedly) into the bathroom to get loving from the Mom!

You have no idea how BIG that step is for Big Boy Bleu (aka Bleu Bear)!