No More Pins and Needles

July 28, 2006

Lash me to a pole and torture me. I have been home almost 18 hours and have not updated Erin's website. I could barely swim through the hallway this morning when I delivered Erin back to vacation Bible school without stopping to reassure inquiring eyes that our day had gone well yesterday. Erin, Nico, and I dragged our tired, but happy selves back into the Microplex around 5:30 yesterday evening. We brought with us news that Erin's scans remain stable, her counts look fine, and we will start round 8 of oral etoposide on Monday. We will scan again in three (or maybe four) months.

The staff on Erin's pod at Texas Children's Hospital have had a rough summer with new diagnoses and more relapses than usual, so I know that everyone was glad to see a very healthy appearing and very happy Erin Buenger come through with good news on the inside as well.

For any of you who might be interested in honoring Erin by supporting Neuroblastoma research, Nikki, a wonderful young woman is doing a fund-raising blog-a-thon starting
9 am (EST) Saturday, July 29. She will post updates every half hour for 24 hours and will feature different cancer kids and their websites.

Neuroblastoma is a very “under-funded” cancer as far as research dollars go, so your help is extra appreciated.

To read more about Nikki’s efforts and to make a sponsorship donation, go to:
http://bloggingforchristi.blogspot.com and click on “sponsor me.” On the next page, scroll down about halfway and you’ll see the details you need.

I have a bit more to pass on to you, but want to take you off pins and needles by getting this posted as soon as possible. I'll try to post again in a quiet moment this weekend. Until then, thanks for checking in.

Full Week

07/20/06

Erin's blood counts held steady over the last week, helping us to accept that the ditch we hit a week and a half ago was infection related and not tumor related. Everyone who sees her remarks how well she looks. Next Thursday's scans will, of course, show the truth, but I have not started the worryfest. Everything is going too well to run over that already flat rabbit again. Erin lives large considering she is in the midst of her fifteenth month in a row on chemo since relapse.

Last Friday, as the finale to her creative arts camp, Erin performed in the festive, yet poignant, production of "Fat, Fat Jehosophat!" She sang and danced and smiled the whole time. Now, I have to confess, what I knew about Jehosophat before last Friday would have fit in Erin's Barbie's thimble (that would be the now passé Seamstress Barbie). Apparently, Jehosophat was a righteous OT king who required prayer (sincere, heartfelt prayer) from his soldiers before battle. After praying and fasting too long enough to become "Flat, Flat Jehosophat (what a side benefit), his enemies attacked and vanquished each other. Now, I don't know if that sort of dedication could protect folks over in Lebanon or Iraq, but there is a good chance the prayers laid out by our wonderful friends at the Methodist church where Erin had camp last week kept the germs at bay. Pretty good deal!

Last weekend we did our usual weekend stuff, plus a couple of other things. The Tjoelkers made it back to town after their two plus week odyssey to Pittsburg, via Columbus, Ohio (hurray, we survived, although, unfortunately the triops didn't). They made it back just in time for our annual Christmas party Saturday night. Luckily, one of the boys received a new package of triops to start. Quelle coincedence.

Perhaps I toasted too many times on Saturday night because I was barely fifteen minutes into my soccer game on Sunday afternoon when I began feeling very unfit. I tried to pawn it off on the 104 degree weather, but no one was buying it. In the end, I didn't throw up; I did finish the game thanks to strategically placed water breaks; and we only lost 1-0 (our slimmest margin of loss all season).

Davis practiced hard at becoming a college student over the weekend. Rice requires incoming students to read several articles and summit two directed essays about the readings so that someone can determine which English class they should enroll in. They have three days to get it done, and (stereo)typically Davis took it down to the wire. Just when he was on the brink of having to submit a pile of c*&#, the Rice server experienced technical difficulties and the deadline was extended another sixteen hours, giving him a do over instead of the object lesson as I had hoped. Oh well, I have always said it's better to be lucky than good (though perhaps he'd be better off adhering to the corollary that it's best to be both good and lucky).

Wednesday found us heading towards Houston for a non-medical trip. Erin went to spend the day with Aunt Quin at her Education Through Music colloquium. I think they had a blast singing and cavorting and cutting up all day. Davis went along so we could travel in the HOV lane, and also to meet one of his new Rice roommates, Ryan. Ryan's going to run track for Rice next year, and being athletic is only one of many things they seem to have in common. I think it took a lot of the pressure and mystery away for Davis to meet his roommate face-to-face and discover that he wasn't a complete (or even partial) weirdo.

What's next: Davis is counting down--eleven more days of work. Erin has Vacation Bible School all next week, with a side trip to Houston on Thursday for scans. I am checking things off of my summer project list. Walter is looking forward to vacation; we head west towards New Mexico on August 5. Luke and Uma are already getting miserable at the thought of being left here without their people in the dog days of summer, and Willie, blind to that disaster, continues to wreak havok and create disasters of his own each and every day.

Pump Primed

July 13, 2006

Pat yourself on the back. For some reason, after sitting like a bump on a log at the bottom of a bog for three days over the weekend, Erin's white count put on the afterburners and returned to normal this morning (WBC--5100; ANC--2500. You read that right, her ANC is five times higher than it was three days ago.). And we owe it all you Erin Fans who put the big call in to get the pump primed for more bug fighting juice in Erin's marrow. Thank you!

This news relieves no one more than yours truly, who made the call to send Erin to camp this week with 130 other kids. Normal counts today make me look brilliant (and of course, much loved by Erin who would have gladly punished me soundly had I kept her at home all week waiting for definitive news). Had they stayed put, I would have looked stupid and perhaps abusive. What a narrow line cancer parents walk between protecting their kids so they can live and letting them live.

As it is, Erin (I assume, I haven't actually talked to the doc yet) is back on chemo and set for the next two weeks, until we return to Houston for scans. I have been warned that I need to bring a video camera to the camp finale performance tomorrow night to capture Erin's dance. Alas, the highly technical, but gadget-poor Buenger family doesn't own a video cam. Once again we must depend on the kindness of strangers to record the important moments in our lives. We are also expecting the arrival of Walter's sister from California. Hurray!

I have put a picture of Erin with Chet Edwards here, and will also add the link to the photo page.

No Rebounds

July 10, 2006

Things seem a lot quieter around here today. Both sisters and both nieces returned to Garland yesterday. We've shoved the extra mattresses back under the beds, taken Raffi out of the CD player, and returned the borrowed baby equipment (and managed to do it without renting a U-Haul). Erin had great fun with both Emma and Annabelle despite the large age gap among the cousins. We kept it pretty low key for the Fourth of July, but did manage to get some swimming and movie watching in later in the week.

I really had few expectations about Erin's blood counts last Friday. I thought we might see high numbers inflated by antibiotics or steady numbers since we were early in this cycle of chemo. I never expected borderline neutropenic (ANC=500) and self-imposed house arrest for the weekend. I made the tech run the sample a second time (ANC=400). Oops. I talked (bribed) Erin into a venopuncture (ANC=300). Double oops. I tried to convince myself that I just caught her in the trough following an illness and that Monday would bring better number. I even entertained the thought that the machine had validity and reliability issues.

Erin did not take the news well. Believe it or not, Erin was invited to a birthday party on Saturday (not unlike every other Saturday for a long time). Walter and I played the heavy and made her stay home. We rented Wallace and Grommit and some other less palatable kids films. We tried to remember the rules of neutropenia (the only one that readily came to mind was the one about repeat handwashing, so based on the notion of cleanliness being next to Godliness, we proceeded to act like obsessive-compulsive handwashers for the next three days).

We returned for more blood work this morning, convinced we were going to see the biggest rebound since Dennis Rodman retired from the Detroit Pistons. "Uh oh." I looked the print out and then at the technician. "Did you hand me the results from last Friday? These look very familiar. . .Oh, these are today's?" Seeing numbers in the same ranges as last Friday left us with a tough decision. Do we continue the self-imposed house arrest or let Erin attend Creative Arts Camp? What would you do? We armed her with her own personal bottle of hand soap and sent her off to camp. We'll check her blood again on Thursday. In the meanwhile chemo is still on hold.

What does this all mean? First, it makes us a little nervous to delay treatment for a week, but we did it last fall when Hurrican Rita closed down the clinic with no ill effect. Since we have scans scheduled in a little over two weeks, I don't think the decision will have much effect and will hopefully give her counts a chance to recover on their own.

Why did her counts fall? I have three thoughts about that. 


1. Erin has been sicker then usual this summer (first the lung gunk (post Disney) then the ear infection (post DC trip). Her immune system may just need time to recover. 
2. We have been poisoning her with chemo for 14 months ,and her immune system has taken a hit and will continue to drop lower and take longer to recover, regardless of the number of germs she encounters. 
3. Something (tumorwise) is going on causing her counts to drop.

At this point I am pulling strongly for #1, discounting #3 because her other counts like hemoglobin and platelets are normal and don't seem to be crowded out by tumor cells in the marrow, etc., and hoping we don't have to face either #2 or #3 ever or at least for a very long time.

I checked on thomas.loc.gov this weekend and was pleased to learn that Chet Edwards, true to his word to Erin, joined the list of Congressional co-sponsors for the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2006. If your representative is not on this list, you should write or call them and ask why not.

I'll close for now, but will not leave you hanging for a week or ten days before I update the status of Erin's immune system.

Where Is Lassie When You Need her?

July 1, 2006

Clinic went well on Thursday. Erin checked out fine for another round of oral etoposide (we'll scan on July 27 to check if Erin's lung gunk has resolved and if the tumor is still cooperating). The nurse practitioner also found two infected ears, which explained Erin's somewhat sluggish week. I promptly announced a moratorium on plane trips for the rest of the year. Erin has picked up some sort of floating virus both times we've flown in the last month, and given her compromised immune system, I think it best to avoid the germs.

Despite her less than stellar health, Erin made it to three days of music camp this week and has thoroughly enjoyed Mary Beth and Rachel, who are visiting their grandparents (who live next door). Their visit has taken the edge off of Nico's departure for an almost three week trip to the northeast. We are babysitting his triops (and Elaine, if you happen to check the website while you are gone, try to prepare the boys for there being one fewer triop than when you left. The smaller one died overnight on Friday.).

Aunt Kat and Emma have managed to fit in another trip down to Bryan, and if things work out, we may get to keep Emma for awhile. Luckily, she is a sweet and low-maintenance girl, because odds are, I have forgotten even the basics of toddler care. It may be just what I need to get back into the swing of things. Here is the latest Vickie funny. Last Saturday Erin went to an out-of-town birthday party all day. Davis worked, and Walter drove to a family get together in Taylor. I can't remember the last time I had the house to myself on a Saturday with nothing important hanging over my head. I had the day mapped out in my mind, starting with spreading wet newspaper in a flower bed I planned to rehabilitate. Within minutes of starting, I turned the wrong way and got stuck on my hands and knees in the middle of the back yard. By some freak accident, my back no longer supported me, but instead became a throbbing set of spasming muscles. Willie thought I had dropped to my knees to play with him, so he didn't listen when I asked him to go get my mother next door. I think he saw my pleas as a request for face licking and crotch sniffing, which he complied with cheerfully. Where is Lassie when you need her? Eventually, my mom did go into her backyard to do some watering, and I got her attention and with her help eventually hobbled inside. I have had to take it a bit slow ever since. Each day I have improved and am hoping to convince Walter that I am fit for my soccer match tomorrow night.

Speaking of soccer, most of you probably think that Davis has finally put soccer behind him. Not true. He got picked up by Arsenal in the local Division II league and had two games this week. On Thursday he netted the go ahead goal in a tight game with a left-footed shot that rivaled Maxi Rodriguez's beauty in World Cup play last week. Speaking of which, Davis and I put our fandom behind England after the US failed to qualify. They went down on penalty kicks this morning, losing to Portugal. Rooney's mom should have taught him that stepping on an opponent's crotch was bad manners, then he would not have been ejected from the game at just the wrong moment. Oh well. I guess we will switch loyalties yet again. What do you think? Germany? France? Brazil? Italy? Definitely not Portugal.

Several people have asked if I really thought Chet Edwards listened to us. Some even implied that he may have just been a skilled politician. I'll let you decide. Erin received a handwritten letter from him this morning:

Dear Erin,
It was a joy and inspiration to meet you, because you are a beautiful girl, inside and out!
I have told my wife and my two sons, J.T. (10) and Garrison (8) about you and maybe some day when we are in Brazos County, my family and I can take you to lunch and J.T. can introduce his teddy bear to yours.
Until then, thank you for coming to visit me and please know that you will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Your Friend,
Chet
P.S. What was your teddy bear's name?

He also included a large photo his staffer took of him and Erin in his office last week. He signed it:

To Erin,
I believe God smiled when he brought you into this world. Your courage and sparkle for life have touched my heart. As my new friend, you will be in my thoughts and prayers, always! Chet Edwards

I also learned in an e-mail from his director of constituent services, he has also instructed his staff that any mail he gets from Erin goes directly to him without being opened or screened by anyone. He has also secured one of the flags that flew over the capitol the day we visited and is having it sent to her in honor and remembrance of her visit. Perhaps he is a skilled politician, but he seems like a kind man to us.

Priceless

June 23, 2006

I sometimes wonder what the gelcap Erin takes every day actually has inside. Certainly, it has some anti-tumor something, because her tumor is keeping its head down. But could that be all? Consider her schedule for the last week:

Last Saturday--ninth birthday party (lake swimming with 18 of her best friends), plus a sleepover

Last Monday--shopping for a kicky outfit to wear to Washington (successful)

Last Tuesday--fly to Washington DC (first flight cancelled for equipment issues; second flight delayed because of weather). Total travel time: 12 hours.

Last Wednesday--lobby on Capitol Hill--6 meetings. (missed departure flight; caught later flight--no seats available for College Station, so Walter picks us up at Intercontinental in Houston; arrive home at midnight)

Last Thursday--depart for Houston at 7:30 (a.m.) for a day with her church group at the Houston Aquarium

Yesterday--errands, including blood counts (white count has finally returned to the normal range--first time since we returned for Disney), and an evening festivities at the Tjoelkers

Today--leave for Temple at 8:00 (again, in the morning) for a birthday party at a horseback riding school plus swimming. When she returns at 4:00 she will go to a second birthday party/sleepover

Are you feeling sluggish in comparison?

Let me tell you a little more about Gold Ribbon Days and our visit with Chet Edwards. We had meetings scheduled with staffers and aides from the following offices: Kay Bailey Hutchison (her staff calls her Senator KBH), John Cornyn, Joe Barton, and Kay Granger. We actually got the see Chet himself.

He met us at the door, brought us in to his office, sat Erin down right next to him at the conference table, and proceeded to share Skittles with her while he listened attentively and took notes for the next 40 minutes. Twice his staffers slipped in and tried to move him along to his next appointment, but he brushed them off so he could continue to listen to what we had to say. He asked intelligent questions. When he had heard what I had to say, he looked me in the eye and told me we could count on his support for the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2006.

Two planes tickets to DC: $950
A night in the Holiday Inn in the nation's capitol: $198
Meals and snacks in various airports while waiting for flights: $40
Having a Congressman listen: priceless

We Speak for Ourselves and Others

June 19, 2006

Erin's party was blessed. We got much needed rain on Friday night and Saturday morning, and plentiful sun by party time. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: Erin has great friends, and we never take for granted the time we get to spend with them. Thanks to everyone for making it such a special day.

But On To The Business At Hand. . .

Erin and I leave tomorrow for Gold Ribbon Days in Washington, D.C. We plan to make the best of our time and hope to bring a piece of our lives to the men and women who make our laws and govern our country. You all know our story, and most of you agree that we have a story worth telling. I want to introduce you to some of the young cancer patients we have met along the way.

The first is Hannah. Hannah lives in Tomball with her parents and older sister. She is one of Dr. Russell's patients and was diagnosed at age 2, right around the time Erin was diagnosed. She had a very rough time with treatment. She lost her hearing and one kidney. The other kidney struggles. She spent a lot more time in ICU than Erin, but like Erin, always left the hospital with a beautiful smile on her face. I remember that she wore the cutest outfits with matching hats that her father sewed for her. She has just learned that her permanent teeth have no root development because of the harsh chemo she received. Her family hopes that the scans she has scheduled for today and tomorrow will confirm the good news that she is still cancer free.

Ryan, AKA Batman, is another one of Dr. Russell's patients. This boy charms all the nurses at Texas Children's and attacks the world each day with vigor and a terrific sense of fun. Ryan is just drawing near the end of his treatment and is also having scans this week that will hopefully bring tears of joy and relief to his parents. Ryan has had to follow his own path because his body couldn't produce enough stem cells to risk transplant. This has meant extra rounds of chemo instead of transplant. He has also had to have around 50 transfusions just to make it through to this point. Imagine having to keep up with a high energy superhero who is continually on the low side for platelets!

We'd also like you to meet Colby. Colby is just finishing the second leg of his tandem stem cell transplant this week. His mom and dad hope they can make it back to College Station by Wednesday with their precious cargo. The pictures on his website tell the whole story of a much loved little boy who is fighting his hardest to throw off the cancer monster and return to what children do best: playing.

Our friend Razak, with his sparkling eyes and upbeat attitude, seems like he has licked the beast. He has welcomed a new little brother in to his life and is ready to put cancer behind him. We think he is a great model to follow.

There are also children with compelling stories whom we have not met, but whom we follow because we share something in common. Christi Thomas is Erin's age, with Erin's spunk. She was diagnosed right around the time Erin was, but unfortunately has never been able to enjoy even a day where her doctors declared that she was No Evidence of Disease. Despite that she leads a full (full with a capital FULL) life and meets her challenge head on. Her website is one of the spiffiest around. Since April most of the new news has been put on the link marked Blog. Brian from Oklahoma is a tad younger than Erin but has had a very similar experience and is currently on the same roadmap that Erin is following. Spencer lives in Canada and his father's blog makes you laugh even in the face a Spencer's numerous set backs. Sarah also has a parent who captures the pediatric cancer experience eloquently.

I know you can't spend your entire day in front of the computer, but I'd like it if you would take some time to browse. We are representing these children and their families when we fly out tomorrow, and I want you to know who we are speaking for.

Even Walter Noticed

June 13, 2006

Okay, okay, okay. When even Walter notices I haven't updated the web site lately, it's time to get back to work.

It took Erin a full week and a full-strength Z-Pak to get back on top of her game after the Disney World trip, but by the beginning of last week she had turned the corner, with renewed energy, renewed appetite, and renewed spirit to attack the summer with vigor. I have to admit that had she not had stable scans on the previous Monday, I would have taken myself into orbit. She had all of the telltale signs of relapse: low grade fever, back pain, loss of the Erin sparkle. The look inside let me take a much calmer outlook. She was just sick. And now she's better.

Erin completely enjoyed soccer camp at Texas A&M last week. Her small group leader all week was Ashlee Pistorius, who has garnered this list of awards in her first year at A&M (the website hasn't been updated with her sophomore accomplishments, but I know she was the team"s leading scorer and Offensive MVP last season):

• Soccer Buzz 3rd Team All-American
• NSCAA All-Central Region
• Soccer Buzz 1st Team All-Central Region
• Soccer Buzz National Freshman of the Year Finalist
• Soccer Buzz 1st Team Freshman All-American
• Soccer Buzz Central Region All-Freshman Team
• Soccer Buzz Central Region Freshman of the Year
• 2nd Team All-Big 12
• Big 12 All-Newcomer Team
• Big 12 All-Tournament Team
• Big 12 Rookie of the Year
• Three-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week (9/13/04, 9/28/04, 10/12/04)
• Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week (9/13/04)

What an honor and a privilege for Erin to work with her all week in a group with just 6 other nine-year olds. It almost made me weep to hear her praise Erin and say how heroic she was.

Davis made his final trip to Mo Ranch as a youth last week. He fully enjoyed the beauty and comradierie of this 9th summer camp, and knows he is leaving something behind that he can't return to as he moves into adulthood. Speaking of which. He made his first (of many?) bonafide research trip of his life. He is in Louisiana measuring pine tree respiration (or something).

I am in the full stream of summer school. Tomorrow is the halfway point, and I am feeling confident that I will survive. I did complicate my life somewhat by moving offices last week at work, but my view has improved considerably and it gave me a chance to do a bit of housekeeping.

Erin's social calender is filling up rapidly. Ayesha is here for the week to help her plan and prepare for the Big Number 9 Birthday Party on Saturday. We hope the lake won't dry up by then. Erin's big pay-off for enduring the dreaded port removal surgery in March was that she wanted a swim-in-the-lake party for the party theme. On her actual birthday (next Tuesday) she and I are flying to Washington D.C. for Gold Ribbon Days. We will visit as many congressmen and women and staffers as we can and tell them about the need for funding for pediatric cancer. I am sure she will put a great face on childhood cancer for those lawmakers and staffers who think they can think dispassionately about the topic.

I will try to be more dutiful about keeping you all filled in. It's just that during the summer, I can always think of more excuses not to sit at my computer.

Business As Usual

05/31/06


My philosophy of not using up good luck on smooth sailing through scan day worked again yesterday (I'm starting to re-think this a little, given the magnitude of the unpleasantness of our afternoon.  We had a continual string of bad luck from the drive to Houston and beyond, which included sorry weather, construction, and so many delays once we got to the hospital that we didn't even get to see Dr. Russell before she left for the day).  When she called this morning with nothing but positive news about Erin's scans, I wasn't surprised.  The bone scan was normal, and the CT scan was stable or perhaps even improved.  Erin did have some gunky stuff in her lungs (evidence that she caught a bad cold last week when we visited The Germiest Place in the World).  We have signed up for another couple of rounds of oral etoposide and will scan again in late July (so we can get that done without having to miss school).


Thanks for checking in with us, for holding us up while we waited for scan results, and for celebrating with us over the good news.  I'm going to take Erin to the pediatrician tomorrow and hopefully he will prescribe a Z-Pak (antibiotics) to take care of her lung gunk.  Otherwise, it's business as usual.

Erin Reports on Disney

05/27/06


We made it back to the Microplex last night in time to hit the sack in preparation for an early call this morning.  Davis graduated at 9:00 (in the A.M.), so the seat savers had to start saving seats by 8:00.  I can't possibly be old enough to have a college-bound high school graduate, but all the folks sitting around me looked pretty ancient cheering their high school seniors across the stage.   We made a date with Davis to do this again in four years, with built-in incentives for early completion (remember, in the college tuition world TIME IS MONEY).  Davis had a great attitude about the whole thing.  He wasn't too sentimental or morose over leaving buddies behind.  He took it as intended, as a commencement.  I think we will all follow suit and start our lives anew this morning.


I read in USA Today yesterday that more people choose Disney World, Orlando for their vacation destination than anywhere else in the country.  We, along with about one million other folks per day, can attest to that.  On the trip home, I told Erin that I would turn the website over to her, so she could tell you about our week at Disney.  Here's her story in her own words in purple (with my smarmy comments in their usual color and font):

Being up at 4:00 is hard enough, but when you have to be up at 4:00 to drive to the airport by 5:00 and your jet takes off at 6:00, you're kinda tired.  Well...that is what we did.  I got the window seat on the flight to Houston.  Nico got it on the flight to Orlando.  We arrived smoothly, although we had a little trouble finding the bus (you'd think that wouldn't be too difficult, seeing how big they are, but somehow, if you are looking for a bus with 20,000 of your closest friends the buses tend to get lost in the shuffle).  Check in was fine.  By then we were starving (not an overstatement), so we ate some flat bread pizza and took a look at our villa.  After that it was "parks here we come."  

We went to Animal Kingdom first.  We went to Dinoland while mother got the golden ticket situation under control (this is where I presented the doctor's note which turned into a Guest Assist Pass for us to flash at rides, etc. so we could avoid lines as much as possible.  This ragged piece of paper is my one and only sourvenir from the trip, because it reminds me of how much more fun everything is if your patience isn't continuously tested by how long you are willing to wait to have said fun).  We saw a life-sized model of the world's most complete t-rex.  It was a girl, but I don't remember her name.  Mom found us after that, and we went on a spinning roller coster for kids called the Time Machine.  Then we started walking to one of the Animal Kingdom lands, looking for something interesting.  We found, after a few walks around and a few rides, the best ride (in my opinion) Mount Everest.  You go backwards on this and down really fast. 


Those were the two hits for Animal Kingdom (Time Machine and Mount Everest).  We did a lot more, but it is too much to put down and fit.  We went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.  The line was long, so we sat at the bar (guess whose idea this was?).  I had cocoanut shrimp which was pretty good.  We went home, and I was the first to bed.


Well, we slept pretty good that night conisdering that Nico hogged the covers, and I nearly pushed him off the bed in my sleep.  We woke up, had a bit of cereal and toast, and got ready to go to the Magic Kingdom.  We got there and went straight to the Haunted Mansion.  I had ridden this at Disneyland and thought we should start with one that we knew was fun.  After that we learned that many of the rides we were looking forward to (Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain were closed for the moment), so we went on other rides.  I think that Nico's favorite spot was Tomorrowland.  He like the race cars and Space Mountain.  You can drive your own race car on a track and you can feel what it's like.  I wasn't really big enough to push the gas and steer without being uncomfortable, but I loved Space Mountain as much as Nico did.  It's a ride that has many turns and not too many downs.  Its all inside and mostly dark.  We tried to end the day with one final ride on Space Mountain, but it shut down while we were in line.  That made us late to the parade and we didn't get very good seats.  Mom and dad had choice seats but we couldn't get to them.  We went home, and again I was first to bed.


We slept in a little bit on Wednesday because we were going to a water park and it didn't open so early.  We got our bathing suits on and headed out.  We went into the wave pool as soon as we got there and that was our first big mistake.  Mom had one rule at the water park:  we had to stick together.  Davis, Nico, and I went out into the water while mom got situated.  Nico was braver and pressing forward, I was lagging a little.  We broke the only rule.  Nico got hit by the wave and lost his footing and had to be rescued by a lifeguard.  He was more careful after that, especially because they closed down the wave maker for about twenty minutes after it happened.  We went on some slides next:  three curvy ones and three that went straight down four stories.  After that we ate our picnic, then did the tube rides.  Davis had enough and took off for a nap.  We rode the water roller coaster and the slides again before heading back to our villa.


We took a little rest and went to Epcot for the evening.  We entered by the big golf ball.  We looked at some of the inventions and games, but kept walking towards our dinner restaurant.  Mom and I got sidetracked down the butterfly exhibit, but made it to the Chinese Restuarant in time.  After the Chinese restaurant where I had soup and sesame chicken, we went to Norway, rode the Viking ride, and watched the show.  We wondered around some more and stopped for a longer stay in Japan where we made masks.  We caught up with Davis and dad in time for the big fireworks show.  By squeezing in between some people's legs we were able to see a magnificent fireworks presentation.  We went home and zonked out.


The next day was our last day in the parks.  We went back to the Magic Kingdom and rode every ride there.  We didn't watch ANY SHOWS.  While we were riding It's A Small World, Nico and I turned into fourth graders.  We celebrated afterwards with ice cream (for me and mom) and a popsicle (for Nico).  We rode Space Mountain three more times, and mom even rode it twice.  We went home and zonked out. 


Friday we had to get up early to have our suitcases ready.  It took all day to get home.


Well, that pretty much covers it.  Except the part that Walter and Davis take a slow start to the day everyday, work out in the spa and fitness center, stroll across the canal to Downtown Disney for a civilized lunch, and join us later for the evening activities.  It didn't bother me a bit.  I had my coffee and chocolate chip cookie every morning.  That's the good life.  It's a perfect vacation where everyone gets to do what they want.  The amazing thing about this vacation is the generosity that begat it.  I do not know who treated us to this getwaway, which is great.  It means that I can look in each person's face at church and believe that it could be that person who loved us enough to give us this treat.  You would be amazed at how different it feels when you assume the very best about every single person you meet.


Tuesday we will get back to the grind.  Davis has wrangled himself two pretty decent part time jobs (one working at a forestry experiment, the other in a pathology lab at the med school).  Summer school starts for me bright and early Tuesday morning, and of course Walter faces a hip-high mound of paper work as soon as he darkens the door of his office.   As soon as class is over on Tuesday, I'll grab Erin and make a run to Houston for Erin's quarterly scans and a clinic appointment.  I will post results when I hear them, but with the Memorial Day holiday, Tuesday is likely to be swamped down.  We're hoping for stable or improved.

Full Speed Ahead

05/15/06


The count down has begun.  In six days, seventeen hours we will leave for the airport and head out on big adventure.  We'll leave the drudgery behind.  We won't think about summer school which rears its ugly head a mere week later.  We'll chuck the chores and can the commitments.  We won't do wash for a week.  Yep.  That's the way it's going to be, if. . .

• if Davis can work out the details of exempting finals (apparently missed finals count as absences that affect his exemption from the finals that he will be exempt from but missing?)
• if Erin can shake the virus that hit last week (keeping her home from school on Monday and Tuesday and setting off a flaming ear infection by Thursday afternoon.  Can you say high dose antibiotics?)
• if the dogs pose no more unexpected health challenges (what kind of sick-humored vet ordains that even though you live on a lake, you must keep your two lab-mix dogs dry, ALL THE TIME.  Talk about a Herculean task.  I think I'd rather clean the Augean stalls.)
• if I can get enough clothes clean and dry, given that I no longer have a functioning dryer
• if I can get my summer school course material in a presentable form
  

Oh well, no telling what delinquency I'd have my nose in if I didn't have something to keep me busy.  You know what they say about idle hands (although, I think I might like to try the devil's workshop just once).

The last week has flown by.  Softball season wrapped up (at least for Erin who will miss rainout make-ups next week).  Davis knocked off three AP tests and feels like they all went very well.  I plowed through my stacks of finals and got grades turned in without too much sweat.  Walter continued to attend meetings at a heady clip.  Add in the care and maintenance of a toddler and someone just released from a hospital stay, and you just about have par for the course at our house.

Seriously, Erin enjoyed nursing Aunt Kat (if watching movies and working sudoku puzzles really constitute nursing) and thought having a little sister in the house was the grandest.  Kat got stronger under her capable care and got back home on Saturday in time to be pampered for Mother's Day.  It rained again this year for Mother's Day here, which canceled my soccer (bummer), but let us all move at a more leisurely pace.  The children's choir sang at worship on Sunday morning, but I didn't use good judgment in choosing my seat and could only catch glimpses of my precious daughter.  Davis put the icing on the cake by highlighting bunches of my favorite songs during Beyond Guitar.  Who needs an ipod when the local deejay plays just what you want?

Remember to think of us on May 30 when we return to Houston for scans (CT and bone scan).  I am not nearly as panicked as I was headed into scans three months ago, probably because Erin is continuing a known treatment rather than switching things around.  Nevertheless, I am going to cross my fingers and push my thumbs for clear or stable scans, and we ask you to do the same. 

I wish Erin hadn't taken sick last week, but no one promises that cancer children get to forego normal childhood illnesses.  She is feeling better now, still sniffly and not completely up to par, but on the road to recovery.  I know it won't hold her back from enjoying Disney to the fullest.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

05/05/06

Happy Cinco de Mayo.  For the first time since Erin was diagnosed in 2002, we are home on the fifth of May!  And what fine kettle of fish have the Buengers gotten themselves into lately?  Well, even when left to their own devices, they have not produced trouble to any great extent.  Relay for Life had an early ending last Friday because of the incoming thunder and lightning storm, leaving Erin with only 21 (five and a quarter miles) laps under her belt.  Her school’s team raised over $6000 (obviously, can recycling wasn’t the only fundraiser.  I heard that a couple of teachers raised $400 with a rousing evening of chicken-poop bingo.  For you city slickers, this is a game of chance where intrepid betters attempt to predict where a hen contained in a raised wire cage will drop her next load, so to speak.  As the nation’s interest in Texas Hold ‘Em wanes, look for Texas Chicken-Poop Bingo to show up on ESPN2.  The concepts of waiting for The River and staying in for the Flop will take on whole new meaning.)    

Clinic on Monday went well.  I hadn’t realized when I set up the appointment that BISD had scheduled a teachers’ work day for Monday.  Since nobody but Walter had class, we practiced for summer vacation.  For me, this meant having a warm chocolate chip cookie with my morning coffee.  For Erin, it meant a trip to the local pool before heading to Houston.  For Davis, it meant he could go to work (oops, that doesn’t sound like so much fun).  Erin’s counts were strong, and her doctor gave her the okay for another round of etoposide with the hopes that this easy-to-handle drug will keep Erin’s neuroblastoma dormant (indolent, lackadaisical, inactive, quiescent, etc.) for a long, long time.  So I guess our revised mantra is 

Shrink, Shrink, Shrink
Die, Die, Die
Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

(Definitely not as blood curdling or satisfying to shout as the original)

Word must have gotten out that Walter liked committee meetings and needed more of them.  Last week, the church nominating committee tapped him (and several other poor souls who didn’t hide quickly enough) for the Pastor Nominating Committee.  Seriously, choosing a new pastor is very important, and we feel grateful that Erin’s health is good enough for Walter to feel comfortable taking on such a big commitment and that we can, in a small way, return something back to the church community that has lifted us up so many times during our journey.  

Wednesday brought my sister Kat and my niece Emma back to town.  Kat had sudden onset pneumonia last weekend, and we plan on taking good care of her and spoiling Emma until she recuperates.  Erin gets her wish to have a baby sister the easy way (no nine-month delay).  Davis adds another listener to his radio audience.  Walter has an excuse for buying that 12-pack of Michelob on sale at Albertson’s.  And me?  I just get my baby sister to torment.  Remember, I’m the big sister, and there is nothing she can do to change that.

Some third graders I know (code-named Erin and Nico) have begun to get excited about the upcoming foray into the Magical Kingdom.  Little do they know that Erin’s doctor has performed the ultimate magic before we have even left town.  She provided us with a letter, explaining to the folks at Disney that Erin really needed to avoid the germiest parts of the park.  I understand this means that we will soon become the ultimate line breakers, moving to the front of the line without waiting our turn.  Aack!  What does this teach our children about fairness and equity?  Maybe the same thing that being targeted by cancer in the first place teaches them.  Not everything is fair and equitable.

What’s coming up?  Willie is scheduled to lose his manhood next Thursday and will, no doubt, need pampering.  Davis’s intramural basketball team remains undefeated and is on a collision course with the other unbeaten team.  He pulled down twelve rebounds and scored two points this morning.  A little unbalanced, don’t you think?  I’ll remind him at dinner tonight that he needs to brush up on the defensive end of the court.  That ought to go over well.  Erin will return to clinic the May 30, the Monday after our Disney trip, for a CT scan and bone scan, plus a consult with the doctor.  Until then, we will wind down the school year.  I’m going to practice this evening, by sitting on the dock and watching the snapping turtles glide by.

E.R.I.N.

04/25/06


On Sunday, we collected ourselves and returned home from various points beyond.  Erin packed in the fun at Mo Ranch, including a sled ride down the 38 foot slide into the Guadalupe River on Saturday afternoon.  Afterwards, she said it was not the scariest thing she had ever done, and in my heart I knew she spoke the truth.  We spent most of the daylight hours outside--swimming, horse-back riding or just kicking around--but in the evenings we matched the fun level playing games and visiting in the Guest Lodge where we stayed (I can't say where we slept, since we actually didn't get much sleep in).  Apparently, Davis had even less sleep than we did, as he reported that he had the FULL college experience at Owl Weekend.


Erin went to school for half a day before we left on Friday.  We couldn't leave earlier because of the awards ceremony at her school.  Erin received an award for Outstanding Accomplishments in PE and proudly grabbed her award, shook hands with the principal, smiled for the camera, and took a seat on the stage with Walter.  She cheered wildly when both Nico and Jesse received awards for great writing from their 3rd Grade Teacher, the marvelous Mrs. Jennifer Steen.  What she didn't know was that she was receiving a second award, one that took Mrs. Steen quite a long time to describe.  You see it saluted her great reading (she has accumulated more Accelerated Reader points than anyone else in her grade) and writing skills, her across-the-board academic accomplishments (all A's, every subject, every six weeks), and a special E.R.I.N. Recognition for her Energy, Responsibility, Integrity, and Never-Flagging Enthusiasm.   What an amazing thing to have a teacher recognize the wonderful things in your child that you see!

 
As long as I'm on a roll with this update, let me share another jaw-dropping, unbelievable wonderful thing that is happening to our family (after Erin was diagnosed, I never knew how many times each day I  would step back and think how lucky I was).  A pair of anonymous benefactors (a couple from our church) wanted to do something for our whole family.  So, Vickie, you just won the Super Bowl (or something), where are you going?  To Disney World.  We leave on May 22 and will get back on the 26th, just in time for Davis's graduation on the 27th.  This is a first for us, and you can not really imagine how excited Erin is (especially since we are capturing Nico and taking him along. . .generous, yes, but also self-interested.  He will join Erin on all the fast rides and roller coasters that no one else in the family will have anything to do with).  We are humbled and awed by this excessively gracious offer.   If our trip angel is reading this, Thank You.  We will take pictures, so you can see the blissful smiles on our faces.

04/21/06


The Buengers are headed in three different directions this weekend.  In a couple of hours, I'm driving Davis to Houston for Owl Weekend.  This is not birdwatching, per se (though I suspect he will keep his eye out for interesting chicks), but rather an orientation weekend at Rice.  Davis will get to attend class, go to mixers, and take advantage of college stuff.  I hope to make it back for Erin's softball game this evening.  Tomorrow, she and I will pack up and head west, past Austin, past Kerrville, past Hunt, to Mo Ranch for a weekend retreat and plunge in to the Guadalupe River (Brrrr, I'm shivering just thinking about it.).  Walter will pick Davis up on Saturday, but in the meantime is guarding the homestead.  Tough duty, the bulk of which entails him making sure that Willie gets enough exercise that he doesn't rip the fabric off the sofa when no one is watching.  Walter also has Luke-nursing duty.  That's right, the $6 million dog has once again raised the bar.  He has an ear hematoma, which will probably require surgery on Monday (why didn't I buy dog health insurance when I had the chance?).


Erin's oral chemo continues to amaze us.  Her counts this morning (Day 11 of 21) were all in the normal range:  


WBC:  4.7
ANC:  3.3
HBG:  13.5 (Wow, I need to make sure she gets some exercise before sticking her in the car for five hours tomorrow.)
PLT:  261


Everything else is rocking along smoothly.  Easter was blessed at our house.  Davis gave the sermon at the sunrise service and really spoke from the heart.  We beamed with pride from the second row.  Easter egg hunting was still popular (who's surprised?), and the Luquette sister weekend was less mapcap than usual.


The week, since then, has progressed fairly peacefully.  I am still in the midst of grading (but making daily progress).  Erin's softball is about half way through.  Davis started work last week and hates the tedium of it already (I hope he remembers that when it comes time to choose between studying and partying next fall).  Walter is wrapping up the term and hoping to avoid extraneous meetings.   My Uncle John breezed into town for his 50th class reunion festivities at A&M, and it was great to catch up with him even if the visit was brief. 


Talk to you all real soon!

Normal Every Day Stuff

04/13/06


Erin's Relay for Life Team is really gearing up.  They are still collecting cans and have sponsored three Hat Days at Mary Branch, where students pay (a quarter for themselves or $5 for their whole class) for the privilege of wearing a hat all day at school.  Since hats are usually verboten, the response to this opportunity has been quite thunderous.


Relay is on the last Friday of April (two weeks from tomorrow).   Part of the event is a luminary ceremony.  Anyone in the community can buy a luminary for a donation of at least $5 In Honor Of or In Memory Of someone who has or had cancer.  During the ceremony, the lights are extinguished, except for the candles in the luminaries.  All the Relay participants walk laps around the track, while an announcer speaks the names of the survivors and angels being honored.


I have luminaries available for you to buy for anyone in your life who has met cancer face-to-face.  Let me know, and I will get the bag(s) to you so you can decorate them if you would like.

In other news, Erin continues to prosper on this regimen.  Her counts yesterday were all in the normal range, and she no longer has to wear a jacket everyday to keep warm.  She is thrilled that Aunt Kat and Emma have arranged their schedule for a full week visit.  Aunt Elisabeth and Annabelle will arrive on Friday for the full-blown extravaganza.  Davis celebrated his birthday in style with a dinner on Monday night, a cake on Tuesday, and gift opening continuing as the week progresses.  The only downer was that he got notice to register for the selective service in the mail yesterday.   Aack!  I'll have to pay even closer attention to that crazy president of ours and make sure he doesn't start (another) war that would require a military man-power build up.  Walter may be reaching the end of his recruiting season.  Willie, Luke, and Uma are figuring out how to live and let live.  Me?  I'm in the April grading jag.  Two more weeks of classes, then finals.

Wait! Wait!

04/11/06


Happy Birthday, Davis.  I still remember clearly, the evening eighteen years ago, when the nurses took me into a little exam room (we had reserved the birthing suite, but didn't have time for the staff to set it up).  They kept saying "Wait.  Wait.  Dr. Montgomery will be here is just a minute."  They were shoving carts of instruments around the room and generally looking quite busy.  You wouldn't wait.  And so, there you were wrapped in a little blanket, staring up at me, just forty-five minutes after we pulled up to the ER.  Your dad barely made it back in time from moving the car out of the ambulance lane to witness your arrival.  We adored you at that moment and every moment since. 

Willie and Other Delights

04/03/06


We have settled on a name for the puppy:  Willie (short for Will Rice, where Davis will live next fall, which is short for William Marsh Rice).  This moniker opens up all kinds of possibilities for fun.   It started out as a continued plea from the kids:  "Willie (get it?  Will he?) stay or willie go?"  Now that we've settled that question, we have gone on to other versions.  When he's bad on the carpet we can call him Wee Wee or say "Whoopsie Willie."  When he does something clever (we're still waiting) he's Slick Willie.  When he insists on NOT COMING when we call, we sing "Little Willie, Willie won't (pause) go home, but you can't push Willie round, Willie won't go."  (For those more youthful types, this is a lyric from a smarmy pop song from decades ago. . .probably a one hit wonder.)  Erin, by the way, isn't really in the spirit.  She insists on the more formal "William" most of the time, even when he is not in trouble.   I think she was holding out for "Jo Jo," which had possibilities, or "Brownie," favored by my mother on the premises that we could always have a laugh when we stared down at a Willie mess and said "Heckuva job, Brownie!"

Erin has clinic in Houston this afternoon.  Hopefully, it will be a quick in and out, with everyone remarking on her vibrant health and rosie cheeks.  Her counts last week during the third week of round three all hit in the normal range which is quite a blessing.  We're hoping for the same today. 


Like Erin, we have all been exceptionally well the last week.  Davis's high school soccer career came to an end last Tuesday in a lop-sided loss to The Woodlands in bi-district.  Bryan high's loss is my gain.  Since he no longer has to attend soccer practice OR soccer class, he is coming home early this afternoon to mow my lawn!  Hey, what a deal.  Word on the street is that he is going to use his new found time to start his summer job early. 


The Panther's also took the field last week.  Erin again had a great time and played her little heart out, in an exciting(?) 18-15 loss.  She was behind the plate for two innings (the whole game only last three innings) and opined that she might wait to play catcher again until she grew a little.  I think the equipment weighed her down more than she expected. 


The adult units of the Buenger household adjusted quickly to the free Friday evening (first one in 2006).  We enlisted Nico to entertain Erin and spend the night, and of course, Davis was soaking in the freedom of an unencumbered schedule, as well.  We made our leisurely way out to the deck with our refreshments, enjoyed the warm breeze rippling the recently leafed out trees, and wrapped ourselves in the sunset.  I think you'll be able to find us there regularly on Friday evenings, from now until further notice.  Come on over.  The dogs will bark a warning to let us know you've arrived.  Otherwise, don't expect us to get up.


Thanks for the support with the aluminum cans.  Erin is still collecting cans and will be for the whole month.  We really like this kind of fundraising because it has double benefits:  raising money for cancer research and getting cans out of the landfill and into the recycling process.  If you wouldn't be comfortable with Erin taking the kind of cans you accumulate up to her school, you can always take them to the Finfeather recycling center yourself, and donate the money you earn.  If you are virtuous and don't drink beverages that come in aluminum cans, but would like to support Erin's Relay for Life team, you can make a direct contribution.  I feel sure that the Honoraria and Memorial Luminaria that many of you bought last year will be available again.  I just don't have the specific information yet.


As always, we appreciate all the big hearted ways you support us and the cancer cause.  These feelings are especially important to lift us up in good times and not-so-good times.  This weekend, three children in the neuroblastoma world died.  We did not know any of them personally, but Nick Snow fought the disease for seven years, pioneering all sorts of treatment options, before he became disease-free in 2002.  In the end he died of severe pancreatitis and complications from a perforated bowel, both conditions probably stemming from the heavy treatment he endured.  Another younger boy from Florida, Cameron, also died.  His parent's web site will really make you think about what it means to be a neuroblastoma warrior.

Bear Wear

03/27/06


Erin attended her first wedding ever this weekend and believe me she took it all in (and approved, by the way).  She, Walter, and I ignored the barrels of oil we sacrificed to drive out to west Texas (7.5 hours each way) to take part in the wedding of our baby nephew Mike and his new bride M'Kenzie.  Erin pronounced everything "lovely."  I slipped up (apparently) and forgot to pack a suitcase for Rosie (Erin's best beloved traveling bear companion).  Imagine my embarrassment when Rosie had nothing but a sweatsuit to wear to the ladies' luncheon on Saturday.  Erin attempted a quick fix by fabricating a beautiful decorative belt for her, but they were both much aggrieved that there was NOTHING formal for Rosie to wear to the wedding that evening.


Do you believe in divine intervention?  If not, this may change your mind.  At the luncheon, Erin received an unexpected gift as thanks for taking part in the wedding (she was scheduled to pass out the birdseed for guests to hurl at the departing couple).  What present would be a sign of divine intervention?  New bear party-wear?  Better yet:  a $12 gift card at WalMart.   A trifecta.  A new outfit for Rosie with change leftover for new puppy toys (more about that miracle later) all rolled into a shopping spree at the largest (only?) discount store for miles around.  Not just great gifts, but entertainment, too. 


The wedding came off without a hitch, and we enjoyed sharing the evening with all our friends and relatives.  Erin danced with all of the single and many of the married men and tucked away chocolate-covered strawberries as if they had life-prolonging properties (Hey! Maybe they do.  I'll volunteer for the Phase I trial). 


Davis, in the meanwhile, like any normal, red-blooded almost eighteen-year old, languished at home, alone.  The Vikings played (and won) their last regular season game in Waco Friday night (playoffs start tomorrow at 6:30 against The Woodlands), and although Waco wasn't that far out of the way on our trip west, we really needed to be further down the road than that by game's end.  We also couldn't guarantee a timely return on Sunday for him to get his radio show prepped and on the air.  So he stayed home (did I mention he was alone?).  I have yet to find any telltale signs that herds of teens used our home as a watering hole or that there was a dancing girl reunion in our absence.  I really expected much worse given the phone conversation we had Saturday afternoon:


Mom:  "Are you more awake than when we talked this morning?"

(I had done the unspeakable and called before 11:00.)


Davis:  "Yep.  I just got back from helping with the KEOS fundraiser at Half-Priced Books."


Mom:  "How did that go?"


Davis:  "I found some great vinyl you can get me for my birthday.  Maybe we can go there together next week."


Mom:  "Sounds good.  What do you have lined up for tonight?"


Davis:  "The guys and I are going to play pick-up basketball at 4:30.  Then, I'm going to grab some dinner and probably watch some college basketball."


Mom:  "That's fine.  Don't forget to feed the dogs and walk them."


Davis:  "No problem."


Mom:  "So, what are you going to do until your game?"

 (Here's where it starts to get fishy.)


Davis:  "Since I have a couple of hours, I thought I'd work on that essay for the scholarship application that's due next week."


Mom (thinking to herself):  "Oh sure, it's a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and next week is like next year from a teen's point-of-view.  What's he up too?"  Then says out loud:  "Really?  That's the best you can find to do?"


Davis:  "Welllll, maybe not."

(I can think of a litany of things he might be considering.)


Mom:  "Okay, what are you REALLY going to do?"


Davis:  "Come to think of it, I do have something more important."


Mom, bracing herself for the worst:  "What?"


Davis:  "I think I'll work on my sermon for the Easter Sunrise Service instead."

(Now I'm really chuffed.  What unspeakable thing is he thinking of doing if he needs to pull out the big guns and tell his mother he spending the afternoon writing a sermon?  I'm onto him now, but I don't let on.  Instead, I decide to let him figure out how to make his own bail when he's arrested.)


Mom:  "Don't you think the scholarship application is more important?  It is for $5000, and the deadline is coming up real fast." 

(That ought to confuse him.)


So, I don't really know what he did while we were gone.  And that's probably all for the best.

Now, what's all this talk about a puppy?  I know.  I know.  I have on this very page complained about our Corgi who leaks at both ends and does not know the meaning of the words "good manners" and our Yellow Lab who is to the Buenger family budget what the Iraq War is to the federal deficit.  Are we really idiotic enough to adopt a third dog?  Apparently so.  This new pup, To Be Named Later, showed up weekend before last, so skinny he could almost fit through the spokes of Erin's bicycle.  We fed him out of compassion, not because we wanted another pet.  We spent the next several days enumerating reasons why we shouldn't keep him (a list, by the way that far exceeded the almost empty list of why we should).  But he's still here, round puppy belly and all.  I'm going to Once Upon a Child this afternoon to look for a child gate so he can stay in the kitchen when we are at work everyday.  I know.  We're hopeless.


Three additional updates of past entries:


1.  Erin will continue to collect cans for another three or four weeks.  It's best if you rinse them out first.


2.  No lasting effects from the port-removal surgery.  The steri-strips should fall off in the next few days and the whole thing will become a memory.  The best part (so far) is that when Erin complained of an itchy throat and sniffles this morning, I didn't have to hesitate about taking her temperature.  If she had fever, we wouldn't have to head to the hospital for a three-day stay to check for possible infection.  She could curl up on the couch with Rosie and nap in between cartoons.  As it was she was normal and went to school.


3.  I'm too modest to boast about Erin's softball debut last Tuesday, but let's just say that she didn't look like a beginner to me.

 
What's coming up:  Erin will have blood counts done this afternoon.  Davis has a first round play-off soccer match tomorrow night in Magnolia against The Woodlands.  Go Vikings!  Erin has her next softball game on Thursday.  Go Panthers!  We're hoping Aunt Kat and Emma get to come for a visit really soon.  Go Emma!  Davis has ForwardFest this Saturday.  Go KEOS!   Cousin Matt is stopping by for a visit on Sunday afternoon (if he survives ChiliFest). And finally, but maybe most importantly, Erin has a clinic visit in Houston next Monday to get approved for the next round of etoposide.  After that I may have to go into hiding, as exams and student projects will flow in steadily until the end of the semester.

So Much for Port Security

03/23/06


I don't know much about this current "Port Security" issue.  I don't know if it's better to hire American firms or British firms or firms headquartered in Dubai.  All I can say is that whoever held the contract to secure Erin's port failed miserably and should not be in the running for important contracts at other U.S. ports.   Apparently, between noon and 1:00 yesterday, the firm guarding Erin's port fell asleep at the switch, and someone STOLE her entire port.  Ask yourself whether you would want that to happen to the Port of Houston.  Not very secure I'd say.


Seriously, Erin's portacathectomy went very smoothly.  The surgery took a bit less than an hour.  She was in recovery about the same amount of time.  Except for the drive time (yes, we were part of the diverted traffic around the double eighteen-wheeler crash on Highway 6 yesterday morning and part of afternoon traffic getting home) and the wait time (our surgeon follows the "slow and steady" school of thought on pacing himself which we appreciate because it's highly correlated with meticulous and careful), our day went fairly smoothly.  Erin did have the usual post-anesthesia barfies a couple of times and will have tenderness for a few days.  Nevertheless, she is thrilled to be rid of her bionic extra.

 
I have more to catch up on, but it will have to wait.  I just wanted to let everyone know that the surgery went fine, we made it home safely (no slumber party with the nurses at TCH), and Erin returned to school first thing this morning.

Spring Break News

03/18/06


Happy belated St. Paddy's Day to all of you wearers of the green.  We received big news yesterday.  Erin will have surgery next Wednesday (3/22) to remove her PortaCath.  She had this device placed in her chest, below her left shoulder late last April, so she could have monthly IV chemo through it.   While having a needle stuck in her chest wasn't her first choice, it beat having a fresh IV started every day during treatment.  Erin hasn't used her port since the week before Christmas, except (and here's one reason why she having it removed) that it has to be accessed and flushed once a month when she's not using it to keep it clear and functioning.  Another factor is, that as long as she has a mechanical device installed, she has to be very wary of fevers.  A fever buys a three-day stay in the hospital, because of the risk of infection.   We have been lucky on this one (except for last May), but removing the port will also remove that particular worry from our plate. 


We have no idea how long Erin will be able to go without a port.  Currently, she takes her chemo by mouth and can do weekly blood counts with a finger stick.  Even when she needs to have IV access for scans, she prefers a temporary line in her hand or arm.   The neuroblastoma could rev up and get more aggressive, which would mean a trip back to the surgery for re-installation, so we could pursue more aggressive treatment.  Still, Erin's doctor and I think the oral etoposide will hold her long enough to make this decision worthwhile. 


Spring break is drawing to a close for all of us.  Although we didn't go on any backpacking adventures, skiing holidays, or cruises, we managed to have a good time.  I hope you did the same.

 
For all you can collectors:  Erin and her class will continue to collect cans through most of April, so let me know if you have some to contribute.