Chemo Cycle 4 of 9

On Nov 5 just two days after being discharged from Millers Rehab Alanna was admitted to UCLA to begin Chemo cycle 4 of 9.  It was very hard for us to go back to the hospital after just getting out.  We complained and cried and kicked our feet. I think I was worse off than Alanna.  And Alanna was pretty bad.  However we were blessed that Alanna's meds worked extremely well and the side effects were minimal.  No nausea being the big one. 

We had a lovely six weeks.  Thanksgiving was perfect.  We ended up going out for dinner and we are so grateful for whomever anonymously paid for our meal.  It was such a gift and touched us greatly.

The week after Thanksgiving Alanna's doctor gave us permission to take her to Disneyland!  We had so much fun that Alanna refused to leave :).  Disneyland accommodates kids with special needs so very well.  I felt very rested and actually felt joyful with the vacation.  We had taken her last year two months before she was diagnosed.  I had not realized the amount of work that I did in order to go to Disney and at the end of that trip felt I needed a break from Disney.  The amount of time she needed to be carried or calmed in lines or just around the park was beyond my ability to enjoy myself, it was very exhausting.  However taking Alanna with accommodations so she could enjoy the park the way it is intended was a great blessing to our family.  I am so glad we did it.

Alanna got rid of her NG tube on Dec 5. Her blood counts were finally improved enough to allow her to do the G tube surgery.  It went well and her belly is healing rapidly.  But the very best thing about getting rid of the NG tube is that Alanna is so much more comfortable. 

We took her to see Wreck it Ralph Breaks the Internet on Dec 10 she absolutely loved the movie.  But the very best part is that she ate the popcorn.  I know that may sound silly, everyone eats popcorn during a movie.  But what you may not realize is that Alanna had not eaten anything by mouth since June when she got the NG tube put in.  Now free from the NG tube she slowly munched popcorn for over an hour!  The next day she continued eating popcorn. . .  She has eaten a bag of microwavable popcorn now for 7 days straight!  For the last 3 days she has been eating shredded cheddar cheese.

Alanna's birthday was Dec 15.  She had an absolutely amazing birthday!  She went bowling with her friends.  This was a dream playdate.  Something she wanted for months and it couldn't have turned out any better than it did.  She was a 7 year old little girl being a kid, enjoying friends, playing and eating brownies.  The next morning she told me that this was the best birthday ever.  And it was, it really was.  She made homemade pizza which is where she discovered she liked cheese again and she made her favorite chocolate chip cookie cake which she enjoyed a few bites of.  Like any little girl she loved opening her presents and she was oh so very happy and we cherished a day where we could just have fun.