Luck

Luck is relative, isn't it? Luck didn't get us here. Luck got us a "good" prognosis. But luck did not get Sylvie out of the hospital today unfortunately. Now that we're forcing Sylvie against her will to sit up, stand and move about, the rest of the blood & bile collecting in her abdomen is draining. This is actually a good thing. Dr. Valda said "maybe tomorrow" which I took as "it's never going to happen" however the oncology team suggested we leave the hospital even WITH the drainage tube. They're sick of us taking up a bed in PedOnc. Just when I thought Michael and I had mastered a few basic nursing skills comes the hand grenade-like apparatus connected to a tube connected somewhere inside Sylvie's healing abdomen. Otherwise Sylvie is doing awesome. She ate a massive breakfast, her counts are great. Ellen and Dr. Diamond suggested beginning chemo again next week but we asked for a reprieve until Monday June 1.

Michael and I ran to Stokes Farm in Old Tappan to buy seedlings for the garden today. At some point I am sure our garden will provide relaxation (and nourishment) but for now this is how it goes: Pre-load car with vermiculite, peat moss, change of sneakers and marigolds. Go to hospital. Leave for Stoke's Farm, drive past Dr. Rosen's old office and rejoice that The Whole Child Center is now nearby in Oradell. Take out master garden list and garden plot that I've been drawing and redrawing and show to 14 year-old girl who works at Stokes. Pick out heirloom, Roma and some other kind of tomato plants. Cucumber, Zucchini, Eggplant, Broccoli, Swiss chard, weird lettuces, basil and rosemary. Bought the fattest most purple asparagus I've ever seen. Race to the garden. Quickly mix soil, plant, cage EVERYTHING. Water. Forgot garden gloves. Garden gloves are for sissies anyway. Michael and I had to cut our nails in order to thoroughly clean our hands afterwards. It was a lot of fun albeit not quite relaxing.

Ally is next door to us. She just had her bone marrow transplant today. Her mom has been explaining to me about the procedure and everything that goes with it. It's unbelievable. Sylvie and Ally got to meet for the first time the other day. They are usually in the hospital at the same time except one of them is usually on lockdown with a fever. Ally's adorable. After we forced Sylvie to sit on the edge of the bed and stand up (clinging to Michael's neck for dear life), Sylvie got to hang out with Jette and her sister Nevada today. Sylvie MUCH better behaved in their presence!

Ann and John came this evening so that Michael and I could [BOTH!] go to yoga. It was Michael's second class in a LONG time. Very intense and the teacher focused pretty much on Michael so I didn't have to worry that he might injure himself. He actually did GREAT. Once again, got back in car, raced to pick up dinner and ran into the Turks (i.e. Sibel, Gizem, Sila) also getting food. Back at hospital. Sylvie was awake. FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out. I suffer from that, too. When I had my back surgery, I asked for my black Swatch in the recovery room so I could know what time it was. Instead of sleeping for 24 hours, I watched Dallas, Falcon Crest and then MTV for hours and hours where I saw George Michael's "I Want Your Sex" video for the first time.

I considered asking Pinky to give Sylvie Benadryl but she finally conked out. Sylvie gave Pinky a sticker tonight. That makes up for their first chance encounter when Sylvie clocked her on the head with the Princess "CLICK, You're as Pretty as a Picture" camera. Sylvie's come a long way in 14 weeks.

Sylvie's drainage tube yielded 20ccs today. Highly doubt we're going anywhere tomorrow.