Out and about

Since last Friday we started to bring Olivia out of the house more often. It started with the fundraiser event and after that she kind of knew that she can actually go out and have fun! Of course, we are still very cautious where we take her. She always wears a mask and we make a deal that she needs to keep it on or else we'll go home sooner than expected. We were traumatized during the first few months of diagnosis that she was in and out of the hospital, afraid that she can easily catch a virus. We still worry about it no doubt, but also at the same time we feel that she deserves to have fun as well, just like a normal kid. It helps that weather is actually getting better! During her weekly blood counts, we need to make sure her ANC is high enough for her to go out.

I also noticed that it helps to keep her busy. Her eyes light up whenever she spends time with her cousins. I guess when she's having fun she forgets all the discomfort chemo has given her. It's when she's home that she gets her mood swings. She is currently on a 1 week break from her steroids that's causing her mood swings (Yay!). She gets uncomfortable too at night when she sleeps. Usually she would say that she is not feeling well.

She has stopped drinking pediasure/milk because I think her mouth and gums are starting to feel sore. We tried to change her sippy cup to a soft spout, just like what she was using when she was younger, but she didn't like it. We tried the straw and it didn't work either. The good thing about the steroids is that it's making her appetite bigger. She needs to bulk up again because she's lost weight as you can tell from her pictures. Right now she's into spaghetti with sinigang (tamarind soup) and cheese pizza!

Last Monday was chemo day. She was in and out. Chemo was quick and it's more like a regular routine now for her. She even helped the nurse!