enjoying summer

We have been taking full advantage of high counts and feeling good - trying to enjoy summer over these last couple weeks as much as we are able.

Walking on bridges.

Running outside in the early morning.

We even went to the ZOO last week. Waving at the trains was by far the highlight!

Playing outside in the backyard on the 4th of July.

And lots of frilly, tulle skirts. The only way we get one off these days is I've got another one ready for her to put on. :)

But of course, even as we've been able to enjoy summer the last couple of weeks, the reality of living life with cancer and chemo is always still there and things can just change quickly. Yesterday Ethan spiked a low-grade fever that was still high enough to warrant a call to his team. And, as we've had to do countless times now, we had to head to the ER to have labs and cultures drawn. Thankfully his counts are great - over 2,400. He tested positive for a cold virus, which likely explains his fever, and so after a dose of a 24 hour antibiotic, we were sent home.

This morning it seems the fever is gone and Ethan has been in great spirits. He is scheduled to have his last treatment of chemo for this phase tomorrow(Monday) morning. After that we get a 2 week break until the next phase, called Delayed Intensification, begins on July 23rd. We've been told many times now to expect Delayed Intensification to be a rough phase - similar to what his first month of chemo (Induction phase) was like. Lots of big-gun chemos that will cause his counts to drop and stay down for a while. Delayed Intensification will last 63 days - likely through the end of September.

So, that's what's on the horizon. We could definitely use prayer not only for this current virus to be healed quickly, but also over the next couple months of chemo that Ethan will have to endure. That his body will continue to be eradicated of any cancer cells and for protection over the short and long-term effects of the chemotherapy.