Day 3 after chemo #3

In the back of my mind I dreaded this day all week long....day 3 after chemo has been the 'sick' day for Big D.

This morning I woke up to a light stroking on my arm and a whisper...."Mama, I am going for a little walk."  My eyes focus on a smiling, bright-eyed Dillon dressed in his usual green striped shirt.  Okay I tell him, take your hat....which he holds up in his hand as he walks away without saying anything.  His body language said...."Got it mom, you don't have to remind me any more."  The doctors told us that kids actually get admitted to the hospital with severe sunburn when they are in chemo...as severe as 3rd degree and there have been many deaths because of this.  WOW, they were not kidding when they said avoid the sun.  One doctor told me that there was no physical way to put enough sunscreen onto Big D's skin to make being in the sun for an extended period safe.  Boy oh boy is this gonna be a long summer: No swimming, no hiking, no parks, no bikes;  unless we morph into nocturnal beings...which I am seriously considering so that D can have some fun outdoor time without the threat of the big bad sun bearing down.

After I listen to Dillon's little flip-flops slowly make their way down the driveway I snuggle with Luca in my bed for a while and we doze a little together.  About half an hour later Luca and I get up and we find Big D in the kitchen with diced tomatoes, grated cheese, and whipped up eggs.  He declares...."I am making an omelet.  I got hungry and I did not want to bother you."  So he proceeded to make himself a lovely 2-egg omelet of which he ate the whole thing.  He even offered to cook one for Luca, who politely refused because he had a hankering for corn flakes :)) Haha. After both boys ate and cleaned up the kitchen, I assigned the task of putting away their laundry.  Dillon was up and at it without a blink of the eye.  Luca on the other hand...NOT SO MUCH.   After Dillon finished his, he heard his brother whining, crying, complaining and generally pitching a fit about the task at hand and very sweetly went into Luca's room and offered to help.  MY Dillon is back!!!  Spunky, self-sufficient, reliable, kind, helpful.

Sean's brother, Bryan, is here from Dallas with his daughter, Sophia.  Dillon wanted "a change of scenery" so Bryan and Sophia swooped in, scooped up the Buckley Brothers, and off they went to Subway for lunch and then to the theater for a movie.  He came home happy and exhausted.

This feels like the most 'normal' day to me.  I am in my office working, the boys are entertaining their cousin, and their uncle is supervising.  There is bickering, laughing, snacks, and a mess....OH SWEET NORMAL DAY!!!!

P.S.....I just realized I did not post since chemo.  Just as an aside, he has had no nausea or vomiting this week.  He has been tired, low energy, but eating well.  Truly not what I expected.  I had braced myself mentally to deal with at least a couple of really lousy days this week.  I feel like I am holding my breath....I am watching my boy so intently...does he show signs of illness that he is not talking about....is he eating, is he drinking, is he functioning.  All is well, given the circumstances.  What a pleasant surprise.  I will hold onto this while it lasts.  Also, in case anyone is wondering....the hair is still here!!! No thinning, not patchy, just regular old Big D rooster in the back, slightly matted on the sides from resting in bed throughout the day, thick brown hair.  Will it go....Will it stay....only time will tell.