Well, today was another day at the hospital for blood tests, and doctor visits. We learned a little bit about what Brenn is up against during the next round, and will find out more on Wednesday. She will be randomized on Wednesday in order to find out what leg of the study she will fall into. She will be getting a lumbar puncture and Vincristine through IV, along with all the standard blood tests that go along with each clinic visit. During the next month though, she will only be getting three lumbar punctures, and no bone marrows. Dr. Bond said today that with any luck, Brenn will not need any more bone marrow tests or samples...what great news. Brenn is a early rapid responder to the Chemotherapy, and thus will not need and extra medicines. She will get all the normal medicine that goes along with standard treatment, but she should suffer fewer side effects because she won't need anything more crazy that the "standard" stuff. It was all pretty much good news today at the clinic. Brenn still has a lot of painful tests, really bad medicines that you can't even touch with your hands, or they will burn you, and lots of time to spend in the hospital getting blood tests, healing from any problems that may occur, and fevers, pucking, more hair loss (not that there is much more to lose), and way to many doctors and nurses to see. She is making it through with flying colors though, and was telling the new nurse what she needed and how to use her VAD today during the blood test, it was quite funny.

We really had an enjoyable day today, the sun was shining, and we were all in good moods once we got out of the hospital. We had been looking around for a remote control helicopter ever since one of the boys in the house got one, Brenn has really wanted one. We had looked pretty well everywhere except Toys-R-Us, where we finally found one. We brought it home and had lunch while it charged, then played around with it for a while. The kids love it (and I am not going to lie here, I like it a lot too)! I got invited to play in the charity golf tournament for Ronald McDonald house tomorrow. One of the companies that supports the house buys 1 group every year and gives it to the house to divide up as they wish. There are three Dads here and one of the kids going through his treatment are all going to play together tomorrow. It really sounds like it will be a great time. I am not a good golfer by any stretch of the imagination, but I am really looking forward to the day, it sounds really fun. I will be out there all day, we get all three meals, golf lessons in the morning, and a round of golf in the afternoon. They are giving us all rental clubs, as none of us have our clubs, they were not very high on the list for stuff to bring to Vancouver when I left, and will remain at home while we are here. I do expect that this will be the only round of golf I get for a while.

My brother also arrives tomorrow. He will be here only for a few days, but we are all really looking forward to the distraction. While living here, you really get into a pattern. We get up in the morning, and unless we have a clinic visit, we stay around the house, getting our job done, and making food for the kids. the kids will play for a while, have some lunch, and once lunch is done, we get bored, and head out to do anything that we can think of that is away from crowds, and interesting to the kids. Then we come home, make dinner, and bathe the girls, and put them to bed. Once they are in bed, we write the blog, and then make some tea, maybe play a game, then go to bed...repeat again the next day...it does get old fast. We are very thankful to have a safe, and sterile environment where we can all stay together though. It is a blessing from God that we are able to be together. This would be excruciating if we weren't together.

I am coming home next Monday with Samantha. We will only be home for the week, but we are looking forward to coming home, and seeing some of the people that have been truly helpful to us while we have been here. There are so many people that I would like to get together with, i just hope that we have the time to see you all. I have not booked my flights yet, but as soon as I do, I will post them on the blog so that you all know. I hope that I can see all of you...I am sure that it will be a busy week!

Scott