SEEING FRIENDS; NADINE DELAYS COLLEGE;

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21ST -- HOMESCHOOL MEETING, SEEING FRIENDS

A wonderful homeschoolers' group meeting -- the topic was college. The meeting was a nice boost friend-wise as well. Nadine seemed to have a nice time there too, happily, sitting there in the discussion circle. Diana came too, although she avoided people as she thought she might be contagious. I was SO pleased to see Amy Mantell, whom I met about 5 years ago -- we had a lovely, satisfying talk and almost went out to eat, but it was close to clinic time. And someone told me she knew of a girl in Florida who was recently diagnosed with leukemia (sounded like ALL, which is what Nadine has) and I offered my contact into and mentioned TLC, which has a website with places for conversations.

I NEED TO SEE FRIENDS TOO
I realize that Nadine isn't the only one not seeing enough people. I realize how important it is for ME to keep up contacts with friends too. So many people have so graciously and genuinely suggested getting together, some whom I know and even some whom I don't. It's time to do it more. I've put it off so long. It's in my court.

COLLEGE
The discussion affirmed Nadine's correctness in deciding to put off college for a year. The importance of visiting was mentioned. There are now 2 college visit "tours" considered, one of the midwest possibly in early March (Wisconsin, Oberlin, Michigan, and possibly U of Illinois), and one in April, maybe to New England.

There was talk of the joys of some of the lesser-known colleges, and preparation for college.

This combined with the advice that a music student meet the teacher at a college or conservatory, made sense.

ON THE SUBJECT OF RECOMMENDATIONS -- Eric Iglewski sent me a copy of the recommendation for he wrote for Nadine. It was STELLAR, and also beautifully and eloquently written. What a gift and affirmation!

FINALLY ANNOUNCING THE COLLEGE DELAY -- RELIEF AND LOSS
I "bit the bullet" and sent emails to Evan Chambers (the composition chair at Michigan) and also the admissions counselor, telling them Nadine had decided to delay applying and detailing some reasons.

It was a sad feeling.

I received very supportive and encouraging emails from both of them, support and encouragement for Nadine to visit as well. It was time to announce Nadine's decision and face, once again, reality.

Some of the sadness was the loss of college plans and the reality of more people leaving; some of it, once again, was the generalized "ARRRRGGGGHHH" at the global, enormous changes brought to Nadine by leukemia.

CLINIC, NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF HER ASPARAGINASE, SHE GETS ANOTHER KIND

There was a national shortage of the E. Coli asparaginase of the type she usually gets, so we were told she'd get another kind. It would have PEG in it, and be time-released to last 2 weeks rather than one week (meaning no need for asparaginase the next week!) However, she'd need multiple injections in her leg at the time it was given, rather than the usual "one". Oh dear. Another change. Of course i wanted to know if there was a downside -- so far, they didn't have one known. She got the new asparaginase -- some people needed 3 shots, but she only needed 2. No one complained.

WEIGHT LOSS-- Nadine lost another pound. Not what was wanted.

MERCAPTOPURINE REDUCTION -- This was announced to happen in the hopes her counts would recover earlier in the next-cyce. However, she had only had 6-mercaptopurine for one week before the problem hit that cycle.

MEDICAL INFO -- I had asked Margaret for more detailed information on the medications -- I wanted to know their "paths", the way they worked, etc., how each one did its job of fighting cancer (including the chemistry), plus getting into learning more of the risks of medicines, and possible outcomes of her situation, and the longterm picture, even if it might feel scary to contemplate.

Margaret arrived with a bunch of info for me to read -- they have a Prescription for Information which can be given out and the lab can send material on whatever I would request. However, most of the descriptions, at first glance, didn't seem to have what I wantd. There was a lot on side effects etc., but I didn't see enough of the biochemistry, etc. I also would like to get the exact doses of the chemo meds.

Eric Iglewski came in and talked about benefits for Nadine, and also delivered the recommendation.

ERIC'S HEART IS LIKE A MOTHER'S LAP
I once told Eric Iglewski that his heart was like a other's lap -- no matter how many peole there were, there was always room for another.

OFF TO GOODWILL
Nadine wanted new pants, that fit, in the worst way -- I hoped she wouldn't need them for too long, and would gain weight, but really she needed something that fit, so we went to Goodwill. I figured 2 hours would be enough, and it was a fun time really -- she found 2 pairs of jeans she likes. Of course, I can't see why she didn't like some of the other pairs, which frankly looked the same to me as the ones she'd bought. But she was adamant, and I wasn't about to fight with her. I suppose I was probably the same way when I was a teen. I meanwhile looked for a sweater, finding a cardigan. She got some really nice shirts as well.

LATE NIGHT AGAIN WORKING I felt a need to prepare a summary of Nadine's medical situation for the much-recommended naturopath, Les Moore, whom Nadine and I had a "Meet the Doctor" session with the next day. It took way too late, but I felt it was important to send this kind of thing ahead of time. It took a while of course, but although I grumbled about going to bed too late again, I had a nice rest this time.

THURSDAY
I washed dishes and cleaned the house while "on hold" trying to order something relatively minor via telephone, and found that Paypal won't accept my perfectly usable credit card that works for everyone else. And I guess that means some mail-order places don't accept it either -- the sales rep, who was struggling with his English, informed me that Paypal wouldn't take that card and neither would he. Stuff like this explains why I sometimes don't get work done. It affects my mood and the quality (at least aesthetically) of Nadine's meals. I also finally fished the paperwork for the Hinsdale district -- this was straightforward enough but I'd procrastinated.