Steroid craze

It is becoming increasingly more challenging to manage Maggie throughout this bout of steroids. In the last 12 or so hours, her demeanor has taken more of a hit. She is very hard to please and is beginning to do her loud-pitched whine constantly. Her sleeping has also become affected. She awoke this morning at 3:30 and didn't get back to sleep until close to 6:00. During those hours she ate cantelope and chips, had an explosive poo, and watched cartoons. I was the fortunate one to be able to sit up with her during this obscene time of day.

Maggie's counts were checked this morning and are looking pretty good. Her potassium was a bit low, which we have found to be the case on Monday labs. I'm hoping that it is due to the chemotherapy versus any diarrhea. We have been able to manage her diarrhea fairly well, with the exception of today. She has been going about once a day for the last couple days. We will gladly take this, especially since last month on steroids caused higher frequency and more liquidy stool.

Maggie will be re-accessed on Thursday afternoon, along with another lab draw. We choose the afternoon because after her night TPN, I will be de-accessing her and hopefully we might be able to enjoy an outing to the pool for the first time. I'm going to look at some possible locations for swimming and hopefully we'll be able to take her. Either way, a several hour break from the dressing will be good as Maggie's skin is experiencing burns due to her sensitivity.

Please continue to pray for Maggie, that the steroid week will quickly come to a close (she has 2 more doses), that her mood will lighten, and that she is completely healed of cancer. Please also pray for all the children who have also been diagnosed with this ugly disease.