Very sore ear :( and a very long post...

Catherine is in a lot of pain at the moment with her ear. Her neutrophils are down again, and she now has the usual ear-infection. Her 'pain medicine' doesn't seem to be getting rid of the pain and she is now desperately tired but can't get to sleep because it is hurting her. Tomorrow we will call the hospital and get some oral antibiotics from the pharmacy. Please pray that she doesn't get a temperature, otherwise we will need to pack the suitcase and have intravenous antibiotics for a few days. Poor Catherine. Everytime her neutrophils are down and she gets a cold it goes straight to her ears. She is cuddling her dad as I write this.

She is also worrying a bit about her short hair at the moment. Today she was delighted when one of her little friends cut a piece of hair off because Catherine thought she was going to have short hair too. She also doesn't want to wear trousers because she is concerned people will think she is a boy. It doesn't seem to matter how beautiful we say she is with her short hair. I just think she will be pleased once it all grows back long again. I think she is focussing on her hair at the moment because she knows she is going to be meeting lots of new people at her new school. She says she is a little bit nervous, but then anyone would be starting 'big girl school' for the first time.

I think she is most nervous about changing hospitals because she will not see her play lady there. She really likes Vikki and she enjoyed doing all the craft things. I told her that there would be a new play lady but Catherine was not that impressed. It will be a bit odd, as each hospital has different routines. For example, at our new hospital we will need to attend at least fortnightly whereas at the moment we have been going monthly. This is partly because there are community oncology nurses in London who have taken bloods weekly but not at our new house. Also, at our new hospital, the Consultant does all the lumbar punctures whereas in London, there is a team of anaesthetists and doctors. I'm sure everything will work out well, but we have to try and ease Catherine in to so many new routines in the next few months: new house, new school, new hospital, new church, new friendships. We are, however, looking forward to getting to our new location and getting settled - we are once more in a state of limbo, not settled where we are but not where we are meant to be!!! Despite everything, though, she is pretty adaptable, although I think the hardest bit for Catherine, like myself, will be leaving friends. I think we are both pretty useless at doing this - goodbyes are rubbish. Not necessarily the best way to be for an officer who is going to spend her life moving around, but I can't help it. I actually LIKE people, and so does Cath and Mark. So please pray for us all as we pack, clean and generally get stressed on the run up to another big move.

Actually, I refuse to be stressed. It is not good for the complexion...