Catherine is doing well despite a rather noisy night-time cough that she's had for a few days. She had her first full week at school last week, and has done very well. Her friendships are developing and the teacher is very pleased with her. Tomorrow we have our 'hospital day' where Catherine will see her Consultant and have her blood count taken.

Another good day!

Another good and happy day for our daughter! She now has some good friends and knows their names, and is so much happier and more content.

Bouncy, happy, confident & excited!

Well, what an amazing turnaround! On Saturday, Catherine was still distressed about having to go to school on Monday, but the steroids went from her body yesterday. So today she wakes up bouncy, happy, confident and excited about going to school. No worries about whether she can cope with the day. It was 'bye, bye, mummy' and out the door! There were no phone calls from school, and I saw her dinner lady before I went to collect her, and she told me Catherine had tucked in to sausage, beans and mash with chocolate cake for pudding! So I arrived to pick her up and she was fine and happy and was delighted when I suggested going to the cafe for a snack. A totally happy bunny! I think, after the past six weeks, we might be seeing the real Miss Catherine once again.

Last night Catherine was awake in our bedroom crying and very anxious. She is extremely worried about school because she doesn't feel like she has enough energy to keep going for the full day. She also gets worried when there are any big changes - a supply teacher came in the other day, and any such changes can really worry children on chemotherapy.

We spoke to her lovely teacher today, and she came home at lunchtime. She is now in bed having a nap. I really feel for her as she was so worked up last night. She wants to go to school but is finding it very hard. These last two days it has also been worse for her as she is on steroids. Her neutrophils are also still down, although not so low as to be at big risk of infection.

Having said that, she was awarded the 'Busy Bee of the week' certificate by her teacher this week, and yesterday she came home with a little bracelet with 'Hard Worker' on it. She has also made some lovely friends, but today she just felt so low she didn't even want to see them.

Steroids

Catherine is now back on steroids. She is not very happy. Her neutrophils are also quite low, so she is a bit up and down with that as well.

Oh well, Catherine had two (reasonably) cheerful days...

Please pray for Wouter today. Wouter is receiving treatment for Rhabdomysarcoma but currently has pneumonia. Thankyou. http://krokkenoster.wordpress.com/

Hair raising day

Today is the first day for ages that Catherine is acting her old self. She has been out and about with us today and has been inventing craft activities and games at home. The only problem she has mentioned is that her head feels prickly when she lies down due to the roots of her hair on her pillow.

She is now wearing her new hair when she is out and about which is woven in lovely little mini-plaits under a bandana. Everywhere she goes she is complemented on her pretty hair. The only problem is that I get some really evil glances from other mums, as if to say 'When does that woman get the time to do her child's hair like that!'. Little do they know.

Catherine made her usual impact in the cafe today, as she removed her hair just as I was ordering lunch. The ladies behind the counter suddenly looked shocked, so I turned round, only to see my hairless daughter waving her wig. They tried to look like they hadn't noticed and reacted, but it was too late! Poor women. I hope Catherine doesn't make a habit of this. I don't think people's nerves will stand it.

She is still taking all her medicines but is now also back on her chemotherapy.

Last night at 3am I waved goodbye to my very hot daughter - who was then 38.6 degrees - and a very tired husband. Only one of us could sleep at the hospital so I had to stay at home. It was hard waving goodbye to them, and Catherine was upset because she said she would miss me and 'bump'.

Just before I was due to travel to the hospital, I had a text from Mark telling me Catherine's temperature had miraculously returned to 36.8 degrees and we might be able to come home today. Sure enough, the Consultant agreed at lunchtime that she could come home with oral antibiotics. It is highly unusual for us that her fever has just resolved itself, and normally if Catherine spikes a temperature, we are in hospital for at least three days! As long as her temperature remains stable and no cultures grow at the hospital, Catherine will be able to get better at home. It was such a relief, and it was lovely to welcome Mark and Catherine home at 3pm today.

THANK YOU for praying!!!!