The New, New, New, New Normal (Day +197)

Normal = Life before cancer
New Normal = Life fighting T-Cell Lymphoma
New, New Normal = Life after Lymphoma
New, New, New Normal = Life fighting B-Cell Leukemia
New, New, New, New Normal = Our life now ... beyond cancer!

I know that posts have been few and far between. I guess our new x 4 normal (n4normal), is taking up all our time, as we find our balance.

Alex is now in school full days, with only a few adjustment issues. Once in a while, he will have an anxiety attack, but we are having more and more regular days. We had his first teacher conference, and were very pleased with his progress. He is learning so much, and we haven't seen any signs of possible cognitive issues, although, they could show up much later, so we will keep watching for anything.

We also made it through our first head cold with Alex. He got a fever, and were relieved when the on-call doctor told us to just give him Tylenol. No emergency room visit, no IV's, no overnight stays in the hospital. What has been truly amazing, is that Alex got over the fever, and cold faster than any of us. As one of his doctors say, he has a very robust immune system!

Alex only takes two medications now. The Acyclovir twice a day(anti-viral), and Septra twice a day on the weekends. Both of those medications are due to stop in September. He doesn't have any rashes, and only a bit of gastro-intestinal issues, which could just be from recovering from this cold. He looks so good, and you would never know he had been so sick, unless you saw 5 *war wound* scars that slash across his body.

We just had another clinic visit today. We are on a two-week schedule, soon to be once a month. His counts are perfect, and his blood work is beautiful. The whole clinic is just so pleased with his results. As are we.

This has been such a long road. It is hard sometimes to realize that we are at the end of treatment, and are moving into survivorship. Alex is amazing - and I can't wait to see what he will be when he grows up. But, for now, I am glad he just gets to be a kid.