Christmas Chemo

Chemo #3 was yesterday. I'm feeling the cumulative effects more now, which means that the medications are working. Fatigue, nausea, anemia...not exactly the Christmas prep I had planned. And weren't we supposed to be in Hawaii right now?!

I'll get the 4th treatment in 3 weeks, after which they'll do scans to determine if it's all working (and how well). Every once in a while someone has a full response to the first 4 treatments and they stop then, but it's likely that I'll have to finish all 6 to then find out how well it all worked.

Liz has been Santa's greatest helper all week. She baked 3 days with the boys, did puzzles, played games, kept our evening traditions alive with books and scripture and song. Love that lady.

Since I enjoyed a weird face-down four-hour nap last night and woke up early today, I decided to write my own Christmas songs. Sing along with me!

We three scars on Aaron's neck and chest are

The surgeon goofed and cut a nerve in thar

One scar was a flop, the other two did their job

Now he can't feel his neck skin very far.

Oh, ohhhhhh...

Beard of wonder, black and white,

Now so bald and shiny bright.

Not yet returning, still receding,

Hoping you'll one day cover the scars alright.

(Somehow that one turned into a Pirate shanty in my head. Like most songs. Let's try another.)

You better watch out, you better open your eye,

You better not pout, I'm tellin' you why...

Giant bald dad is coming to town.

(No, that's not it...that whole "sees you when you're sleeping part" creeks me out. One more try.)

Shiny head, shiny head, cancer knows the way

To create an appealing toy for tots

Who rub my head as they walk away...hey!

OK, forget it. But feel free to drop your own Cancer Carol in the comments. The cheesier the better.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours. May Christ's admonition to love God and love our neighbor drive us to ever-increasing kindness and care for one another, especially given our differences.