Day 4 of 12.
Lauren started her chemo on Friday, which consisted of the chemo Etoposide (liquid form). Since her chemo and the dosage for this round is exactly the same as the first two rounds, we have a good routine that works best for us. Lauren takes her nausea medicine a 1/2 hour before her chemo and bedtime. I mix the chemo in a small cup with a little bit of orange juice, which she takes like a shot of Irish whiskey, and follows it with a chaser of orange soda, and then she goes to bed. We found that she doesn’t get sick (as often) from the chemo if she goes to sleep right after taking it.

Poor Marissa. I think she must think that Lauren is bi-polar. With Lauren being off chemo, Lauren has been very playful, affectionate and caring towards Marissa, and Marissa just loves Lauren. She is always stroking Lauren's arm or rubbing Lauren's head (Marissa is fascinated with Lauren's bald head). But when Lauren is on chemo and not feeling well, she doesn't like Marissa touching her. During the past couple of weeks, Marissa has just been having a great time with Lauren, hugging and wrestling with her. On Sunday (after two days of chemo) Marissa tried to give Lauren a big bear hug, and Lauren freaked out. "MARISSA!! Don't touch me!" And started crying, I could see Marissa thinking, "What the…?" Yesterday, when I did it Lauren laughed.

I can't wait to get this round over with ASAP because this is the last round, but also because the weather is about to change (getting colder) and flu season is right around the corner. I hope the weather stays warm for a few more weeks. I'm talking So Cal warm of 85+ degrees.