Update: 
Yesterday was a long day for Lauren and Co.  Lauren and mommy spent most of the morning at school, where Hilary is a room mom, every Wed. Once school was out at 10:30 (Wed. are short days), they stopped at home to pick-up granny and Marissa and then headed up to CHLA for Lauren bi-monthly chemo.  Currently, she is only on two types of chemo, Temodar (capsule) that she takes 5-days a week at home before bed and Irinotecan, bi-weekly via IV.  They have eliminated Avastin (it suppose to cut off the blood supply to the tumor), from this cycle, since they suspect it might have been the cause of Lauren's pancreatitis.  We think they will reintroduce it during the next cycle, in two weeks, which makes we don't mind, since Avastin has had good results. 

As chemo treatments go, this was not one of her best.  Normally Lauren takes her chemo great.  She usually doesn't feel sick and rarely vomits.  But lately, she has been have a little problem getting her chemo.  Yesterday she had projectile vomits, almost nailing Nurse Tina who came by for a visit (lately, she has been working in the radiation department).  She felt much better afterwards.  She didn't get sick on the drive home but threw-up once when she got home.  However, when she walked thru the front door at 8:30 pm last night, she had the biggest smile on her face.  What a trooper!  She makes me so proud! 

I think the reason Lauren has been having a hard time with her chemo lately is because we've been lowering her dose of Decadron (steroid).  We are now down to .17 mg.  This is the lowest she has been on in over a year.  Beside making her puffy and preventing swelling in her head, it also given as an anti-nausea medication.  So that is one of the give and takes of getting her off her steroids.  Selfishly, I'd rather deal with her feeling sick every other week. I love the fact that my little girl's face is returning to the way it looked prior to her diagnosis.   It is also heart-breaking when Lauren talks about her appearance and how she doesn't look same anymore and how she didn't like to look at pictures of herself when she was really puffy, or when she is wheezing trying to climb the stairs, or how she has a hard time running and keeping up with the other kids, like when they play tag.  Most of all (knock on wood), I love the fact that when I look at her she just seems more happy and more normal, like an ordinary kid. 

We are finally heading up to the Bay Area tomorrow for Labor Day weekend.  The last two times we tried to July Lauren got very sick.  So hopefully (knock on wood) Lauren doesn't get sick.  Of course this morning she wasn't looking that great and felt a little hot.  But she always feels tired after getting her chemo.  So we'll see what happens.  The girls are looking forward to signing their cousin Maddie's cast.  Poor Maddie broke her arm yesterday and is in a huge cast.   

Tomorrow after months of waiting, Lauren is finally having an having her evaluation with her occupational therapist to help with her shaky hand, which isn't shaking nearly as much as was a few months ago.  Anna, out PA/Coordinator, suggested that maybe the part of the tumor that was making it shake, might just be dead now, and that is why the shaking has stopped.  PLEASE LET THAT BE THE CASE. 

Please continue to pray for Regina (www.diana78.blogspot.com). Regina and her family are going through a difficult time.  The Tan family has been a great inspiration to us and given us both strength and hope during this past year.