Dancing Queen! Maintenance - Weeks 73 to77

 11th June to 8th July

Oh my goodness this month has been so much fun!

On the Friday after having my vincristine I had sports day at school. I don't normally go to school when I'm on steroids because my moods are ... unpredictable and if I loose my temper I can really hurt people, I don't want to do that at school. But this time Mummy took me to school for sports day. I did races, a beach race and a race with a push chair and a baby doll. I also did a special dance with my class. I was especially pleased with my medal!            

Joe has also gone to England this month for a school trip with his friends it's very exciting for him. I did miss him and I think he missed me, he bought me a pencil case!

I have been practicing a lot for dancing. I have danced on stage and have got a costume to wear and I have to put on sparkling eye shadow. I had to go to England to see my Doctors before I got to dance on stage in front of people.

England was exciting. I went to stay with my Aunty and played on her mobile phone. Both my big cousins were at home. I like to see them and my Uncle. I was very quick at the hospital and got to see all my Dr friends and the ladies that play with me, I even had my face painted. I had good blood tests and the sleep and medicine only gave a little headache before bed! In England I stayed up late every night and ate nice food. On my last night Nana and Grandad took me to a posh restaurant for noodles and I tried eating with chop sticks!

Friday was the most exciting day of all. I got up in the dark and left Nana's house. I got on an aeroplane and slept for a while, ate my breakfast and arrived back at home! I had to eat my lunch and go to bed ready for dancing. Joe had a 'prom' at the same time as my dancing so Daddy had to do lots of driving on Friday night.

I really loved doing my dance and wearing my make up and costume!

I spent Saturday with my cousins, brother and sister at the park. We had photos taken by a nice lady called Jessica it was lots of fun and on Sunday We had lunch with Nana and Alfred. Busy, busy, busy. It is so good having family around. The only thing that made me sad was not seeing my little cousin or my Aunty with a baby in her tummy. My cousin and uncle were both sick when I was in England.

I've even managed to fit in going to school and meeting my new teacher for next year when I start in Reception and the beach!

Mum Says: We have had a busy month and really enjoyed ourselves. It is a joy to be together as a family of 5 for the first time properly in about 18 months! You really don't appreciate the arguing, noise and never ending washing ... until you have been a time without it. Alice is growing and blossoming these days. We had forgotten what she was like before she was ill and are back to the never ending commentary on her life, loves, problems and food ... We are so appreciative of it all! Joe and Alice have both been on stage performing this month. Alice with Danza Dance Academy in Joseph and Joe in the end of year musical evening at school. He is in the Rock Band and as always made us very proud, especially when the crowed cheered his guitar solo. Toni who had managed to avoid the whole Frozen phenomenon at University is now word perfect, has sung all the songs, seen the stage show and regularly has to pretend to be Anna or Elsa as requested by Alice! It was fortunate that in Nursery none of the children really have the whole idea of competition on sports day so Alice didn't stand out too badly as she'd just had her vincristine and was a bit 'wobbly' on her feet. Alice is now excited for September and starting School proper in Inception, exception or which ever variation of Reception she is currently using.

 In contrast to last summer when Alice was just finishing and recovering from her intensification phase of her treatment this summer is set to be full of fun and laughter and things to look forward to as for next summer well, she will have finished her treatment!

I get grumpy too! - Maintenance - WEEK 69 - 72

14th May to 10th June

We have had another month without a hospital stay, although this month I have been neutropenic and a little bit anemic, I've had extra blood tests this month but I don't mind going to see my friends on Rainbow Ward, especially as blood tests don't take very long.

I am starting to have a few problems with my walking and when I go dancing I can't skip or jump anymore, not like I used to. But I don't mind because I am going to have a sparkling costume and dance on stage like my cousin. Well not quite like her because she has been all the way to Croatia with my dance teacher for a competition! But I am still excited. I can only do the show for one night because I am going to be in England seeing my Doctor and family the same week as the show.

I have also been having trouble keeping my grumps in this month. It might be because I am very tired because I am so busy. I have been trying my hardest to be good but I did draw Mummy some friends on the wall in the hall. I have asked my imaginary friend Matthew to live on the balcony because he is a bit naughty and encourages me when I feel a bit mischievous.

Both Mummy and Daddy have had their birthdays which has meant I got to make them presents and eat cake we even took Daddy out for lunch on that day we went to see a big boat called HMS Defender and I got to try on army hats and touch guns and run around. I even sat on a helicopter.

I have  been to a special Birthday Party for my friends the triplets. They were born a whole year ago when I was very sick in hospital and now we are all at home and causing trouble!

The very most exciting thing to happen this month is that my big sister is home from University!





Mum Says: Life is starting to return to normal or maybe we are used to our new version of normal. Alice has been well. We can see the effects that treatment is having physically and emotionally on Alice but hope with a positive attitude and support we can get her through this and get her back on track, if not now, over the next few months. Alice has shown such strength of spirit and determination over the last few weeks, wanting to be 'normal' dragging herself off the sofa to go dancing. Getting up and out everyday for school! She makes it impossible to be anything but positive about her future. We are also getting more relaxed about crowds and being around people with Alice having managed the beach, park and a couple of birthday parties we finally felt able to risk crowds of tourists as well as locals on HMS Defender! And to top it all off Toni is home and we will have her until September! Finally some proper family time.

My Birthday Present painted by Alice