Steroids, Cheese and Burdens

{This was written by my mom, Cathy}

Thursday (March 6) was Nicole last dose of chemo for this round of treatment.  We now just need to wait for her ANC to improve and then we will be able to come home for a few days before we start round 2. 

Since our last post, Nicole just wasn't keeping anything down.  They took her off feeds and just put her on lipids and TPN.  That helped a lot with her nausea. 

The last few days Nicole been starting to feel better. She's been wanting to eat.  She will usually only eat a bit or two, but that is a huge improvement.  Nicole would scream for cheese (with the steroids she just screams). The staff has been super cute to make sure she gets all the cheese she wants (even though she will take one bit, the mucositious causes it to hurt when she swallows).  They are also going to try to start the feeds back up very cautiously and we will see how that will go.

Nicole also finished up her second round of steroids for this block of treatment.  The steroids turned her into a grumpy kid.  She screamed and screamed.  The staff would come in and she would just say "no way, sorry". It was cute how she would apologize for yelling at them. The steroids also caused her blood pressure to increase.  They have her on blood pressure medication.  Hopefully, they can try to decrease that and get her off before we get to go home.

A few days ago James was talking to the girls about our challenges we are facing.  He shared Mosiah 24:12-16

"And Alma and his people did not raise their voice to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.

And it came to pass the voice of the Lord came to them in their affiliations, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which yet have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that he may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, after that he may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying:  be of good comfort, for on the marrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

Notice the Lord didn't say he would remove the burdens. He said He would "ease the burdens".  I too bear my witness the the Lord eases our burdens that they may be light.  He does strengthen you when you call upon him and keep your covenants. As we, the Peterson family, exercise and continue to be patient we too will have our burdens eased.

Every Wednesday the hospital plays a game of bingo.  Every child wins a prize. Here is Nicole playing bingo with her side kick kermit:)