Surprising yet wonderful news!

This weekend has gone by very quickly.  Saturday was pretty much a haze of sleep and food.  Dexamethasone withdrawals weren't as bad this time, as far as being moody, but boy was it rotten!  I couldn't get comfortable, was hungry, my stomach hurt but things didn't taste right, couldn't think right, and didn't want to talk to anyone because I didn't know what I would say.  Jimmy said it was a lot like I had a big hangover.  I personally wouldn't know. 

Sunday afternoon we headed up to Durham.  Jimmy drove, which I was very thankful for.  We checked into a hotel we've stayed in before, and caught dinner and a movie with Patrick.

This morning we got up and went to the clinic about 8:30.  I started getting really nervous.  They drew my blood around 9 and we sat.  FOR AN HOUR.  I went to the desk again, they called Dr. M, and he said he was still awaiting my counts.  He said we could go wander around and he'd call my cell when he got the numbers.  A few rounds of Angry Birds and a meal at Chick-Fil-A later (gotta love franchising within a hospital), Dr. M called and asked where we were.  He told us to stay in the cafeteria and he'd be right down.  Dr. M came into the cafe and hands me the test results.

241,000 PLATELETS.

More than I had on Friday....without any extra meds.

I'm sure the steroids were probably still working on my body, but still...241,000.

So where does this leave all our well-laid plans?  Dr. M is content to let me get counts at home next week and not have to come in.  We'll keep an eye on counts and symptoms, like we have been.  If I get below 20,000 and start having symptoms, we'll start the Nplate. I have an appointment December 1st with him, so I'll have to be back in a month.  But for now, I'm not going to have to do the Durham 500 once a week, and that's enough for me.

God does answer prayer.  I have no doubt of that and I am beyond grateful for all of the prayers, love, and thoughts everyone has offered our way.  With my experiences though, I know that His answers to those prayers are not always the ones we want to hear.  And I know things can go the other way at any time.  I feel very hopeful though, and excited to see what the future holds!