I Think It's Finally All Gone

I think Fiona's chemo has finally all left her little body. I say this because I had forgotten how truly feisty and energetic she used to be. I mean, she was spotlighted at church and I got to tell the story of when she was toddler and she TPed and toothpasted the hallway (and her sister) when she was supposed to be sleeping. I had a multitude of stories to pick from, trying to swing from the dining room chandelier or climbing up into the highest cupboard to open a box of pudding and then flinging it everywhere before slipping through it and almost falling off the counter top. I could go on and on.
Anyway, I spent Spring Break with my girls last week without the benefit of major events. Sure, we went to the ice cream factory and played at the park, but those were only two days. The girls had a lot more time on their hands to make me crazy. And crazy they made me!
So this got me to wondering what the difference was. And then it hit me, without the benefit of 7 hours of school ( I LOVE Texas for that), she was back to her regular energy level and really only had her sister to take it out on. I guess I didn't notice because she had school and I had gotten used to her being a 'normal' kid, with a normal energy level. It's been 3 and a half years since she started this. That's a long time in the life of an 8 year old. It redefined normal for all of us.
I am grateful that slowly, but surely, she is moving away from all of the effects of that time in her life. By August, we are set to go to the clinic only twice a year!! Her hair is all grown out, her steroids no longer show in her face or tummy. You can see obvious veins on the left hand side of her chest if she is wearing a V-neck. That's from a clogged vein due to her PICC. Remember how I posted before that we weren't supposed to numb that side for her CT because they couldn't be sure all of the contrast would get in? The scar on her neck, from the lymph node biopsy, is really hard to find. I don't hardly see the scar on the right side of her neck and on her chest, from her port. I imagine as she grows it will become negligible.
I am truly grateful that she has come out so well. Of course, this summer, I might be offering to ship an 8 year old, free of charge, to the first claimant. Hopefully a bunch of swimming, trips to the Y and plain old household chores will keep her from tormenting her sister. I can't take another week! Much less months.