Here is my dear brave sweet Peter on Monday morning before going back to Maine Med.

We got up early so we could, for one last time before being sequestered again, enjoy our morning ritual of breakfast and the Times.

Monday evening Peter was hooked up to the 5 day continuous chemo treatment. He is an old hand at it by now.  Peter learned not to lie on the tube connected to the pick line in his upper arm while sleeping, thus avoiding the insistent angry beeping when the flow is interrupted.

We got good news and not so good news yesterday. Dr. Boyd will release Peter after the chemo is done this time around. He will be home as he spirals down to 0 neutrophils and while we anxiously wait for them to go up again. Dr. Boyd wants him to go to the lab to have blood taken 3 times a week to monitor his progress.

I am a little nervous. The nurses assure me that it will be fine. They feel we are amazingly competent and are doing all the right things. According to them, most importantly I need to monitor Peter's temperature, wash hands frequently and no visitors  other than family while Peter is neutropenic. Re washing hands: we silently sing the birthday song while washing up. Heidi taught me that. Apparently that is how long it takes to get rid of those nasty germs.

Now to the bad news. Peter will have to go back for a 4th round. Dr. Boyd feels he is doing extremely well and will be able to tolerate the third consolidation. It's a good thing in a way because it will ensure that Peter stays in remission. He is totally ok with it. What a guy! Well, he has the entire nursing staff rooting for him that's for sure. They continue to be uplifted at how well he is doing and how we are handling the trauma we were propelled into last February.

As I said earlier, Peter was admitted to Maine Med on Monday. The Penthouse was not available, but the charge nurse put Peter into what we instantly baptized The Ballroom, a huge airy room with window fronts on two sides, even better than coveted room 561.

That evening, after Peter was hooked up to his constant companion of the coming 5 days, we had an impromptu first day of chemo dinner party with our dear friends Mary and Peter. A bit over the top even for us, don't you think? It was the perfect thing to do though. Nothing is as healing as being with people you love.

Tuesday Ciara helped me cook lunch. We made

minced chicken breast on a tarragon cream sauce, baked herbed rice and a melange of sugarsnaps, carrots and parsnips. The sugarsnaps where from Heidi's garden! Ciara loves to cook and Peter loved having her there for lunch. I took the picture when Paris picked her up later.

Yesterday Peter's tart angel, Marie, came over with a wild Maine blueberry tart! Lucian went to the farmer's market at 7:15 that morning to snatch up 2 of the 5 baskets a vendor had. Needless to say we were in seventh heaven when we cut into it for dessert that evening.

I won't see Peter until late afternoon today since Heidi brought breakfast [ she alternates with Mary] and Paris just picked up lunch to have with her Opa. This gives me a chance to take care of house and garden and to run a couple of errands.

As always, thank you for all the good wishes you send our way. Be well and enjoy life!