So far, so very good!

The doctor's office called early again this morning with more good news. They are still waiting on a couple of labs, but so far everything is either within the normal range or negative. I believe that every test that would be an indicator of cancer is back and they've all been clear. The doctors felt from the beginning that cancer was very unlikely, but we are relieved to hear that all of the tests concur with that opinion.

Luke's medicine is absolutely disgusting, but I think it's working. The old medicine was yummy pink. This medicine is gross white. I rushed back to the pharmacy after his first dose to have strawberry added to it. I tasted it on my way home and it still made me shudder with disgust. The flavoring didn't change the color, so the pharmacist told me that I could add food coloring to make it pink. Changing the color was the most helpful, I think... He doesn't take off for the nearest closet when he sees it, but this morning I did have to wrestle him to the floor and hold him down to make him take it. No fun, but if it makes the gigantic lump go away and helps us avoid surgery, we'll just pretend to be members of the WWF twice a day for ten days!

We also went back to the pediatrician this morning to have his TB test read. As we expected, it was also negative.

It could be a mother's hope, but I feel like the lump is beginning to get smaller. To me, it feels like the hard swelling is going down and that I can actually make out the swollen lymph node again (as opposed to the entire side of his neck being swollen). Unless the lump goes away completely by Tuesday (every doctor has said it would probably take months for it to go away completely) we will keep our surgical appointment. I would imagine that if Luke is showing good progress and his pain is diminishing, he will probably not have surgery -- especially if tests indicate that this is a curable infection.

We could not be happier with the care of our pediatrician's office. Their efforts to call us first thing each morning with results is so kind of them. I appreciate the good news with my coffee! Perhaps I will add a chocolate croissant to the mix tomorrow morning... Thanks to all of you for your prayers and encouragement. We say it all the time, but it's true -- we are richly blessed with wonderful friends.