80s Flash Back: Just Say No

After missing kindergarten for five months, Sadie loved being able to attend for the last two weeks.  She sang, wrote, read, played, and enjoyed herself thoroughly... and now it's over.  She was so sad the last morning of school.  She refused/delayed taking her medications and ended up being late.  She didn't want it to end.  A couple of hours later, the graduate was all smiles as I picked her up.  We are so grateful for everyone at the school for their love and kindness to our family.  We are so glad that she got to go back-- even if it was only for a few days.
Sadie is doing well.  She won't be able to go swimming or eat most fresh fruits and veggies this summer, but hey, she's still here.  Physically, she seems well to us.  She fatigues easier than other kids her age but tries to do everything they do.  Academically, she is plenty ready for first grade.  In the hospital she constantly read.  "Mom, why do all of the nurses have Rachel's initials on their clothes?"  (R.N.)   She's smart.  Emotionally, the steroids still cause her to become agitated easily.  She's currently a screamer.  We are grateful that her episodes are not as frequent or as long lasting as they were when she first had her transplant.  It's hard on her sisters to have Sadie get so angry.  We are looking forward to July when she will hopefully go off of those nasty little pills.
...On a related subject that has nothing to do with this blog post, what is up with steroids and athletes?  I mean, really, what are they thinking?  As a teenager I remember hearing about all sorts of sport stars who used them.  My big brothers and their friends pretended to be "Hans and Frans" and were ready to "pump you up" like on a popular TV show.*  Now I think that anyone who volunteers to use steroids must be nuts.  Seriously, those meds make a person wacky in a not very good way.  Anger.  Moodiness.  Let me tell you, unless one needs them for medical reasons, just say no.  Yikes!
Back to Sadie's progress-- she's doing good.  Each time she falls off a bike or takes a nap we have to stop from over reacting.  The numbers from her tests that had the hospital worried are starting to go down.  They are hoping that her infections can heal themselves.  She hasn't shown the symptoms yet that we were warned to watch for after her worrisome test results a couple of weeks ago.
Often, I am told by people that they prayed for her/us when she was so sick.  Thank you.  So many times I want to say, "Please, don't stop!"  We need all the help we can get.  I am grateful for the kindness so many people show to us continually.  Thanks for helping be the answer to our endless prayers for help.

* Please note that my brothers and their friends did not use drugs.  They just liked to flex their muscles.  I, the little sister, thought they were very tough, and cool, and entertaining.