friends

The doctor's decided to give Andy a week off the trial medications to see if his kidney function numbers would come back down.  After about two days off, he was feeling much better (and his numbers were coming down) and our friends arrived!  It was good timing, Andy had energy and a dose of home, laughter, and friendship was just what we needed to lift our spirits.

We spent some time at the beach and we drove down to the Everglades and saw lots of great birds, fish, alligators and American Crocodiles (!).  The kids built forts and wove palm frond mats and set up a "store" on the sidewalk and sold their goods.  The adults made loads of great meals, talked and laughed, took walks around the neighborhood (to scavenge cool wood and plants from roadside compost piles) and filled up on the spirit of sweet friendship.

Yesterday Andy and I went back to the clinic to see what the doctor's had decided about his case going forward.  After lots of back and forth with the drug sponsor it was decided he can stay on the study and that we could reduce (slightly) the drug that seems to be causing his kidney some issues.  So treatment started again yesterday, it won't be until next week that he adds the second (potentially problematic drug).  This week we hope we'll just see some stomach upset and fatigue.  It's not great, but it's treatment and we'll take it!

Having friends from home made this life in Miami seem even more surreal.  Our two families are out of place in this big city, but we made the most of it and gave the neighbors plenty to talk about too.  Now they are on their way to the Keys and we are filled up with love from home and ready to face another week.  Safe travels back to the Kickapoo sweet friends!