12/26/18 Boxing Day...or as I prefer to call it: The Feast of Stephen

Hello, friends.

Perhaps the first title is more appropriate than the second one, as Gabrielle feels like she has been in a boxing ring for the past 24 hours.  I am writing this from the telemetry unit of NW Hospital where Gabrielle spent the night.  Yesterday, in the early afternoon, her pain was so bad that she said she couldn't stand it any more and had us take her in to NW ER.  Where they took great care of her, getting her pain under control, and then draining, yet again, massive amounts of tummy fluid...another 5.4 liters, which had accumulated in only three days since the last time she had it taken off.  Had planned to go down to the UW today to have an indwelling abdominal catheter placed so she could drain fluid at home, but last night's admission derailed that.
She has been in worsening health the past several days.  She made a very brief appearance at Oliver and Julianne's party on Saturday, but had to skip my mom's big holiday bash at Anthony's in Kirkland the next night, which was a huge disappointment as she had been looking forward to it for quite some time.
In addition to the pain, she was fairly confused last night, but that has improved a little.  Daniel and I just finished taking a lap around the floor and now she is back in bed resting.
As of now, we are still waiting to see the doctor to come up with a plan for the day.  She would like to go home, but we aren't sure yet.  
Her appetite is very low, and is only drinking small sips of water.  She even turned down some homemade sticky buns which I snuck in.  Happily, they didn't go to waste, as it is the Feast of Stephen after all.  More updates as they trickle in.
Appreciate your prayers and kind support.

Update:
Doctor came in and was pleased with her progress overnight.  Pain level is down and she got the OK to be discharged to home, which is great.  They had thought of getting the port placed today, but it was decided to get it done on Friday here at Northwest as an outpatient.  Right now, we are waiting for her to be unhooked from the IV and get discharge papers.  Then it's back home where we might just pretend that it is still Christmas and open the rest of the presents.
Looking forward, big goals are for persistent improvement in abdominal pain, better appetite, for things to get "moving", if you get my drift, successful abdominal port placement on Friday so we don't have to keep making return trips here.  Next chemo appointment is Jan. 3.  
We are thankful that she improved so nicely.  For a while, there was some concern that the abdominal fluid was infected which would have been quite serious.  Happily it was not, so she can stop her antibiotics.
Resting quietly now.  As for me, pardon me while I resume my Feast of Stephen.  To quote good King Wenceslas: "Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither!"