Snowy Day!

So I'm starting off this weeks post with more hair pictures.  I guess that has become our pre-clinic routine. :)  I love how he is giving us the 'I am strong and I will fight' face.  I love this boy, he totally brightens my life.  Yes, it's thinner still but the doctor thinks he'll hold on to it till Spring.  So hey, that's a plus, his head won't be so cold, right?

 

Because of the fantastic weather this morning the drive was...well...how shall I say?....interesting!  I am so grateful that Mike is such a calm driver.  Not much can get him upset.  I'm glad that I could sit in the back seat and try not to watch everything going on around me.  Luckily Caleb slept for most of the drive. That always makes it easier, sometimes that car ride can seem pretty long.

            With everything considered, we made pretty good time and only ended up being about 15 minutes late for our clinic appointment.  Today was an easier appointment; if you could call any of this easy :)   He didn't have any IV chemo today.  They just did the routine bloodwork.  Which he still isn't thrilled about them accessing his port in his chest.  I can't really blame him though, I wouldn't be happy with a needle coming at my chest either.  But with time it will become something that he will  hardly notice.  The nurses up there are really great and try to do everything possible to make this an easy process.

 The doctor even told us today that at a certain point in treatment Mike and I will be giving him some chemo at home through his port...US!  WHAT?!!  I'm sure I'll handle it and get through it fine, but it makes me all kinds of nervous just thinking about it.  Good thing it's a few months away.

 

 

 

His labwork came back good.  His ANC is nice and high and they like to see that.  I think it was about 6000 or something, which is really high.  But it's good, so he can have a better chance of fighting off infection, if he got one.  His numbers will go up and down all throughout treatment so we just have to keep an eye on them.  That's one of the things they look at when they do his bloodwork.

After we left the clinic we headed down to the RTU for yet another Lumbar Puncture.  He will get to have another one next week, I know, fun huh?   He is just amazing getting through these.  In this picture to the right he is in the recovery room and still looking a little dopey from the medicine.  But still willing to give Mom a smile for the camera!  After eating his Doritos of course! Haha!

 

 

Now today I'm ending with this picture.  For any parent that has ever had a child with cancer at Primary Children's they know what this bell means and represents.  When a child has finished treatment and won the battle they get to ring this bell loud and clear.  To let everyone know they are walking away a champion.  Mike and I first saw this bell (which they have a couple on the Oncology floor) when Caleb had just been diagnosed and we were spending that very long week in the hospital.  We were both so numb and lost that whole week.  But I remember when we first saw it.  We stopped and read the plaque together, tears rolling down our cheeks.  Both of us imagining the day when Caleb will ring that bell loud and clear.     

Ring this Bell

Three Times Real Well

It's Toll to Clearly Say

My Treatments Done

This Course is Run

Now I am on my Way!