Update on Tuesday's Trip

Good morning, everyone. Grant seems to be feeling better today. Yesterday we had out typical day of nausea following chemo. He had a low grade fever for most of the day and spent a lot of time hanging out in Grandma's big bed!

We had a fine trip this week. On Monday evening Grandma, Grant and I made our way first to Raleigh to visit Leah and her family, and then on to Chapel Hill to spend the night at our new home away from home, The Hampton Inn. We got to the hotel a little early so Grant could enjoy the pool. He is learning how to doggy paddle, and thinks that pools are just the most fun ever! We hear that Grandma may be getting a pool at her house sometime this summer - a desperate ploy to get her kids and grandkids to visit her more often!!! Do you hear me laughing, mama? I hear you!

We arrived at clinic a little before 7 am and found ourselves first in line this week! We checked in with Ms. Cindy and got plugged in (had his port accessed) with Ms. Mary and went straight in for sedation and spinal tap. Grant had gotten a pretty nasty splinter earlier in the week, so I used sedation as an opportunity to "operate" on his foot! One of the many perks of our current situation! ;) The anesthesiologist was very cooperative and even helped me a little! He says that parents do all kinds of weird things when their kids are under - clean their ears, change little girls earrings, remove splinters etc.... It was funny!

Grant favored everyone in the post-op room with his best druken rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame"! He's a funny kid. Does everyone know that every week I also must favor all of the nurses with singing "Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Bear" while Grant is having his port accessed? Yes, I do! Luckily I am used to singing in front of large crowds! The clinic is so small that everyone in the whole place hears me every week!!!

His numbers were low this week, which is to be expected. His neutrophils were .4, so he is considered neutropenic and needs to be basically secluded this week. His hemoglobin was 7.7, very low as well. He is on the verge of needing a blood transfusion, but it wasn't a neccesity this week. Hopefully, his numbers will come up on their own this week.

Next week we will do blood work at home on Monday with home health to determine if he is well enough to start the second round of Ara-C in this phase of treatment. He does this one at home for 4 days in a row for two weeks. It is what causes his numbers to fall, so they don't want to begin again until his numbers are up again. We will see what happens on Monday.

Today we are going to hang out at home and enjoy the beautiful weather. If the mosquitos would go away we could really enjoy things! We thank everyone again for your continued prayers for our family and especially for Grant. Have a great weekend!