7th Round of chemo - busier than ever!

Sometimes it does not pay to prepare. Got up earlier than usual and got to the clinic early and had to wait longer than usual to get the seventh round started (no designated appt time). Nevertheless, it's finally going and we are hoping to only be here through tomorrow afternoon. We've been busier than ever, with extra admits, MRIs, hearing tests, PT and OT twice a week, ST three times a week, and now, finally, home school twice a week! It's non-stop lately and I'm feeling the effects - Ethan is still handling it all pretty well. Although, he did not want to come in this round and was the most unhappy about it he has ever been. It seems since it was only a four-week cycle and since he spent an extra week of it in the hospital, it had an effect on him. Thankfully, we have only two more rounds to go after this admit!!!

The preliminary MRI results all look good. <3 <3

Will update you on our departure but a okay so far.

-Nikki

Finally home!

He made his counts this morning and they let him go at 8am!!! Boy, that was a long one. He is still pretty weak but wants to go out and ride his Cadillac right now! Ryan is sleeping, Brynn is picking on Ethan, and I just wrapped up my bills. Now, maybe some normalcy around here.

He is such a tough little guy. He never complains about pain or discomfort. He is NEVER whiney. He handles everything amazingly. He does have some major anxiety but he is allowed to express some form of anguish, right?

Anyway, we are really happy to be home. Thank you to everyone for your encouraging words, thoughts, prayers and energy. It perks us up and keeps us all going.

<3 Nikki

Okay - almost there...

I think we need to be more specific. WBC went up, but not quite enough and not with the type of WBCs we need - neutrophils. Soooooo, Think Neutrophils! Think Neutrophils! Think Neutrophils! His ANC (absolute neutrophil count) is still not there.

He is feeling much better and playing more. The doctor recommended a GSF shot to pump up those counts, but Ethan was not for it. I had Ethan talked into it when Ryan shot it down, but then Ryan realized it was just a quick shot in the arm. (He thought it was a new IV in the arm.) Yet, it was too late by the time we figured out the miscommunication and I already gave in, cancelled the order, and let Ethan know... so we'll hang in there one more day and if counts are still too low tomorrow Ethan said he'd reconsider the shot. The doctor was pretty convinced he would have been released tonight with the GSF boost.

Nevertheless, he started the climb up so maybe by tomorrow his neutrophils, specifically, will be high enough to let him come home safely. THINK MORE NEUTROPHILS FOR ETHAN. :)

At least we know the end of this stay is near. I'm getting too grouchy and I'm ready for some much needed sleep!

<3

Think WBCs!!!

Fevers - in check.
Infection - in check.
Red blood cells - in check.
Please pray, project, and send for more white blood cells and we will be home free!!!

Still here

Fevers keep coming but the site of his infection is looking better. Hoping by tomorrow he is feeling better. His wbc is still really low though, so regardless how well he starts feeling he won't be released till wbc climbs back up. We're watching a lot of movies, reading, and playing a few card games.

Will post if anything changes.

<3

Check-in

We ended up admitting Ethan after all. The fever crept up and he's on antibiotics and tylenol. I think it's another peg tube infection but the docs are not convinced yet. He seems to be handling the stay okay but he was very upset he had to come. He'll probably be here for a few nites. His white blood cells counts were only .2 last nite, so he'll have to recover some and continue on the climb before a release. Fever spiked to 102 last nite before the second dose of tylenol hit.

So, once again, send good vibes his way please.

Nikki

Hanging in there -

Doing okay. Got platelets on Thursday and may get more Monday. Will definitely get blood Monday. He doesn't feel like doing much at all. His temp is only a notch above usual and hopefully doesn't creep up any higher. He'll have a mandatory hospital stay if so as his WBCs are barely there. So send positive vibes his way please.

Love you all and will update with any changes.

6th Round of Chemo

Another check on the calendar. We're all done with the sixth round and it went very smoothly. No fevers and only one vomit episode so far! The six month count down has begun...

He's doing really well today, but we expect he might start feeling weaker within the next couple of days. Cyclophosphamide tends to hit him faster, but maybe we'll get very lucky. I got to say, I was surprised by how well he did while we were in the hospital and they were administering it.

We go back in either Wednesday or Thursday for his check up so I'll update again then.

TTYL <3