There’s something so emptying about watching your child submit to anaesthetic, as though your own life force drains right out the bottom of your being while you watch his vivacious consciousness fade. Eyes droop, chubby legs reluctantly give up their feisty activity and drop to the mattress, busy fingers still, as though someone pressed pause. Though I’ve watched many an animal go through this, I could not stay in the room for Kaleb’s little operation. He was in and out in less than 30 minutes, letting the world know at top volume that he did not appreciate the sneak-attack. Even while he was trying to re-establish his equilibrium, I could not relax. He downed an entire bottle and had a 10 minute power snooze only to burst awake, look around and let loose his signature screech, in three short bursts to say Hullo to all who were there. Not until then could I let loose the breath my entire body had been holding.
These bone marrow tests and spinal taps will occur every round and are performed there every day. My brain knows the logic of this situation, and yet I cannot force my emotions to reason it out.
Back in on Friday. I'm eager to pass the mid-point. This round will be shorter, but stronger. I'm hopeful that our little man can continue to hold up so well.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
What a whopping storm today!
Our first "snow" storm. It's in quotations because any real Manitoban knows it's not going to last. They're not real "snow" storms until the darned stuff doesn't leave.
Spent the better part of today in "Clinic" (turns out that's the most popular bouncing oncology word). Kaleb went 2 for 2 with his lines - damaged the right one yet again. The little turd is FAST with those hands! Thank goodness for the nurses. I don't say that enough. They're excellent on the ward during our stays and they've magically repaired the tricky tap into his little system both times, sparing us another surgery to do a re-install. Whew.
More tests on Tuesday. Spinal Tap and marrow biopsy Wednesday. Admitting and commence Round 3 on Friday. Giddy UP.
I've yet to come down from our last round. Three days home and I'm still strung tighter than a round bale. I don't really know why and feel sick to my stomach that I'm wasting this precious re-charge time rolling around in my own insidious emotions. It's just like staring at those gloating, glowing numbers at night, watching the hours tick by as you try to fall asleep. I've said before that I'm better at the in & out, that Patrick is the long-hauler. So true.
Spent the better part of today in "Clinic" (turns out that's the most popular bouncing oncology word). Kaleb went 2 for 2 with his lines - damaged the right one yet again. The little turd is FAST with those hands! Thank goodness for the nurses. I don't say that enough. They're excellent on the ward during our stays and they've magically repaired the tricky tap into his little system both times, sparing us another surgery to do a re-install. Whew.
More tests on Tuesday. Spinal Tap and marrow biopsy Wednesday. Admitting and commence Round 3 on Friday. Giddy UP.
I've yet to come down from our last round. Three days home and I'm still strung tighter than a round bale. I don't really know why and feel sick to my stomach that I'm wasting this precious re-charge time rolling around in my own insidious emotions. It's just like staring at those gloating, glowing numbers at night, watching the hours tick by as you try to fall asleep. I've said before that I'm better at the in & out, that Patrick is the long-hauler. So true.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
WE'RE HOME!!!
Yet another surprise release!
Our first move once unloaded from the truck was to bundle him up for a walk through the bush...
Our first move once unloaded from the truck was to bundle him up for a walk through the bush...
Oh the cute clothes they have for kids!! He LOVED checking out scenery other than the ward!! The horses intimidated him a tad at first, but it wasn't long before he was sizing up their velvety noses!!
Kaleb's much more animated about his "new" old surroundings. He was very interested and happy to be here. Of course, having fallen asleep on Dad and then waking up by himself in his "new" old crib freaked him right out. A few minutes of snuggling with Mom and scoping out his "new" old room, a familiar bed buddy from the hospital and he was good to go back to sleep - thank goodness!
I never imagined how good it could be to be home.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Wrapping up Round 2.
He sailed through yet another treatment, even with a runny nose.
He's had one blood tranfusion, one platelet and is scheduled for another shot of blood before we leave.
I'm hopeful that we'll be out at the begining of this week, but it will likely be closer to the end.
We attached a strap to the front of his walker and take our laps around the ward like that. He LOVES the higher level of interactive play and everyone remarks on his hot new wheels.
He continues to wake up cheerily from almost every nap, maintains a fierce love of the bathtub (woe to anyone who calls an end to bathtime), and remains an active rider of the knee horse. He's perfected sitting up on his own and rarely takes an unintended dive for the mattress anymore. He's also cleverly figured out how to move from the sitting position to kneeling upright against the crib bars that are so delectable to taste. Thankfully, he has yet to figure out sitting up from a prostrate position. Still, as his energy picks up, so do the crib bars. This will NOT be one case of child-topples-from-crib. Apparently, the paperwork is exhausting.
He's had one blood tranfusion, one platelet and is scheduled for another shot of blood before we leave.
I'm hopeful that we'll be out at the begining of this week, but it will likely be closer to the end.
We attached a strap to the front of his walker and take our laps around the ward like that. He LOVES the higher level of interactive play and everyone remarks on his hot new wheels.
He continues to wake up cheerily from almost every nap, maintains a fierce love of the bathtub (woe to anyone who calls an end to bathtime), and remains an active rider of the knee horse. He's perfected sitting up on his own and rarely takes an unintended dive for the mattress anymore. He's also cleverly figured out how to move from the sitting position to kneeling upright against the crib bars that are so delectable to taste. Thankfully, he has yet to figure out sitting up from a prostrate position. Still, as his energy picks up, so do the crib bars. This will NOT be one case of child-topples-from-crib. Apparently, the paperwork is exhausting.
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