Liam's helping out...

Wonder where he learned that?

I know, too long without an update. The good news is that we’ve just been busy with the everyday type stuff. We have been watching Liam very closely the last 48 hours, holding our breath as his blood counts drop, expecting the worst (fever and a trip to MassGeneral). Last time, this combination of drugs landed Liam back in the hospital for five nights. He’s got a couple things in his favor this go-round…1) Off Radiation, 2) went with the four day dose, instead of the five day dose, 3) was discharged last Monday on an antibiotic and been on it all week.

I’m sure I just jinxed myself by saying all that, but I feel like if we can make it to Tuesday, Liam’s counts should be headed back up by then, and we may have survived this cycle without any extra nights as an inpatient.

Basketball started last Monday as well, which has just added to the craziness. We love Bridgewater though… the Blood Drive there last week was a great success, I heard rumors that the wait was over an hour, and that the Blood Mobile stayed an extra hour on campus to accommodate donors.

Liam's follow-up scan is scheduled for November 13th... anxiety still with me on that. We are also coming up on the one year anniversary where this all started... In my mind it was the day I flew to Houston, was one hour into an afternoon meeting, when Bridgett called and said Liam was driven by ambulance from the pediatrician's office to the hospital and was being admitted for pneumonia... two hours later I was on a plane back. That was the 1st of many long days to come...

Unremarkable

I've decided to start speaking like a radiologist... How is Liam's chemo stay going? It's "unremarkable", "Within Normal Limits"... in other words, boring.

Nothings ever straight forward, eh? Well Liam had the CT and a chest Xray today. So much stuff going on in his lungs, and no good base line CT following his last surgery.... so its tough to report one way or the other. We'll try again in three weeks, and then have the two to compare.

In any event, he's healthy enough to start chemo again today. Going with the four nights instead of five. Gotta a roomie from Canada tonight.

Behind schedule

Bridgett and Liam spent Monday night at Mass General with a fever and too high of a white blood cell count... who would have thought that would be an issue??? Well apparently it could be a sign of an infection, so a couple days on an antibiotic have put us a few days behind in starting Liam's chemo this week. The plan now is to have his CT on Thursday (as scheduled), then if everything looks good, go ahead and start chemo Thursday night. Liam’s due for the five night inpatient Ifosfamide / Etoposide combo, but seeing as last time it really hit him hard, Dr. Friedmann is considering just giving him a four day dose.


Needless to say, I have a TON of anxiety around tomorrow.


With the change in plan this week, we had Tuesday afternoon to ourselves and decided to do something fun and put the kids in their Halloween costumes. The original intent was for Jack to be an astronaut and Owen to be a fireman, but they decided to make a switch. It could get messy the day Halloween arrives if they decide they both want to wear the same outfit. We were able to get a good picture of them all; this in fact may end up being our Christmas card picture!!!

Anyway, I am once again behind in sending out thank you notes and retuning email, but we are very appreciative of all the support we continue to receive. Thank you for EVERYTHING…

Thank you Aunt Claire!!!

Just found out about this today... Aunt Claire and Uncle Bob are running the Hartford Half Marathon tomorrow in honor of Liam and to fund raise for Angels Above.

THANK YOU and GOOD LUCK!!

It’s a miracle

After three days of being unable to walk, and on the verge of a decision concerning surgery and/or other unpleasant options… Daisy miraculously stood up, walked and asked to be sent home with her owners… ok – so she didn’t actually speak, but we got her out of there with her pain meds and steroid prescription before we had to pay for another night stay in the critical care facility!!! Welcome home Daisy!

Mini Update

Liam is doing very well and is showing not only an enthusiasm for eating, but he's trying new foods too.

Daisy is not doing so well and is still over at the New England Animal Emergency Center.

I am also overdue with Troy's christening pictures, and I've have some pictures from the Caton Blood Drive I want to share.... maybe later today???

Seriously, can we catch a break?

Liam's counts were good enough to get discharged today; he's also had a pretty good day eating, drinking an playing. Liam was home from MassGeneral by 11:30 am, but by 2pm, Daisy was on her way to the vet ER. Not a good day for her. What started off as a limp this morning got progressively worse over the course of the day. Best guess by the vets at the New England Animal Emergency Center is some type of disc issue. She's in overnight, and hopefully we'll have more to report in the morning....

Day three

Yes - still here, but in great spirits. As usual though little eating or drinking be done by Liam. (Frootloops are now just another source of entertainment). No fevers since early Thursday am and he's off the Tylenol/Motrin.

Still neutropenic, but counts are on the way back up, we are optimistic that he'll be discharged after tomorrow mornings blood counts are checked (and at a reasonable level)

I love technology...

Just in from Tee-tee from her camera phone. Nice to see a smile as I sit here pretending to work.

Still in the hospital

Liam is being treated for pneumonia.
Fluids, Tylenol, Motrin, several antibiotics.
Today he’s having a blood transfusion.

Fever’s were up and down Tuesday/Wednesday… seem to be under control since about 2am this morning.

Great turnout at the Blood drive today, unfortunately Liam headed to the hospital this evening with a temp.

More on both to come...