Delayed Intensification

Jake's counts came back high enough to begin phase four of his chemo treatments today.  We cleared it with an ANC count of a whopping 900!  Much higher than we have been.  You just never know where the kids' going to be.  So it was up to Primary's for a fun filled day.  He had a back poke first thing this morning, which was actually quite interesting.  We were able to watch it because they did  not put him completely under this week, they only sedated him.  It was crazy to watch him be awake, but not at all aware of what is going on around him.  Almost a little creepy.  You could ask him questions and he would answer, but it was like he was not there.  As he woke up, his speech was slurred and he was so funny to listen to tell Jeff he has four heads and say "mommy your sooo funny." for no reason at all.  His spinal fluid came back clean...no leukemia cells still!  Yeah!  Always a relief to find out that news.  Jake also had an iv push today.  He had Vincristine and a new med (have to look up the name).  This new one is also the major one that causes mouth sores in some kids.  Just one more side effect that we get to watch for.  But, all in all, it went as smoothly as can be.  Steriods begin today also--our favorite thing.  We should start seeing the side effects in about 7-10 days of all of these new medications.  We keep thinking that there is no way it can be as bad as the last two months have been.  It will be a fun ride!!!  

It has been quite interesting to see the difference in how Jake handles things than he did in the beginning.  He has been asking for the last week or so if we can go sleep up in the hospital in the comfy bed and "make my dad's back hurt" (haha)... and he wanted to play ALL day in the clinic today.  (he was very excited to go when he woke up this morning)  In fact, when we were done today, he did not want to leave.  A slight change in just over four months of shots and back pokes and more medicine than you can imagine.  (Our cupboard resembles a small pharmacy)  Jeff would like to start some kind of support group or something for parents who's children are newly diagnosed.  Doctors can give you only so much information about the disease, but not really what it is like when you go home.  It would have been nice to know that it does get better and the kid's do get used to things.  It is in the thinking stages, but I am sure that he will pull something together.  I think it could be a great asset to those parents.  I know that it would have been for us!