Halloween 2010

It was pretty chilly out for trick or treating so Charlie opted for his "Space Ranger" costume that he got from Granddan and Garney last Christmas. It was perfect. Daniel kept with his Snoopy bunting bag. He was toasty warm and enjoyed seeing all of the neighbors.

Halloween Preview

Charlie's school has a party and a costume parade every year. Last year he would not put on his dragon costume. This year Mom got creative. I think he looks great! Now if I could get him to say "I got a rock..."

Pneumonia Scare

Last week was scary. I went to Dallas on Tuesday night for meetings all day Weds and Thurs. I was nervous leaving them boys for the first time, but went anyways. Early Thursday morning at 2am Chad called my cell and woke me up to let me know he was taking Charlie to the ER with a 102.6 fever. I waited to hear what the doctors found before hopping the 6am flight out of Dallas (a day early) and meeting them at home. The ER took blood samples and x-rays but couldn't find anything. They sent Chad and Charlie home around 5am and told them to head to clinic later in the day for his normal team doctors to evaluate him. Nana was with Daniel at the house during this time. Charlie came home and vegged on the couch until around 9am his fever was 105 and we rushed him back to the hospital. They repeated the blood work and had a new round of xrays. This time they found pneumonia in his lungs directly behind his medi-port! They pumped him full of IV antibiotics and fluids and by 5pm Thursday he was a new kid, no fever, sleep deprived but feeling much, much better. Below is a picture of Charlie that morning in his stroller waiting for that critical xray.

Through everything Charlie remained polite and and happy as he could even thought I know he must have felt like a truck hit him. The nurses were so surprised that he wasnt more cranky or clingy. He is such a trooper! Thank goodness we caught this early before filling up too much of his lungs forcing him to be admitted to the hospital. I do not believe we will stay out of the hospital in the next 2.5 years, but now that this is under our belts we may be better prepped for the next time. 10 days on antibiotics and the pneumonia is gone.

Cancer Update: Long Term Maintenance

We've made it through the previous four phases of Charlie's treatment rather well I believe, and we are THRILLED to finally be in what they call Long Term Maintenance. During LTM chemo therapy is as followed:
Once a month appointments for IV drip of Methotrexate, Pentamadine & Vincristine.
Every three months he'll have a spinal tap and chemo injected into his spinal column.
Once a week takes oral Methotrexate.
Every night he takes a chemo drug called 6MP

For the first few months the oncologists want him in every two weeks for blood counts to make sure that the meds aren't making him too low or susceptible to infection but are at the correct levels to effectively kill any remaining cancer cells in his blood and bone marrow. This cycle lasts for the next 2.5 years. We are going to have a BIG party in June of 2013! We talked to our doctor about what we should expect after LTM in 2013. Chad and I thought that we would shake their hands and go in every year for an annual check up..... yeah right! Our doc mentioned she would continue exams and blood draws at least monthly for the following year to make sure that he doesn't relapse. It slowly wans to a visit and blood draws every three months, then six months, then EVENTUALLY every year. Relapse is common in the first few years following the end of LTM so they keep a close eye on the patients.

Charlie (& Daniel) have started back at school. Charlie is in Pre (Pre)-K and Daniel is in the infant room at Primrose school at Bear creek (More on Daniel a bit later). I am picking up some contract work, at about 30 hours a week from home and sometimes at the client. It's really flexible for the times when Charlie cannot go into school like this past Thursday. They had a flu shot clinic at his school and he shouldn't be exposed to the nasal vaccine for fear of contracting the virus. I'm also more available for freak fevers and infections that arise. See next post....

We are hopefully settling into our new normal routine. Kids at school, us at work, routine doctors appointments with the same treatments that don't change all of the time. Just in time for the Holidays :) Its strange to think that we have to do all of this through Kindergarten. Charlie can't even spend the night with friends or Nana without packing a medicine bag and thermometer.... His immunity is still compromised and he will get sick easier and more often, so we have that to look forward to. His hair is starting to come in, a little fuzz here and there, but I'm not sure if it will get back to normal in the next 2.5 years considering the drugs all have the hair loss side effect. We are making the most of it, just wait for the Halloween post.

Dressed Alike?

Don't think Dad meant to do this...