Its a Good Thing Gas is so Cheap!

Well, yesterday was an interesting day. We got up at 3 so we could leave for St. Louis at 4. Greg was scheduled for labs (7:45), chest catheter placement (9:00) and chemo (11:00). Because we had to leave so early, we took Matthew with us.

At 4:20, when we were at I-44 and US 65, I realized I had packed everything we could possibly need for the day (snacks, DVDs, books, crayons, toys, juice, extra underwear)...except Matthew's shoes. Great. Too late to turn around so we pressed on. Got Greg to the front door of the hospital at 7:40 & dropped him off. Then went in search of a Wal-Mart for shoes. Actually found one fairly quickly. Matthew is now the VERY proud owner of a pair of $5, "cammo" colored Crocs. I hurried back to the hospital because I was afraid they wouldn't start the chest catheter until I, his driver, was there. They're very strict about that.

Well, I needn't have worried. They called Greg back, & said they'd go ahead and prep, but were still waiting for labs. When the labs FINALLY arrived, turns out the scheduling nurse had ordered the wrong lab work. (Its only surgery, why on earth would we need a platelete count?) So, they had to start that over with a new blood draw. Its now about 9:30. When those finally got back, his plateletes were below 5. Choice? Either rerun the count with a different procedure, or transfuse him. Because this is vascular surgery, they can't go with a count below 5. They decide to rerun the labs, STAT (I always wanted to say that!) They come back 5.1. Its a go. Its about 10:45 now. No one (including me) thinks to call the Treatment Center to let them know he'll be late for chemo.

Meanwhile, Matthew and I have been watching classic Tom & Jerry on DVD. Actually made us pretty popular in the waiting room. We decide to head out for a snack, as we really haven't eaten anything. I look like a pack-mule, carrying purse, DVD case, duffle bag, & Matthew's backpack ("I'm soooo tired, Mommy!") We go to the Children's Hospital cafeteria. Had a fruit plate (3 slices pineapple, 5 stawberries, 20 grapes & a quarter cup cottage cheese), yogurt, milk and a Diet Pepsi. All for only $12! What a deal!

We go back up and at about 11:45, the nurse (who was great about keeping me informed -- she was (almost) as frustrated as we were) tells me they're about to start. Yea! So, we watch MORE Tom & Jerry, break out the coloring books, & eat Goldfish crackers, trying (unsuccessfully) to keep the crumbs to a minimum.

At about 1:15, he's finally sprung from radiology & we show up for chemo. The receptionist tells us its a 2 hour process, & tells Greg to go get something to eat, as he hasn't been able to eat all day due to the cath placement. So, back to Children's Hosp. After applying for a second mortgage, we have lunch & go back to treatment. Greg signs in. We wait. And wait.

Finally, at 2:45 or so, the treatment nurse comes out. Houston, we have a problem. The treatment takes SIX hours. And, they won't start it after 11 a.m. Great. (Why didn't the receptionist know this?)

Meanwhile, Matthew, who had been running fever the day before, and only slept about 30 minutes in the car on the way up, is getting really tired. And stuffy. And is sneezing all over the place. Just what you want in a cancer treatment center. (No fever, though -- and his pediatrician told me he's only contagious when he's running fever.)

Dr. Vij is consulted, and says Greg has to come back tomorrow. Sigh. We get home about 7 p.m. Wine is definitely in order.

So, Greg left at 6 this morning to go back (hey, its only an extra tank & a half of gas!). I get up soon after, and then Matthew wakes up crying. Very uncharacteristic. He sounds like a 4-pack a day smoker, can't breathe through his nose, and is running a fever, again. So, I'm at home, again. The good news is, my coloring skills are really improving! But, my house isn't any cleaner.

Now, the growth factor & pheresis, which was supposed to begin Sunday, is pushed back a day. Hopefully, this won't effect our June 9 admission date. We'll see.

But Greg & Eric are off to St. L on Sunday anyway, as Eric has a JV LaCrosse tournament there. Greg will take him, and the Altoonians will bring him home. Greg will stay for about 2 weeks for stem cell collection.

We definitely have the duplex beginning that day. I'll send out a separate e-mail with the address & phone number, since the blog isn't secure.

So, we're off, but not exactly running. Hopefully we're getting all the hitches out of the way early, and it'll be smooth sailing from here on out.

Oh, and Saturday is haircut day, so stay tuned.

I'd write more, but I have to go watch Sesame Street & play cars now.

Thanks again for all the love & support. We sure need all we can get!

Love,

Ann, Greg, Eric & Matthew