Handsome in Blue

We are back at Emanuel. On Monday morning we returned; Henry had a bone marrow biopsy (results still pending) and a lumbar puncture with a triple chemotherapy injection. They also checked the spinal fluid for signs that his leukemia has spread there, and it continues to be negative. Here is a picture from Sunday, his last day at home for a bit. Happy little guy. We are back in our same room. We were able to 'move in' while Henry was having his procedures.

"Hi!"

Happy Eyes. Today was a good day. He was mostly happy. The achiness from the biopsy seems to be subsiding. The effects of the chemo won't start hitting him for a day or two.

Randoms

Just a couple random pictures off this round of pictures. Owen and his Red Robin balloon. Brothers at play

Happy Owen with green beans.

Tip-a-Cop

On Sunday, Bob helped out at our local Red Robin for the annual Beaverton Tip-a-Cop, raising money for the Special Olympics. Owen loves seeing Bob-bob in uniform and sitting in the police car. I think Bob-Bob loves seeing Owen just as much! officer in training?

He'll get you speeding... watch out!

This year, Henry could join in the fun too!

Another Officer Friedler?

Hickman

On Monday morning, I took Henry to the hospital. Our goal was a Hickman placement, a bone marrow biopsy, and a lumbar puncture with chemo. Then admit to the hospital to start round two of chemo. When we got there, he had labs drawn. His white blood cells weren't high enough to start chemo or do the biopsy, so we "settled" for just the Hickman placement.

It's a large bandage, that will come off tomorrow, but you can see the Hickman; two ports to give meds into that go into the large vein by his heart. He was "helping" tonight while I flushed the lines with some saline.

This next Monday, we will go into the hospital. By then, his labs will definitely be good enough to restart chemo. So, we got another week at home. Which is nice... BUT, it's a delay in treatment, which isn't ideal. But I'll take another week of "normal" before reality kicks back it!

Wine Tasting

Maybe it's in poor taste, but it's just what Lucas and I needed, on Sunday we took the boys wine tasting. We called ahead to make sure they were "kid friendly" and not busy... then we sampled some yummy Oregon wines at Oak Knoll.

"where's Henry?" There he is!

My favorite things

I love having all of us home. I love watching Owen and Henry play together, and steal toys from each other. And as much as I love watching us all together, it makes the reality of going back to the hospital on Monday that much harder.

I asked Owen to pick up Henry... he walked over and said, "too heavy mommy, you pick up". Playing together.

My favorite three men.

Brothers

I can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to have both of my babies in the same house. And even better when we can watch them play together.

Airport: trip two

Today, we went to Twin Oaks airport. (it's just what we do). It was a great day to watch the airplanes take off. Owen even got to sit in an airplane

A natural.

Before and After

Henry has been losing his hair. It started slow, one here and there... but it's been picking up speed. Hair in his mouth and hands, stuck in his drool, and recently starting to clump on his pillow. So, we had our friend Jami come over to shave him down.

It started with a cute kiss. He thought it was pretty cool having everyone looking at him.

Then the tears came... and a lot of them. He started to cry as soon as the purple cape went on.

When I held him, he didn't cry as much... he may have just given in.

Me and my bald baby.

Lucas and his mini-me.

I think he looks quite handsome! (Lucas AND Henry)

Airport: trip one

What does the Friedler family do when they are together for the first time? Go to the airport! On Friday we went to the Hillsboro Airport. We watched this airplane very closely, when it left, Owen said, "Owen misses airplane". I think Lucas loved him even more after that...

Home

We got to bring Henry home on St. Patrick's day. It is so nice to have all of us under the same roof, at the same time. I was worried how Henry would adapt, would he remember his home after five weeks away. The answer was YES! He has had such a great few days at home.

"where are all my toys?" Self-portrait... almost got all of us!

SMILE!

Last hospital pictures (of this round)

Here a few random pictures from our last day at the hospital. We got to bring Henry home on Thursday the 17th, exactly five weeks from our admit. He has so much more energy than he did a few days prior...

"let me out!"

There's our Henry

Today was the last day of the first round of chemo! We are slowly seeing more and more of our "happy Henry." More smiles, more laughter (yes LAUGHTER!) and more play. It's so nice to see! He has felt so puny for the past few weeks. We will take it while we can, then hopefully start the next round of chemo on Monday.

He is in LOVE with puffs. Any flavor will do. He will slowly put it in his mouth...

Then shove it the rest of the way in, with a look that says, "don't you dare try to take this away from me..."

Then happily shake the container for more.

We spent some great time on the floor this morning playing. Playing on the floor is a decently tricky endeavor. We have to move the rocker out of the way, push the table to the side, pull out the mat and cover it with a blanket, move the IV pole just so... and then play. Completely worth it when we are down there for a while... so sad when he doesn't want to play.

He confiscated my (empty) coffee cup... another sign that he is feeling better.

We played peek-a-boo with that for a while.

"where'd he go?"

He loves to play with music.

I can't begin to describe how wonderful it is to see Henry smile. He just melts my heart.