Bath Time

Yesterday morning, when Owen and I made it to the hospital, Henry was napping. So, we started out playing in the playroom. It's a huge room full of toys and more toys for patients and patient's brothers. Owen loves it... and really loves Diane, our child life person. Every day, "where's Diane". She is so wonderfully helpful with both kids. What a great job!
After Henry woke up we saw this: a kid desperate for a bath.

We needed to give Henry a bath... a real bath. So, after over two weeks, they found a bathtub just the right size for Henry. I love how he's looking at me, and I love how he has a death grip on his rattle.

Owen loved helping. Splashing, washing Henry and dumping water on his head.

After about two minutes, Henry decided he hated the bath. It was flashbacks to his first few baths after he came home.

But so handsome and clean!

Henry is also making progress on using a sippy cup...

Such concentration, but he's getting better.

I love him.

Owen

So many pictures of Henry, trust me... Owen is not forgotten, just usually the camera is in the wrong place... This is a very serious Owen modeling his boots and PJs. Always excited to dust...

Owen is our therapy... he always brings a smile to our faces.

One year ago today, we brought Henry home from the hospital. The sixteen days he spent in NICU after he was born seemed to be an eternity... Here were are fifteen days into this hospitalization, and it seems like we have an eternity to go...

More pictures, more days...

Here's Henry and Lucas playing with a mirror, an idea from speech therapy to help him out. I think Henry is more in love with the pink rattle/teething toy, than the mirror. It's his new security toy. Taking in the view from our room

The packaging doesn't taste as good as real food.

Where's Henry.

While he still has hair, he is demonstrating "rock star" hair... or maybe it's pudding hair.

We were moved into a smaller room. The good thing is that it has positive air flow, so it's healthier for Henry... blow the germs OUT! Here he is taking in the new view.

Sound asleep last night, clutching his rattle. He woke up screaming last night, he had dropped the rattle. As soon as it was back in his hand, he fell right back to sleep.

Routines

We are starting, ever so slowly, to develop a routine. Each morning, we bring Owen to the hospital and spend a few hours as a family of four. Here are a few pictures from the past few days.

On Saturday, Henry started the "big gun" chemotherapy. We dressed him up for the occasion. Tiffany was in town for the weekend, hence a family of four picture. Owen is in love with the green "swabbies" that we use to give some mouthwash to Henry. He brushes his teeth endlessly with them. (that's what's in his hand)

Beautiful eyes.

Owen showing off his shinny teeth.

Brothers.

Hospital life is tough.

Self-portrait.

This is one of the many chemo drugs Henry gets through his IV. This is the prettiest one. Looks like Cool-Aid.

Bob-Bob feeding Henry his FAVORITE food... pudding.

Overall, he's tolerating chemo better than we thought. No puking yet, just maybe a little more tired, but still playing... still my sweet Henry. Our oncologist is happy with how well he's doing... so far, he's doing well. And that's all I can focus on. Today, this weekend was a good weekend. Today was a good day.

Caring Bridge

We have started another blog, this one dedicated to Henry and his hospital journey. It's through Caring Bridge. A huge plus is that I can update it via my phone, yes, there's an app for that, so easier to update at the hospital...

If you care to take a peek:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/henryfriedler

Fun times

Being in The Children's Hospital has a few perks. One is Music Rx, a part of Children's Cancer Association. Wonderful volunteers go room to room three times a week and play music and sing, and leave musical toys with the kids to play with. Then, we will rotate toys next time we see them.

Henry is loving this drum. (note, he has both hands back because we got central IV access yesterday!) He looks so big! But the hair does add a few inches.

Coolest Ever

Owen got the coolest sleeping bag EVER from his Aunt Allie yesterday, or the day before... It's a dinosaur sleeping bad. With a dinosaur pillow and removable dinosaurs on top.

Owen and Penguin LOVE it!