We are done with the first year of hospital chemotherapy. 11 months, 105 days in the hospital, multiple clinic days, countless home medications... we are done. This past week we spent our final 5 nights in the hospital, Henry sailed through it!
We were thrown an end of chemo party. We had pizza, cookies and Henry's favorite: Cheetos. He took handfuls of Cheetos from the bag and placed them on his plate... stock piling them. Nurses, doctors and other team members took time to visit, say goodbyes and grab some free food.
To pass time, Henry read books. I have most of them memorized...
I think he looks like a teenager in this picture.
Taking a nap before the last dose of chemo was started.
The new Randall Children's hospital is complete. We watched most of it being built during the past 11 months.
Me and Henry.
And like that... It's DONE!
After the chemo was done, we had to stay overnight for hydration... Henry and I took a walk through the hospital. He led, I followed with the IV pole. We saw the fish tank, found the elevators, went to the water fountain in the atrium, spent 10 minutes "moo-
ing" at a cow, found the elevators again, stopped by to see the paper
mache animals, tried to break into the playroom, and finally returned to the room. I merely followed him... he knows the hospital quite well.
Fish tank.
Walking the halls.
Taking a rest on the couch.
The final morning. Eggs for breakfast.
Lucas taking our bags out. I admit, I cried. What a long journey we've had. Unit 35, our home away from home for almost a year. In 6 weeks, it will be moved to the new children's hospital... while we will visit the nurses, we will (hopefully) never be back. Such good, bad, happy, sad emotions...
Before we left, Chelsea's closet was giving away costumes. Henry grabbed a "Woody" costume, Owen was super excited to become
Spiderman. He wore it for the rest of the day.
Henry was VERY happy to be going home.
Now we wait, as the two "big gun"
chemos kick in, Henry's
WBC count will plummet quickly. If he spikes a fever, we will go back to the hospital for a few more days... but I'm hoping that was it. No more nights on the small windowsill couch, no more hospital food, no more "big gun" chemo!!
The car had the best spot to pick up snow.
Snowball! (broken in half)
Owen liked walking backwards so he could see his footprints.
Henry walked forwards...
Owen also enjoyed making hand prints in the snow. He did NOT enjoy how cold his hands got.
Owen had preschool today. This is in front of his school
We were thrown an end of chemo party. We had pizza, cookies and Henry's favorite: Cheetos. He took handfuls of Cheetos from the bag and placed them on his plate... stock piling them. Nurses, doctors and other team members took time to visit, say goodbyes and grab some free food.
To pass time, Henry read books. I have most of them memorized...
I think he looks like a teenager in this picture.
Taking a nap before the last dose of chemo was started.
The new Randall Children's hospital is complete. We watched most of it being built during the past 11 months.
Me and Henry.
And like that... It's DONE!
After the chemo was done, we had to stay overnight for hydration... Henry and I took a walk through the hospital. He led, I followed with the IV pole. We saw the fish tank, found the elevators, went to the water fountain in the atrium, spent 10 minutes "moo-ing" at a cow, found the elevators again, stopped by to see the paper mache animals, tried to break into the playroom, and finally returned to the room. I merely followed him... he knows the hospital quite well.
Walking the halls.
The final morning. Eggs for breakfast.
Lucas taking our bags out. I admit, I cried. What a long journey we've had. Unit 35, our home away from home for almost a year. In 6 weeks, it will be moved to the new children's hospital... while we will visit the nurses, we will (hopefully) never be back. Such good, bad, happy, sad emotions...
Henry was VERY happy to be going home.
Now we wait, as the two "big gun" chemos kick in, Henry's WBC count will plummet quickly. If he spikes a fever, we will go back to the hospital for a few more days... but I'm hoping that was it. No more nights on the small windowsill couch, no more hospital food, no more "big gun" chemo!!
Now picture him in his blue sunglasses and green knit cap... so cute! (I didn't get a picture of that look, but I'm sure you can picture it!)
I tried and tried to get both boys to look at me, but they were far more interested in playing with the brooms.
I think he's wrestling the turtle.
Super Henry! He didn't get chemo today, but he did a great job sweeping some leaves.
