Bringing cookies

Rileys 3:00 am platelet count was at 45 this morning from 60 yesterday. The pick line is working great. Around 11:00 the ATG starts. It is a chemo drug, this horse serum. It will run 8 hours today. Riley roams the halls pulling his coat rack of fluids behind him. There are other yoiunger children with parents trailing behind pushing coat racks and scooters. I know coat rack is probably not the right term, but that is what they look like.

My Mom comes by with plaid pjs and keeps us company. She has raided my dad's stash of safeway cookies for us. She agrees to come back later to watch riley tonight while my sister and dad go out to dinner. She leaves and an old friend I havent seen in a couple of years drops by with home made cookies. Riley eat at least 6. They are delicious. I take the safeway cookies to the nurses station. Mom taught me keep the nurses happy and they will keep you happy. The doctors come in on their rounds to check on Rileys progress. he is taking this first dose quite well so far.

Tom calls in the afternoon. He and his partner are in second place after the first day. He has won money. I tell him not to lose it playing poker or Bernie tonight. Its another tradition of the weekend, the party and gambling Saturday night. He tells me he is going to continue taking time off from work. I don't know how I feel about it. I kind of am in a zone. I am getting my system down and organized. I feel like this is my job, the children and caring for them sick or well. His needing to take the time off implies I can't do my job. I know he feels the need to be here, but my feeling is his job is his job at work. My fear is if we need him later more, he wont have the time available without risking his job. This is a year long if not longer treatment. I am in control now and see what needs to be done for the children. He fired someone just resently for abuse of the family leave act. We can discuss it when he gets back. I want him to enjoy the weekend.

My sister comes and is happy to see Riley doing so well. We plan to go out to dinner