Another day

Thursday at the hospital, Tom arrived at 10:00 with Riley. They do not have Riley meeting with the doctor until 2:30. I had planned to come at 11:00 am, but Tom didn't want to delay the pills any longer than necessary. He felt two hours was too long off the schedule.







I went to sign papers at HR Block. I thought it would be a quick sign and go. I should have known better. We could have probably done it ourselves with as much success. Its irritating. I still have more to do . Riley sends me a message that he and his dad have headed to the appointment at the hospital.







I switch cars for the jeep and head to the hospital to join them. They are still in the waiting room when I arrive. Tom is cranky. We were not on the morning schedule. they did this before. It is not a big deal. I know they will see us. Our appointment is not until 2:30 with the doctor. Though he does tend to just show up after we arrive. Around 11:00 am they call Riley's name. I should say they call William's name. That is Riley's first name and what is on the insurance records. Its an on going joke what name they will call him by each week. 50/50 whether they get it right.







Tom asked me last night why I am happy with such horrible numbers. I told him our rule was only one person could stress at a time in our marriage. He was doing plenty of stressing for both of us. Life is what it is. I am happy Riley is alive and breathing and able to run around right now. As far as I am concerned he could be dead without this treatment, what is there not to be happy about, Riley is feeling good and alive.







So there is Tom antsy in the waiting room for almost an hour. He wants to see the numbers so badly. I am in my zen place, waiting on hospital time. Riley loves trying to get under our skin with little comments about our flaws. No one is better at getting under your skin than a teenager with attitude. So, I am in my zen place, while Tom mumbles "this is unacceptable". Hospital time is what it is.







We finally get a room and the Picc is cleaned and blood drawn. But not before the doctor makes his appearance. he also is disappointed the numbers are not back. Since he is the man in charge though within five minutes the numbers are back.







WBC 1.0



Gran .5 (anc)



Platelets 7



RBC 2.79



HGB 7.2







Best numbers since the beginning. Hope grows. The curve up begins. We do need platelets, but we will try to push those reds to the limit. The doctor tells us it is totally up to Riley's tolerance. As long as he can get out of bed and be normal, they will put off the transfusion. He may even push Riley to 5 on HGB. Our hope is that those numbers start to go up and we wont need a transfusion again.





Meanwhile we get platelets. It is a busy day at the clinic. Not as quiet as Thursdays usually are. There are some very sick children today. You can hear a child vomiting behind one curtain. Behind another is a small child crying. In other alcoves are stoeickly silent families. We at least chatter and joke. The nurses give us smiles as they pass.

If this treatment works we should really begin to see an upward trend. Meanwhile spring break is on. We are home for the duration. Riley will have tutoring during his break to make up for lost days. Trevor and I will have to find fun things to do. I am dieing my hair, getting rid of the grey.

Riley is working on another model. Gigi gave him a lego set at the hospital to build. He enjoyed that immensely. On the way home Tom took Riley to the model store he discovered in Oregon City. They had fun choosing a new model together. I went and found size 14 shoes, finally. Riley had taken his shoes off at the hospital and had not wanted to put them back on because they hurt his feet. He ran around in his socks all day. A friend had picked up a pair of shoes but had grabbed 16s not 14s by mistake so they needed to be exchanged. It all forced me to deal with it.

My boys are going stir crazy though. I need some entertainment this week. Any free healthy children would be welcome to come over for play dates or sleep overs. I wish we could go to the beach, but with the mosquitoes and well water to bath in, it is just more than I want to chance right now. This summer as Riley's numbers improve, we can go then.