When you prepare for the worst...

Sometimes you get lucky and it doesn't happen!

Not that a hospital admission is the worst thing that could happen, but it still sucks. I didn't have a great feeling about how The Boy was doing, since he slept SO much yesterday and still has his cough, so just in case, I brought the red hospital bag and the playmat when we went for The Boy's count check. I also thought that for sure he'd need something, in terms of a transfusion, because he hadn't had anything in awhile and had also had chemo just a few days ago. Platelets were in the 200's, hemoglobin was 9.6, and his white count was 15-something (that's in the thousands, by the way). We waited for a rather long time to get the counts back, since there was a problem with the machine, and we still didn't have the differential which gives us the ANC, but with a high white count like that it couldn't be too low. Doctor also said that the cough is just a cough, and that since I had it too, it was possible that The Boy would get it again, which is why toddlers are always sick.

I reminded her that except for the cancer, The Boy is so rarely sick. Never had an ear infection and only a handful of colds. She thought that was pretty funny.

Anyhow, he probably won't need anything on Friday. Numbers will still be on the way down, but I doubt that he'll be REALLY low until next week. The only reason that his port was accessed at all today was because, just in case, I figured that they should have a type/cross on file, because it means that blood products arrive faster when ordered. The type/cross only is good for 3 days if someone has had a recent transfusion. So he has the port access still in, and if it comes loose, I can just remove it myself for him.

One of the oncology nurses said that perhaps after this ordeal is over, I might consider a career change. I am good at the handful of procedures that I have had to learn in dealing with The Boy. But a career change? Not bloody likely. Although one of my mommy buddies from the WebMD boards became a NICU nurse after having had two preemies. I became an elementary/ intermediate music teacher because I hated elementary school and love music.

Now, in the middle of this post, Musical Daddy and The Boy have gone out for a walk to the comic book store. I was considering going with them, but frankly, I could use a few minutes of peace, followed by a few minutes to do a little straightening.

I discovered, by the way, a pretty good tactic for buying me 10-15 minutes of time for kitchen/living room chores: sit The Boy at the table with a rice cake and honey, and some juice to drink. Most of the time, we do eat together, but if I need some time to get that stuff done, it works well. And he REALLY needs to be at the table for that snack, or I get honey all over the floor. He is the perpetrator, but I am responsible for the mess...

Working backwards...as I mentioned, yesterday The Boy was very sleepy. He fell asleep very briefly at the end of OT but, unfortunately, Musical Daddy was unable to transfer him successfully into bed for a joint nap. He fell asleep again at 6:45, on my lap, and I used the time to relax. In retrospect, I should not have allowed him to sleep as long as he did, because once I tried to move him, he was up. And it was relatively late. By the time we were all REALLY ready for bed, it worked out fine, and he woke up around his normal time.

A slight digression: I learned today that another one of The Boy's cancer buddies (isn't that fun) also stays in bed with his mommy. One buddy is also in bed with both parents, and I think he has been even before his diagnosis. So we're not alone...

Anyhow, I do look forward to a pretty decent remainder of the week, and a pretty decent weekend as well. Barring any unforeseen complications. Sometime in the middle of next week is when we'll have to be the most careful. It is also when The Boy gets his swingset!!!!!! w0000t!