Can't Wait Until This Is Over!

Those were the words that Adam spoke to me last night while we had dinner. He has felt crappy all day. Soreness, aches, dizziness and just plain worn out. He hasn't really felt like eating, and all he wants to do is just lay around. This is normal after chemo, but it just seems to get worse with each session.

It didn't help that Dad had to give him a shot yesterday morning and had to stick him twice, because I didn't get in the first time...

We went to IHOP for breakfeast and we all ate too much, and even though it was good, we all seemed a little yuck after wards. But then again, all you can eat pancakes can do that to you. He is trying to stay upbeat, but we can all tell that this is really starting to tear him down. The straw is about to break the camels back, but we have to smile and keep our spirits up, there are only a few more sessions of chemo left and then radiation. Then it will be over. At least the hard part. Monthly visits or quarterly visits sound very appealing right now.

An All Day Extravaganza!

Today is actually a day that we have been looking forward to. Even though it means spending the entire day in the hospital going from one department to another, getting poked and prodded and having to ingest nasty liquids and then have radioactive die put into your veins. Yes, I said we were looking forward to this. Well at least Adam's mother and I are looking forward to this day. Adam on the other hand may not find it as stimulating.

But, the tests are being done for a very important reason. It will tell us just how much the tumors have shrunk and if the chemotherapy Adam has been undergoing is doing what it needs to be doing. it will also initiate the next few months of treatment and how we will go forward from this point. Of course, both the doctors, Lisa, Adam and myself are sure that the treatments are working. Now to find out just how much. We will receive some initial results later this afternoon, but the big day will be the 22nd when we meet with the radiologists and the team of oncologists.

Adam has been doing fairly well, his counts are up, which is a good thing, however it is causing him a little back pain. This is a normal reaction to the Neupogen, but other than that he seems to be doing well. Adam is such a quiet subdued personality it it sometimes hard for us to determine just how he is doing. But, I am sure if he was not doing well, he would let us know.

Well we are on our way to the all day extravaganza, we will let you know our results as soon as we know, keep your fingers crossed!

Home Again

Well not exactly, but home with Dad. Adam was dismissed from the hospital today after a battle with his PICC line. They (they being the nurses) normally just pull these out with no problem, however Adam's vein spasmed and caused it to clamp down on the catheter, which in turn caused the line to get stuck! OUCH!

So after several hours of warm compresses to allow the vein to expand the picc line was fully removed and discharge from the hospital was inevitable.

The second session of chemo went rather well. Very little if no nausea and he seems to tolerate it very well. Expect for draining him of energy, he is doing very well. The port site looks great. As his nurse said it was a "text book" procedure. He seems to also be tolerating it very well as well. Very little pain is associated with it. He says it feels as though his muscles are sore like he has been working out.

He actually has gained a little weight, and has even grown a little.

Adam started the New Year off here at dads and will go home on Sunday.

Where Oh Where ...

What has happened to his hair? Well it started to fall out so he decided before it started to get any worse he would just shave it off. It really does not look bad, it looks kind of cool. I like it on him. His step-father also shaved his. So the question is...Is Dad going to shave his? Well, I will probably start with a buzz cut and go from there...

Despite the loss of hair, Adam seems to be doing very well. His counts are going back up, and he is eating and not getting nauseous, but then the second round of chemo has not started yet. That will start sometime on the 30th of Dec., after they put in his port. The port is much like the picc line, except it is under the skin, and allows him more freedom. It is also easier on the veins when the chemo is being given. Then sometime after the port is surgically attached they will begin the next session of chemo, and he will be hospitalized for about 3-4 days for that. At least he will be home for Christmas!

Life in the last few days

We came home late Tuesday night on the 9th of December. We had to have all of our ducks in a row to get ready to come home. Like having all the medicines that Adam would be on for a while and getting the delivery from HomeCare with his supplies. Bill picked up his meds from the pharmacy because we weren't going to get home until late.

The next day we started into our routine. We flush his PICC line and he takes his medicine. Sarah and Alyssa are here staying with us for a few days. She will be heading home tomorrow. Bill and Adam are going to take her home. Adam can ride in the car as long as he uses his mask and takes care not to expose himself to much. The ride was uneventful and they made it home with no trouble.

Friday was clinic day. The nurse coordinator met us in the lobby of the clinic and went over some material with me. Adam got checked out by Dr. Aly and then Dr. Saloman came in and looked him over. He did two meds via his PICC line and got some Ativan for nausea. He took a little nap while we were at clinic. He was pretty bummed out that he couldn't drive home but with the Ativan in his system, I wouldn't chance it.

We stopped by his dad's work and picked up a present from Erin's mom. She sent Adam six pints of Graeters ice cream (chocolate chip cookie dough, his favorite ice cream!) He couldn't wait to start into it and ate half of one container before we got home. He loved it!

Friday night Adam went to visit his friend John. These boys are so close and such good friends. John's mom said that John was so worried about Adam that it was hard for him to get anything done. The boys are six days apart in age so they are very close friends. They just sat in John's room and talked to a couple of their friends.

Saturday, Adam went to a friend's house for a while. I think that he may have overdone it a little because he was really tired when he got back. Fatigue is becoming a factor, I think, and Adam needs to take it a little more slowly until he knows what he is up against.

Sunday was a "yuck" day. Adam was tired from Saturday and wasn't feeling well. He got very nauseated. I gave him the Ativan so that it would help him to not be so sick. I'm hoping that he doesn't have very many of these kind of days. It's not fun for him and honestly, just makes me worry about him more.