Going Home!

So it looks like we are going home tomorrow! His counts today were much better, they were happy. Although he still has an issue with the pain in his leg but it's come a loooong way! That tumor will just take a little more Chemo to disappear.

He had a platelet transfusion today as his platelet level was quite low.. it was at 10. If he was bleed for any reason he would bleed out.. it wouldn't stop. He blew his nose today and blood came out and I panicked for a bit... but then it didn't continue so maybe it was just old blood or because it's ridiculously dry in here!

Our wonderful Aunt Heather came to visit again today and has been bringing us food.. it's so much better to have home-made food instead of take-out. She's been a wonderful support for all of us.

Lyric was granted an LOA today (leave of absence), so he walked to the car without many issues and we went for a drive.. had the windows rolled down, letting the fresh air and the sunlight in. He asked for Swiss Chalet for dinner so we drove around Hamilton looking for one and finally found it. We grabbed a family pack and grabbed a picnic table here at the hospital and ate.. he really enjoyed it. His mouth sores are getting worse, so he's really got to stay away from the acidic foods.. it's hard trying to think if bland and soft foods for him to eat that will fulfill his dietary needs. He's a bit constipated (a first for him ever, and a side effect of chemo) so I will have to get some prunes, and such... oh boy.

Our Naturopath has started us on some Astragalas root extract, it is a very effective anti-viral. It's expensive, but well worth the money for all of us to NOT get sick while Lyric is Neutropenic. Jane has researched and found it completely safe for Lyric to take.. so we are going to get a little bit of immunity back into him naturally and that only means he can be strong enough to undergo his next treatment sooner!

As we speak they are "topping" Lyric up on red blood cells before we go home... imagine, having to "top" up blood into your child before going home. Some of this stuff is just plain messed up!

Lyric will have some restrictions while he is at home of course. He can't do anything DANGEROUS... like sky diving, deep sea diving, stunts, tight rope walking... hehe, no really he can't ride his bike, skateboard... anything that would pose a threat to bleed. Poor little guy will have to endure watching all the neighborhood kids do his favourite things. I will have to find him some other less dangerous things to do....hmmmm

Avery was up with us since yesterday, she wanted a "sleepover" with Lyric. I cleared it with the Doc and she stayed in his bed with him. It was sweet. Today she was a handful... but it was sooo nice to spend time with her. Maria, the Child Life Coordinator here spent an hour with her today. She gave Avery a cloth doll. This doll was to be Lyric. So Avery coloured on the face and clothing. Then Maria spoke to her about Lyric having Cancer and what that meant. She also pinned a hickman tube to it, and explained what it was for. She also poked it with needles, put band aids on, and added some medicine through the Hickman. Maria is simply amazing! She has the perfect way to talk to siblings so they understand what it all means and so she is educated and knows what to expect. Avery loved it and is now well versed on what a bone marrow procedure and a lumbar puncture is...hehe.

I am a super organized person. And what kills me is that I can't even plan a day ahead. Because everyday there is no telling what can happen. I can't even make plans for a coffee tomorrow with a friend. Even buying groceries... I will have to buy a few days at a time. Because at any moment we could be back at the hospital for who knows how long and I would just have to throw it away! This is going to be all new learning for me.. a lifetime of habits to change overnight.

Lyric has been nothing but patient and understanding. He's accepted his disease and is working pretty hard at going with the flow in order to get better. The only thing I'm struggling with is food. Chemo changes their taste buds, so he's become fussy over foods... and of course I think being spoiled while here has added to that. So I will have a lot of coaxing and pushing him to eat properly again.

Oh, and my friend Amy started a Facebook group for Lyric called Lyric's Fight.. if you care to join.

Ok.. time to catch up on a little Y&R..hehe.