Posted by Mommy
We went to the clinic today to get CJ’s counts checked to make sure they didn’t need to adjust his chemo pill doses. After arrive at 8:15 am, (a half hour early) we found the clinic empty. Everyone scheduled at 8 am was late. Being the first ones in they were very happy to see someone could make it one time, well early. The entire appointment took about 15 minutes. CJ’s ANC was at 1100, which is just where they are trying to keep it. Also since it is over 1000 we got to okay to start back at preschool.
After the clinic we also got the okay to get a dentist check up. The rules of a dental appointment while being treated for ALL, are first you have to be in maintenance stage. Next, you have to have your appointment within one week of the last blood test so the dental appointment can be approved, and last you have to take another antibiotic one hour before your appointment. After the clinic appointment I called our family dentist and told them I need an appointment within the week or after then next clinic appointment. They just happened to have an appointment today. CJ was very brave going to the dentist for his first cleaning. He talked to the hygienist the entire time asking what everything was, and how it worked. She explained to CJ what she was going to do step by step. One of the first steps was to count his teeth. Without missing a beat he told her you don’t have to count them I have 20. She looked at him and said that is right you should have 20. He just told her I know, as if he is an expert. He set very still and let her clean his teeth. The dentist came in to look at them and told us he has perfect teeth. They are straight, clean, and perfectly spaced. CJ was very happy to leave with a new tooth brush, dinosaur floss, tooth paste, and Scooby Doo stickers. He even got a compliment on his hair due.
Speaking of CJ’s hair, in the last couple of weeks he has went to bald to looking like he just got a buzz cut. His eyebrows are back in and so are his eyelashes, as thick as ever. We have offered to shave his head just so he wouldn’t look like everyone else at preschool, but he told us that his head might get cold if he does and he doesn’t like wearing a hat. CJ is very quick witted, especially for a four year old. You never know what he is going to come up with, and he doesn’t forget a time.
Well preschool starts tomorrow, and the entire family is excited. I will be starting back part time at work tomorrow also. We are looking forward to finding our new normal.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Maintenance is here!!
Posted by: Mommy
Maintenance has finally arrived!! We went to the clinic on Tuesday to make it official, and with CJ’s ANC at only 900 it was close if we got to start or not. CJ did the best he has ever done at getting his port accessed. He fussed a little, but no kicking and screaming, that is a big accomplishment. He got his chemo and off to the hospital we go with five new prescriptions. He had to get a sleepy test (spinal tap) right after the clinic visit, this didn’t go as well. Just like the ones before he is fine until it is time to hook up the monitor. That is when all hell breaks loose. Along with a couple nurses we have to hold him down to get the monitor on him, which are just stickers. Then it is a quick slip of the sedative to relax him. It only takes a few moments and he is out of it. The doctor does the spinal tap in less than 10 minutes, and within another 10 minutes he is what I like to call a happy drunk. He is checking out his hands, since he is seeing double, and finds it funny. The nurses can’t believe that this is the same child that was kicking and screaming a few minutes before.
We don’t go back to the clinic for two weeks and that will be to check his counts. If they are in the right range everything stays the same. If they are too high or low his chemo pills will be adjusted. We are going through steroids right now for five days after he gets chemo in the clinic. They have his steroids in pill form now, which has cut back on fights about taking medicines, since CJ is becoming a pro at swallowing pills. This is a good thing considering he will have to take at least one pill every night for the next two years. The steroids are no fun as usual. CJ’s moody; no sleeping, tired behavior is in full swing. He is not having the hungry spells, but this might still come. I am hoping since he is only on the steroids for five days this won’t happen.
Now that we are in maintenance as long as CJ’s counts stay above 1000 he can go back to preschool. He is really looking forward to going back to school. I am also looking forward to this, so I can go back to work at least part time. We can finally find our new normal. CJ’s hair is coming back in which will make normal easier. Right now he has little soft peach fuzz all over his head, and dark eye brows coming in. From what I can tell his hair is going to be straight and dark, just as it fell out. He never really had a problem with not having any hair, so it might not make a big difference. The best thing is he won’t have to wear a hat every time he walks out the door. He is not a hat person. Plus looking like a normal kid will be great for school.
Maintenance has finally arrived!! We went to the clinic on Tuesday to make it official, and with CJ’s ANC at only 900 it was close if we got to start or not. CJ did the best he has ever done at getting his port accessed. He fussed a little, but no kicking and screaming, that is a big accomplishment. He got his chemo and off to the hospital we go with five new prescriptions. He had to get a sleepy test (spinal tap) right after the clinic visit, this didn’t go as well. Just like the ones before he is fine until it is time to hook up the monitor. That is when all hell breaks loose. Along with a couple nurses we have to hold him down to get the monitor on him, which are just stickers. Then it is a quick slip of the sedative to relax him. It only takes a few moments and he is out of it. The doctor does the spinal tap in less than 10 minutes, and within another 10 minutes he is what I like to call a happy drunk. He is checking out his hands, since he is seeing double, and finds it funny. The nurses can’t believe that this is the same child that was kicking and screaming a few minutes before.
We don’t go back to the clinic for two weeks and that will be to check his counts. If they are in the right range everything stays the same. If they are too high or low his chemo pills will be adjusted. We are going through steroids right now for five days after he gets chemo in the clinic. They have his steroids in pill form now, which has cut back on fights about taking medicines, since CJ is becoming a pro at swallowing pills. This is a good thing considering he will have to take at least one pill every night for the next two years. The steroids are no fun as usual. CJ’s moody; no sleeping, tired behavior is in full swing. He is not having the hungry spells, but this might still come. I am hoping since he is only on the steroids for five days this won’t happen.
Now that we are in maintenance as long as CJ’s counts stay above 1000 he can go back to preschool. He is really looking forward to going back to school. I am also looking forward to this, so I can go back to work at least part time. We can finally find our new normal. CJ’s hair is coming back in which will make normal easier. Right now he has little soft peach fuzz all over his head, and dark eye brows coming in. From what I can tell his hair is going to be straight and dark, just as it fell out. He never really had a problem with not having any hair, so it might not make a big difference. The best thing is he won’t have to wear a hat every time he walks out the door. He is not a hat person. Plus looking like a normal kid will be great for school.
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