Wednesday's Clinic Visit

We had a fun-filled, six hour visit to the clinic today. Yes...six hours, and we still managed to have a good time. Something must be wrong with us, right?

173 Pieces

Last week Carson picked out a new toy for his clinic visit prize. And we're not talking just any ol' toy. He had a Lego Prisoner Transport Truck complete with a police truck and driver and a bad guy on a motorcycle. The Lego box remained closed until the clinic visit. Which meant Carson was pretty much beside himself all week long. He couldn't wait to go to the clinic!

Carson was so excited. He pulled off his shirt as soon as we walked into the room to get accessed. He wasn't scared. He didn't scream when they stuck him with the needle. He was simply focused on the Legos!

We weren't planning on ASSEMBLING the Lego truck at the clinic, but when it turned out that Carson needed an IgG transfusion (immuno gammaglobulin), that's exactly what we did. He loves it...although he is more than happy to leave the assembly process to someone else. (Ah, the joys of Legos!)

Picture Day

In addition to the toy fun, Flashes of Hope was at the clinic. After a quick trip home to get a shirt that didn't have a picture of a construction vehicle (what a blessing it is to live so close to where we receive treatment!), Carson and Jennifer were on set having their pictures taken. Carson was really hamming it up, so we are really looking forward to seeing how they turn out.

Hamming it up for the camera...even while getting a transfusion. (Yes, that's a striped shirt and plaid shorts...we're hoping the pictures are from the waste up!)

Counting Blessings

Have we mentioned recently how truly blessed we are to have such wonderful medical care? I was at another doctors office last week and came across the Washingtonian Magazine Best Doctors 2011 edition. There were four pediatric oncologists in this year's edition. Three of them are on Carson's team. And the fourth is a former physician at the same practice. And it's not just the doctors. The nurses and staff are all passionate about their work and care so deeply for the kids. We feel so fortunate!

-Paul

Trip/Clinic

Warning! Proceed with caution. This entry contains nothing too exciting or enlightening; however, at the request of certain readers, I write.....

Yes, we were away. We visited the areas in and around Harrisonburg, Virginia while Francesca was on Spring Break. During the visit we hit 3 colleges/universities, two caverns, a potato chip factory and a presidential birthplace. If you ask Carson what was the best thing was, he will tell you it was the pool at the hotel.

The last clinic visit was again extremely short and sweet. ANC too high, IGG level a bit low. Carson's congestion is returning. Increase the chemo medications a bit and add some allergy medicine in to the mix.

It has been a few weeks since Mr. C got antibiotics, so it is time to have "snot nose" reappear. April is almost over and we haven't been to the ER yet, so maybe the addition of some allergy medicine will alleviate the congestion and get us through the month. So far, no change in congestion level, but thankfully, no visit to the ER. Unfortunately, the month ain't over yet...

We go back to the clinic this Wednesday for chemo, antibiotic, a possible "topping off" of IGG and perhaps we'll try a new allergy medicine.

In other news:

• We went to the circus!!! Thanks again to Growing Hope.
• The tulips I planted last fall bloomed and I have the allergies to prove it.
• A good time was had by all Easter.

We will update you more later after tomorrow's clinic visit - and we'll include some pictures too!
Thanks for your continued prayers!!

-Jennifer

Maintenance Year 1

We have officially been in the Maintenance Cycle for a little over 1 year now. Lots of ups and downs, but definitely easier than the first nine months of his treatment. The boy is doing great!

Here we are, while finishing the last phase of treatment....radiation. Note the skinny
little legs and arms.

Maintenance started just after radiation and just before Easter last year. At the start, Carson weighed 14 kilos (30.8 lbs), had no hair and was about 111 cm (43 inches).

On Sunday, Carson looked like this. Last week at the clinic, he weighed in at 24.4 kilos (53.6 lbs), sported above spikey hair and measured 117 cm (46 inches)!

God has been good to us!

-Jennifer

Opposite Feelings

Carson's clinic visit last Thursday was completely uneventful. Counts are heading DOWN, which is the correct direction right now. His ANC was 1500. Still mucking around with dosages....a small increase in the methotrexate to see if that pushes us closer to a steady 1000 mark.

We had our Vincristine push, we had our antibiotic infusion, we started steroids. An uneventful clinic visit is a good clinic visit.

At the same time, our hearts are breaking once again for another child lost to cancer. Please keep the Blairs in your prayers as very early Friday morning they lost their 8 year old daughter after a 4 year battle with neuroblastoma.

Words simply can't describe the feeling of being on opposite ends of the spectrum at any given moment. One child thriving and surviving while another's life is ending. Hope and happiness, sadness and pain intertwined at all times. How do you reconcile those feelings???

My only response so far is to remind myself that God has a plan - He is in control. I don't begin to understand, but will trust in His plan.

Proverbs 16:9
"We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go"

and....
1 Thessalonians 5:18
"In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

-Jennifer