The Time

I started this post a week ago when we got to Chicago again...then things got a little crazy and I never finished it. I'll post it anyway, but just know it isn't exactly a complete account of really anything.

No, this post isn't about any girlie time so don't worry. I've really been bad at keeping this up...and I am still totally blaming Facebook! I think anyone who actually reads this is probably friends with me on FB and already knows what's been going on. I'll do my best to catch you all up, though.

The neupogen shots were HORRIBLE. Well, not the shots themselves, but the joint pain was more intense than I even know how to put into words. For anyone who knows me I'll just say this, I let Todd push me around (in public) in a wheelchair. So there's that.

We managed to have fun with Mason in Chicago, though. I thinks it's safe to say the kid has been introduced to city life...and was very ready to go back to his "blue house" and yard!

My stem cell collection was more than amazing. Dr. Burt only requires 2 million for the transplant and I collected over 29 million in just 4 hours of the machine. After that news, we changed out flights home as soon as we could!

Just like everything else on my treatment calendar, my hair fell out right on time once we were home. And by saying it fell out in clumps doesn't even do it enough justice! We wasted no time in buzzing what was left off, and even Mason joined in on the fun. I have to admit, he looks pretty darn cute with a buzz cut :)

Take me out to the ball game!

Today was Mason's first baseball game. He was really looking forward to his trip to the real Wrigley Field. We had fun and he did great considering the game was during what normally would be nap time.

I'm afraid I spoke too soon last night about not feeling too terrible. The nausea hit hard last night and didn't let up until this afternoon. I'm feeling better now on the nausea front, but the tiredness is still hitting me. Trying to rest as much as I can between having fun with my boys.

Here's some pics from today.

Waiting in the subway

Family fun (including Monks)

Pretzel time!

Go Cubs Go

Goofy boys

7th Inning Stretch

Mason loves his new Cubs flag

Sorry, Red Sox. 

Went to check out the Lego store after the game

Together again

My family is all together in Chicago now. The boys arrived Sunday morning to a mommy/wife that was very excited to see them. Mason had his first ride on the subway...just like Curious George! He was exhausted from the red eye (he only slept for about the last hour of the flight) and crashed pretty well in the apartment.

Monday I let him sleep in and went to check into the hospital. There was some initial confusion about which room I was going to be in, but it was soon squared away. After Todd and Mason were up and fed, they brought me coffee and caught the tail end of my visit with the nurse practitioner that works with Dr. Burt. I got started on an IV of fluids first, had the dreaded foley catheter placed (which actually wasn't as bad as I thought) and they started Mesna. Let me back up, the foley is because the type of chemo they're giving me can stick to the wall of the bladder and cause damage. The mesna is a medication that protects the bladder, and the fluids and lasix keep you hydrated and peeing, but sense I have bladder issues from MS, the foley ensures that everything is being flushed out.

About a half hour before the chemo starts, they pre-medicated me with lasix, two anti-nausea medications, and a steroid. Then the cytoxan (chemotherapy) was started. The boys were back in my room (after Mason's lame attempt at a nap) just in time for the first chemo to be started. It was an easy two hour infusion, but I was glad they were there for part of it. The main immediate side effect I had was being really hot. Probably from the steroid more than anything, but it was really uncomfortable.

Mason and Todd brought dinner back to the hospital room and Mason snuggled with me and watched a movie on my laptop while we enjoyed our pizza from Gino's. They left to get Mason in bed, and I had a pretty uneventful night of trying to get some rest in a hospital. I had a little nausea that was treated quickly before it got bad, and between a 1am blood draw and lasix dose and a 5am check of fluids and vitals, I actually slept pretty well.

Tuesday morning (today) Dr. Burt and the nurse practitioner Amy came in the morning during rounds and ordered another dose of the pre-chemo anti-nausea medication to try to help avoid any further nausea for tonight (fingers crossed, so far it seems to be working). After I was given my discharge instructions and medications to start this weekend, I just had to wait for the mesna to finish running through the IV and to be disconnected from all my "hoses" as Mason calls them. I was back in the apartment in time for lunch.

I was more tired today than I expected, so I took an extra long nap while Todd and Mason went out exploring. It was nice to just relax today in our apartment. Mason needed a few extra snuggles tonight from mommy, especially at bed time, to convince him that I wasn't going to sleep at the hospital again, but he seems to be sound asleep already as I type this.

Tomorrow is our Cubs game, which should be fun. Then we have a whole list of places we want to go see before we head back home. Here's some pics to enjoy for now...I need to get the ones off of Todd's phone, too. He has some cute ones as well.

Super tired on the subway

Excited for his new tent in the apartment

My hospital room

Keeping mommy company

Chilling again with mommy

Chemo, Mesna, Zofran and fluids 

Monks helping out with the infusion

My room had a gorgeous view of the lake and part of Navy Pier

What did we do before we all had cameras on our phones?

I finally plugged my phone into my laptop and realized how many pics I haven't shared yet. Here are a few peeks at what's been up so far in 2012

Buried in the laundry basket under his foam blocks 

We've had a lot of snow this year. This is at the fire station.
We've gotten more since this was taken.

Mason loves to play games. This one we found
at Christmas is perfect for his age.

Beer & Barley Wine Fest with Sarah

Cameron's actually smiling!

Just had to do it

January was so cold, we had to play inside a lot.
Thank goodness for legos!

Happy little man

This is what happens when he picks out his own clothes.
YIKES! 

Nana and Mason goofing off

Such a helper!

Helping Mommy finish her quilt

More goofing around at Nana's house

Underwear and rain boots. What a fashion statement.

Waiting is the hardest part

Mason was so excited for Christmas this year, and I think his level of excitement is just going to keep increasing each year. Even with his advent calendar to help him count down (it's the kind that you velcro and ornament on a tree for 24 days) he still would ask "Is today Christmas?" or "When will it be Christmas morning?"

Christmas Eve did finally arrive, and putting Mason to bed that night was a real treat. He did finally fall asleep, but almost 2 hours later than normal! He kept "needing" things...my favorite need was chapstick. Anyway, Santa was able to come once we were all in bed and boy did this kid get spoiled! It's a good thing Todd and I recently went through a bunch of old toys and books to donate so we had room for the new stuff.

This year was the first Christmas morning in my entire 32 years that I didn't go to my parents house for Christmas morning. Everyone came to our house, which is probably how it's going to be since we have the "Santa house" (i.e. house with a kid). Guess this means I'm really a grown up now.

We also lit the menorah and played dreidel this year. Mason amazed me the first night of Hanukkah when I lit the candle and he looked at me with a puzzled look and asked if it was Shabbat, then proceeded to cover his eyes and say (almost) the entire Shabbet blessing in Hebrew! It was so cute, I wished I had my camera out to record it.

Showing off his stocking

Having fun with the tree ornaments

We had to "make it snow" downstairs in his playroom
so I hung paper snowflakes from the ceiling

The gingerbread house we decorated

Looking at his new gifts from Santa

A snow globe of Jingle the Husky Pup

I love how much he's concentrating here

A new shovel, just Mason's size

And a new green sled

We made a little hill in the yard, but I think
he's ready for the sledding hill at the school now.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Mason recently went in our hot tub for the first time. He thinks it's just the funniest thing to have a "bath tub" outside, especially one that is so deep and has so much room for playing.

Getting ready to go

Mason thought the thermometer was hilarious

Hi Mommy!

So much fun

I don't know why the water level is low, Daddy

We had to show him to dunk down if his arms
or shoulders got cold to warm back up