Days +18 - + 24

It's a big surprise to us that we are still in the hospital, but Nathan's counts have been going sideways all week. His neutrophil count needs to be at 500 before he can be released and it has been hanging out around 150. Tomorrow we hope to get the results of a test that will tell us the ratio of his original cells to his new donated cells.

Nathan feels a little better each day and he has managed to increase the amount of laps he walks. It is the best thing he can do to keep his lungs clear of fluid. One doctor told him he has the clearest sounding lungs on the floor. Peter loves to go outside our room and get attention from all the nurses. His favorite thing to do is to hold both of our hands. That can sometimes be slow when he decides to stop and check out every outlet or try to climb on the equipment that lines the hallways so I put him in the baby backpack after a lap or so. Even when he is in the backpack, he reaches over to Nathan's arm, pulls up his hand to hold, and then smiles contently. If I'm trying to hold Nathan's hand as well, he pries it off. That is his dad.

It's hard to get a picture of them holding hands while Peter's in the backpack, but is sure is cute!

Today Nathan was able to have some free time from his IV pole! He spent it playing with Peter on the play mat.

Our main objective lately has been to control nausea and try to get Nathan to eat (and then keep it down). He is off of TPN (yeah!) but still isn't eating much at all. I have a feeling when he is released the majority of my day will be spent trying to find things to feed him.

Nathan is taking the most of his meds orally instead of by IV. He hates doing it. There are a LOT of pills and some are huge and make him gag, which usually means he loses what he worked so hard to eat. Our nurse last night brought in a secret weapon: chocolate milk. It is Nathan's new favorite way to get those babies down.

Eating and taking meds orally are two very important steps in moving towards discharge. It's hard to believe we've lived in the hospital for almost a month! Once we are out we are going to be vigilant in our efforts to stay out. It hasn't been easy for Nathan to be cooped up and not feeling well for so long, but he has taken it in stride. On the last day of Dr. Martin's rotation he told Nathan he was something special with how he was able to handle all this. I know we are blessed by many prayers. It hasn't been fun or easy, but he's had relatively few complications and with the exception of those darn counts, he's recovering well.

Nathan is in much better shape than he was even a week ago. He can't remember all the funny things he did when he was out of it. Once a nurse asked if he had a port (the internal catheter) and he told her he got it on a scout camp out when he was twelve. Then he snickered, thinking it was funny. :-)

Peter is such a flirt. He loves to explore the hallways and is always trying to leave the room with whoever comes in. He'll take the nurse,or whoever, by the hand and start walking to the door. Sometimes I'll take him for a walk and he'll get a nurse for each hand, give them a sweet look, and they walk him down the hallway. I've never had to worry about my kids with strangers because they would only let me hold them, but he knows everyone loves him and is very trusting. I think he will be our friendliest and most outgoing child - or the most narcissistic. Although it is a lot of work, it is great to have him here. He snuggles with Nathan and claps for him when he eats.

Peter and I made a fort. Before we did, I wasn't sure he was old enough to appreciate it but he LOVED it. We read books inside and it kept us quiet while Nathan napped.

One of the problems with making friends here is when they come to tell you they are being sent home because there is nothing more that can be done.  Cancer makes me feel so vulnerable and powerless, but I am also blown away with the kindness and generosity I see on a daily basis. Everyone here is in probably the worse time of there lives and yet I see constant acts and offers of service and friendship.

Our room overlooks the Montlake Cut.

Peter's play space with decorations from Kim. 

We miss our kids and look at these pictures all the time.

I feel like the three bears: a Papa bed, a Mamma bed, and a Baby bed.

Peter likes to help me keep his mat clean.

Look! I can juggle!

Game days are exciting. I sometimes crowd watch with binoculars.

Boats lining up for the game.

I can't figure out what they are building on Lake Washington.