Here's how brave Lucas is

His 4 year old brother seeking comfort and protection from 2 year old Lucas. Watching the Transformer cartoon from Netflix.

A few cute moments

(1) Our out-patient nurse practitioner, who we see more often than our doctor, is an attractive young lady.  When she tries to examine Lucas, Lucas is quiet and cooperative for the most time.  But Lucas always dislike his ears being poked at.  This young lady had her way of doing things.  She observed that Lucas was wearing a thermal with Cars characters.  And when she looked into Lucas's one ear, she would say:"Is Lightening McQueen in there?  Oh, I hear Zoom Zoom Zoom."  And to the other ear, "I think Mater is in this one."  Lucas would then let her do her thing.  Later that day, Lucas asked me if the "boot" lady would come again.  I didn't know what he was talking about.  Then he started saying Lightening and Mater in his ears.  He told me it was the "boot" lady instead of the "shoe" lady.  Then I remembered that that nurse practitioner almost always wears boots.  So ladies, watch out!  You are either in the exiting "boot" camp, or you are in the boring "shoe" camp.  :)  I learned quickly and started using Cars/Thomas conversation when I try to brush his teeth!  :)

(2) Lucas found his favorite toy from the in-patient kids playroom today.  It's a infant/toddler toy with an old fashioned play phone.  I caught him making phone calls.  "Hello? Grandma?  I'm at the hospital. Something wrong with my tummy (he kept thinking the installed port in his chest is what makes him sick).  I'm feeling better now and I will come home soon.  Please cook stir-fried rice for me!"  He would repeat this phone call many times.  I pretend not to pay attention as he would stop shyly if he noticed that I was looking at him.

(3) Our Monday visit started with outpatient chemo clinic.  At first there was more patients than the number of TVs and we didn't get a spot with TV.  The glare from iPad was so disturbing, and Lucas was just hooked on IV fluids, waiting for his urine to clear.  We felt the toys in that play area is not cleaned as diligently as the inpatient place so we didn't let Lucas to play with the toys there.  Instead, we were taking stroller rides around the area.  And we were talking about how many kids there are and all TVs were occupied.  We finally got a TV spot at around 1pm.  And Lucas fell into sleep in the couch at about 3pm.  After a cat nap, he woke up, looked around, and asked me:"where did all the other kids go?"  I told them they have all left and the sooner he could pee the sooner we can go home too.  He sadly said:"I don't want other kids go home.  I want them to be here with me."  Even though on the surface Lucas didn't care about other kids and always looked away when we talk to other parents and kids, he still needed the company.

(4) The editing of this post lasted for almost whole week!  So I got the last one for you from Alex.  Alex and Dad were cuddling Sunday morning.  Alex suddenly told Dad:"I like the wife you married."  Dad was taken by surprise:"Who are you talking about?"  Alex replied:"Crystal of course!"

OK. Back to story reading!

Antianxiety drugs used before surgery

http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/A-Ce/Antianxiety-Drugs.html#b

By now Lucas knows the drill and gets very fussy in the OR waiting room.  He was given Versed today.  I need to find ways to not use extra drugs and have him prepared for OR.

Stayed in hospital last night

Since his urine didn't get clear by 6pm (he finally peed shortly after 3pm after we woke him up from the nap), and after the CPM chemo he would need 4 more hours of IV with plenty of fluid intake orally for 4 additional hours, the doctor gave us the option to either stay over night and finish 8 hours of fluid over night, or come back next day and do it during the day.  I thought it was a no-brainer -- since who knows how clear his urine would be the next day and spinal tap is scheduled for next day.   His urine finally got clear enough by 9pm and it was a peaceful night with lots of diaper change in the sleep.  The only part that didn't work out well, is that our original OR appointment was 11am.  We were hoping to be discharged first thing in the morning, then go to our outpatient OR appointment.  But it still didn't work out -- I'm suspecting for insurance reasons, that we are not technically outpatient today.  We were just told that we are now an add-on for inpatient OR -- the earliest is 2pm.   :(  That means no food for Lucas since last night till late in the afternoon...

I also need to learn to administer the ARAC IV at home.  So after the OR, we will come back to the "hotel room" and the nurse will watch me do it for today -- to make sure I feel comfortable doing that at home tomorrow and Thursday.

Will you just pee for us, baby?

We are waiting to get a urine sample to show that he has enough fluid so we can start chemo. With almost a whole bag of IV fluids and almost a whole bottle of water, he still hasn't wet his diaper ( we put cotton balls in the diaper to collect urine). Maybe he will pee for us when he wakes up.
His ANC is 924 this morning, compared to 200 last Monday. Platelets above 500 and hemoglobin 9.6.