More blood counts

We once again visited MDACC this morning, and it was rather uneventful.  Josh got his CBC results back, but they didn't have his chemistry results before we left.  The good news is that Josh's WBC count fell all the way to 25.9!  Very excited, and exactly what we predicted.  Remember that normal is 4-11, so we are super anxious to see what happens next week.  Hopefully they will stabilize somewhere within that normal range.

His red blood cell count went up quite a bit, all the way to 4.35 (from 3.95 last week), and normal is 4.5-6, so we are happy about that.  We were also excited that his platelets fell all the way into the normal range to 425 (from 904 last week).  Really praying next week they won't go too much lower.

I guess I kind of felt like today was just an in between kind of week.  We knew it wouldn't go too low, and also that it wouldn't get down to normal, so it just kind of happened.  For some reason today was tough for me, I guess cause we saw quite a few sick kids today.  It is just not something I can get used to.  I've always known it exists, but to be confronted with it again and again, even if only for a few moments has been very difficult emotionally.  And really its not just the kids - there are so many really sick people.  When you walk into these waiting rooms filled with 75 people it is just unbelievable.  And that is just one department, on one floor, in one building, in one city, in one moment of time.  The sheer number of people affected by cancer is staggering and sobering.

We did have a few lighthearted moments today getting to vote for artwork for the MD Anderson Children's Art Project.  So many adorable paintings, all for different themes and times of year.  We voted for this adorable Valentine's drawing of two pudding packs with one asking the other "Would you be my pudding?"  So very sweet.  But it just broke my heart at the same time, to think about what these kids and their families have to go through.

Josh is feeling increasingly better this week.  Very thankful for that.  I'm telling you, though, the man is so ready to go back to work!  I'm fairly certain we are driving him absolutely crazy!  Our toughest adjustment this week has been to adjust our eating schedules around his chemo schedule.  He has to take his meds 12 hours apart each day, and can't eat 2 hours before and 1 hour after the pills.  So for the average person they would take them before bed at 10:30 or so, and then 10:30 in the morning at work.  Well, Josh is asleep at 10:30 in the morning, so we have had to arrange it to take them at 9:00 (which is still keeping him up late in the morning when he gets home).  So we absolutely have to be finished eating by 7, which is often hard to do with three little monkeys around.  And you know Josh and I love to feed the kids, put them to bed, and then eat by ourselves in the peace and quiet sometimes.  No more of that!  I know these are trivial concerns, but it what we are trying to work out at the moment.  So glad he is around to complain about it! :)

With the no computer situation I haven't been able to snap any pics of JP!  The camera was full with no place to download the pics to, so old ones will have to do for now!  We sadly only got pictures of the kids for Easter cause we were trying to save space on the card.  Thanks for the notes and calls this week checking on us, we are doing great!