Cancer-FREE

Cancer-FREE

Saturday, July 30, 2011

StubbornT Port

Driving down the road today, Gideon's shrill voice demanded that I "PULL OVER!" I thought he was about to throwup due to the intensity of his request. I pulled over and got ready to hand him the tupperware in the front seat. Instead, he was gazing upward at the sky and said, "LOOK, MOMMY! The clouds looks like the USA!" I followed his pointing finger and I will say in all honesty, the cumulus formation was almost maplike in accuracy. Florida, the states, and even Michigan was a hand with a wisp for the Upper Peninsula. It was all there to scale (cloudy-scale).

I'm so glad I pulled over and saw that.

I also take that as a sign that this debt crisis will be figured out soon. If masses of water droplets can unite in order to create a fluffy and serene USA in the sky, I'm thinking congress can come together and compromise for the good of us all. See, this is why I prefer living in the clouds, self-admittedly and honestly. Ugh.

And just as my mind started to drift over (gulp) politics, my boys totally snapped me out of it with this conversation:

Brody: Do you smell that?
Gideon: Yeah...It smells like...STEAK! (Bounces and claps with glee)
Brody: Yes. You like steak, huh. Why?
Gideon: It's 'cause A1 is so good. And I like to chew steak with A1 on it. It makes everything in my mouth happy. And my tummy, too.
Brody: Oh.
Gideon: (Sadly) It doesn't smell like steak anymore. It smells like clouds.
Brody: (Very serious) Yes, you're right. It smells like cotton balls, doesn't it, Gideon?
Gideon: Yes. Cotton clouds.
(...Both turn and continue to silently look at the clouds in the sky as we drive.)

God bless these boys.

Update for now: Gideon had trouble at his appointment last week. His port didn't want to shed a drop of blood or let anything in, either. Vincristine can burn as it goes in, so the nurses on staff kept flushing his port with fluids to get it working again. We don't want clots in the port. As we waited, it started to look like Gideon was going to have to get his Vincristine in a vein, and I really was praying that wouldn't happen. Finally, Nurse Michelle was able to get a few drops of blood out of him to check his numbers (which are doing well!) and he was able to get the Vincristine push. HOORAY! As the needle was twisted and turned, Gideon acted like it was no big thing as he was more concerned about his monster creation on the Leapster. Once in awhile he said, "ow," but he never fussed. When asked by Brody how his chemo went, Gideon said, "Fine, but I have a stubbornt port. He didn't want to wake up and work today." Again he amazed me (and I love how he says "stubbornt").

We started steroids again. He is clingy, wild-eyed, full of superhuman energy, and achy all at once. I am using a lot of his massage from OT during this time and it seems to be curbing the outbursts. They aren't as frequent as normal, thankfully. The muscle pain, though... I'm not sure how else to deal with that but to keep laying on the cold packs where it hurts. Poor honey. Please pray for him through this not-so-fun time...

Brody has had some GREAT times this week. He went to Bronco Hockey Camp and adored it. Not only did he get pointers from the Bronco players he so loves, but he got so much better at his speed, control, and cross-overs. His absolute love for this sport hasn't dwindled at all!

Gideon is calling me from bed right now. Guess what he's requesting? Chicken drumsticks! Here we go... If you get hungry around 3 this morning, c'mon over. It'll be an all-night buffett.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

I cannot believe that I woke up in Disney World this morning. Now, I am home. What a surreal whirlwind this whole traveling via plane thing can be, huh? Or maybe I'm just so very tired that everything has that "WOAH" effect. I'm not sure. What I am positive about is that this past week has been A M A Z I N G ! I didn't think Disney World could get any better than to be a kid and believing real-live princesses were all around me, but I was wrong. Disney World with my own babies is far better. Only this time we spent more time with fast cars, Buzz Lightyear, and pirates than I did as a child with the fairies and princesses. Don't tell, but the boy version is just as magical!

All-in-all we spent two days at the Magic Kingdom, several jaunts to Epcot, two days at Hollywood Studios and one day at the Animal Kingdom. I can honestly say we did it all...every single ride (besides princess themed things... I tried, I assure you, but I lost). Gideon is our thrill seeker and adored Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, GM Test Track and The Haunted Mansion. Brody was tall enough to go on Space Mountain, and went, but didn't want to go on again. Mostly the boys wanted to stick to the Speedway, Toy Story Ride, Star Tours and the Test Track. Those were our repeater rides, which I loved. As far as shows go, we were able to take in the parades and the firework shows at each park... But Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios took the PRIZE when it came to light shows --- wow. And Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom was BROADWAY amazing (as soon as those sea creatures were kite flown around me, tears surfaced automatically. It was beautiful!). Gideon adored all of the Nemo and Lightning McQueen themed rides and shows. Brody's absolute favorite was the Laughing Factory for Monsters Inc.-- I have never seen that boy laugh so hard. He had tears flowing, and so did I. The two of us single-handedly (or should I say single-lungedly) filled the laugh canister. Oh! Guffawing is encouraged in Disney... A cackler like me adores that fact.

Blessings pretty much poured over our heads from day one of our trip. First of all, Meritz Tours hooked us up with a suite fully equipped with a full kitchen and a jacuzzi. Mmmmm. They spoiled us with passes, and even introduced us to The Boardwalk Resort's head chef, Mike. Chef Mike asked Gideon what he loved most to eat, and then proceeded to make certain he had those items for his meals: chicken drumsticks, bagels, corn on the cob... I'm talking red carpet treatment. And then, BOOM! We sat next to a DOLPHIN TRAINER from California while we were waiting for FANTASMIC! to start. A dolphin trainer. Next to Gideon. He proceeded to show Gideon pictures of the marine life he works with, told stories about taking famous California natives (not mentioning names here) on dolphin excursions and swims...all of it. It was incredible. We met so many great people in lines and on Monorails. I think it is pretty much a rule that you cannot visit Disney if your heart doesn't believe in magic and is full of happiness.

I can honestly say that Brody and Gideon had the time of their lives... Here is a snippet of their time living every kid's dream.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Gideon's RACE DAY!

Wow. It was an amazing race this weekend! Gideon is already asking when he can next go to the race track...



Now we are battling the fever bug, once again. Thankfully the fever is low, and we want it to fizzle away into the cool pool of normal, please. That's where we could use your prayers, please!