"Homebound"

Here is Hans sans hair, circa 2010....don't ask what he's up to! It's a little illegal to feed the ducks around here. Maybe he's just getting ready for a picnic?
Ugh. I have to admit that 'Homebound' doesn't have a very exciting ring to it. Laid up, cabin-fever, sickly are among the words it connotes. I got through the entire meeting at school yesterday, finding myself having to hold back tears - because here I am signing Hans up for 'Homebound Services' and I am focusing on all that he is missing out on! Like I said, UGH. I couldn't get too pumped up about it. Until I met his teacher. I has dismal hopes, I don't know where these came from, that a 'homebound' teacher was one that didn't necessarily 'make it' in the class room. Kind of a burnt out version of a formerly mediocre teacher. Sound a little crazy??? Welcome to my mind! Boy, was I wrong. Our 'homebound' teacher, Ms. Kathy, was sent just for us. She has sparkly eyes and a wonderful beautiful spirit. I'm so pleased and I believe she was sent just for Hans. Now, I'll try to focus on what there is to learn, rather than all there is to miss out on. Now, my only lament is that I didn't think of signing Hans up for 'homebound' last year. Ah well, we might not have gotten set up with Ms. Kathy.

Hans just completed Session One and he powered through it without a break. Apparently he is a math rock star, already practically meeting his end of year objectives - guess we'll have to adapt those. I'm convinced it's all his counting down for meds and tooth-brushing. He has a way to go in the reading and writing, so I'm glad Ms. Kathy will be coming twice a week - on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Just for now, just until we feel we're ready to send him back. His counts came back with a good HGB of 11.8 and good Platelets at 223, but sort of scary ANC of 996, when last round at this time it was up over 1600. So, geez, good thing he's on these "homebound" services. No school with ANC under 1,000, and on the last round, it was at its low point on the Saturday after the end of the round.
The way the services are set up, Hans can attend school any day his health permits, aside from the days Ms. Kathy comes. So, if he is feeling well, has good counts, and we are on board, he could attend school on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

That's the scoop. We are doing fine. The Lanyard Project is keeping me very busy these days. We have partnered with our local chapter of National Charity League and local girls and moms are beading for us. It's awesome, thanks to my girlfriend Marlene for hooking me up with that connection. Bake Sale coming up... February 9th. Yes, Michelle, you're right. That's the thing we need to be doing, work together to fundraise and keep cool kids like Hans on the face of the planet, get them off treatment and back to school.

Elle still owes me a post! I'll try to get one out of her soon!

Lara