Hans, Feeling Well Enough Today to Take Dad's Call

Celebratory 'ritas... (it's not what it looks like, Elle ordered water!)

Fini

The Cut

The Hair

Hans, Grandma Stephanie and Tyrone

Hans' Decorated Door

The Banner Signed by All of the Kids and Staff at Little Saints

Sweet Baby Hans

I just had to share this old photo of Hans on the little slide at the park by our house. He's about 18 months here, and just as sweet and precious as you could imagine!

Hans potentially on the upswing

Hans is doing better today! After what, five days of fever, Hans has now been fever-free for about 14 hours! I am feeling extremely relieved. His heart rate is down, and he is off oxygen. It's wonderful! Hans has been excessively crabby and fussy today, like a little wild baby bobcat, but I am thinking that it's good he's finally okay enough to let us know that he's not feeling "great." I mean, he still has 0 for an ANC and his mouth is pretty sore and his lips are peeling pretty badly. He has a rash on his chest and his diaper area has not improved, but at least he's not febrile for the first time in days and days.

I am doing better, I was able to do some normal stuff like balance my checkbook and pay bills today. When Kevin comes back down I'm going to break out of here for a while and go on a walk and run a few errands. I'm looking forward to that. Kevin fell asleep by 7pm last night, he was so wiped out from the previous night.

Elle and Grandma Stephanie and Auntie Pati are having a good time in San Antonio. Elle said it got pretty wild last night after the Spurs won the game.

As we are experiencing our first bits of good news, our friends have just learned that they have a new challenge ahead of them. Kelly Virina, 32, my friend who helped set up this site, just learned that her cancer is 'acting up again'. She conquered breast cancer and has been done with treatment for several months. I'll be keeping her and her boys Taylor, 7, and Blaze, 4, and husband Kyle in my prayers. She'll start a new chemo regimen in the next week or two.

Lara

Wednesday

So, Hans is still struggling. Yesterday while I was out, Hans spiked his highest fever yet and the nurses started to get concerned about his high respiratory rates and heart rates. They've hooked him up to oxygen now, so at least that is making it easier for him. He's just hanging in there, still sleeping through most of the day. Today he had a chest xray and and EKG which each showed 'no change.' We got the first sign of good news, that there are some Monocytes in his blood cells. This is the first precursor to him actually having an ANC again, so we hear. So, hopefully just a few more days and things'll be getting better...

Kevin went home for the night. He had a pretty rough shift. Hans is sort of testy with me - so it's been all about daddy. Kevin only got an hour or so of sleep last night. Hope he gets some rest this evening.

Elle looks pretty beautiful with a nice bob! She did great yesterday at Brian of London. It's nice that they comp the Locks of Love cuts. She'll send her hair off with a note and picture. The girls are now on their way to an excellent adventure in San Antonio.

I've been passing time with the first season of LOST. It's amazing how many episodes you can watch in a quiet hospital room and a sleeping boy and no commercials. It's kind of fun to get wrapped up in a drama. I could never keep up with the series on TV - I'd miss episodes and I was always lost, ha ha...

"Day Plus 6"

More of the same today... Hans is still having fever. The doctors aren't surprised, they said that as the mucositis breaks down the esophogal lining, it releases bacteria that need to be attacked. He's a really good sport about all of this, he's not whining and complaining much at all. They are upping his hydrocortizone to a stress dose which should help with the fever. In just a few days his white counts should come up and things should look better and better.

I'm a little bit of a freak these days about germs. We've pretty much decided to close the room off to all other visitors. We're even sending my mom, Elle and Aunt Pati to San Antonio for three days. They'll have great fun, and Hans can just get through these days with only our germs to be exposed to! I've never washed my hands this much in my life.

I'm going back home today for Elle's hair appointment. She's donating 10" of her hair to Locks of Love today! I'll post a picture just as soon as I can. I'm pretty proud of her. This experience has been tough on her, but as her teacher, Mrs. Castro, says, "She handles her life beautifully." It's also been endearing how she has opened her heart to other patients and siblings, as well as nurses on the floor. All the time people ask, "Is Elle coming today?" Sorry - just had to take a boastful moment here to recognize Hans' 'big beautiful sissy.'