Day46, March 1
Happy Birthday Brendan…Three years ago today our little boy was born, only to be with us for a little more than an hour. We often think about what he’d be like…what he’d look like…We miss being able to watch him grow up…Celebrate joyously my son. I know Grandma takes care of you now. (We miss her terribly too…) — We made our annual visit to to Brendan and my mom’s grave today (as she passed away just days after Brendan). It has become tradition for us to release balloons (one for each birthday, so this year we released three) just as we did the day of his funeral. Ally released all of them for us this year. Benjamin was SOUND asleep. We put our traditional white tulips on his grave and pink roses on mom’s. When we got to my mom’s grave, Allyson sat there, patted the marker and called out, “Grandma! Grandma!” It was very sweet. I hope my mom could see and hear her…
You can click on any of these pictures to enlarge them.
Allyson and Benjamin woke up pretty much at the same time. They both ate pancakes for breakfast this morning. - Overnight, the IV backpack worked like a charm. Melinda, the IV nurse came around 11:30 to change Allyson’s IV bag to just fluids, no chemo. Tomorrow morning at 5:45, Brad and I have to wake up, hook up another pump and bag with the “antidote” to the chemo in it, and start the computer. It is set up to dose itself for 24 hours, so that is all we have to do. Another nurse comes again at 11:30ish to take a blood draw to test the level of chemo in her body. If enough is gone, she can be de-accessed. If not, it’s another day of IV fluid, meds, and the lovely backpack. (The backpack really isn’t difficult to use. It is just hard because Allyson wants to move around as best she can and she’s attached to this IV line. We have to be right there by her so she doesn’t get all tangled (very easy to do), pull on the dangling IV line, or move too far from the backpack. We pretty much have to be right with her. (Oh yes, Benjamin grabbed hold of the dangling line today and gave it a yank. - We also have to guard her from his wandering, curious little hands.)
Kay and Trevor came over to deliver Julia’s Girl Scout cookies and Easter baskets for the kids. Allyson was glad to see them…She roped them into playing her games ;-). Trevor made up a little puppet show for Allyson. She’s loved it.
Toward the late afternoon, Allyson started to get tired. She would not take a nap at all. I think she’s afraid she’s going to miss something. (Yeah, like there’s a whole heck of alot going on around here ;-)! We finally took her up to bed around 8:30 or so. She’s already asleep.
March 2nd, 2008 at 02:21
Lisa and Brad: I am thinking of the two of you as I am sure today was very difficult for both of you. My hearts go out to all of you. Brendan and your mom are holding each other tight and watching over all of you. Kathy
March 3rd, 2008 at 03:09
Lisa, you are amazing with Ally and Ben in the video’s I watched today, it was very good to see Ally be herself and Benjamin, I think I need to count that as a “home visit” lesson, he is really talking on command. Yeah for Benjamin. Kathy