Round 3

Today we started the third round of chemotherapy.  I think today it happened the way it was supposed to.  Here's a rough outline of the first day of this round of chemo.


6:30:  Wake up.  Have breakfast.  Take last dose of home medicines.  Potassium citrate to alkalinize the urine.  The last mouthwash.

8:00:  Place Emla cream on the skin over the port and cover in Cling Wrap.

9:00:  (Mom) Coerce younger brother into the car so J can be dropped off at the clinic for his 9:00 appointment.

9:05:  Continue fighting the 5-year-old who wants nothing to do with leaving the house yet again.

9:10:  Drop J off at door of hospital clinic to be met by Dad.  Mom then runs the two youngest to their babysitters for the day (much thanks to our ever willing crew of babysitters.

9:15:  Checked in to clinic.  Answer nurse's questions about how J is doing and what medicines he is taking.

9:20:  Nurse comes to access port.  Mom did an excellent job applying the Emla cream and J barely notices when port is accessed.

9:40:  Dr. oncologist comes in for clinic visit (I don't think I ever realized they did that). Answer his questions about how J is doing and what meds he is taking.  Plan for week is outlined.

9:50:  Wait for nurses to inform us that there is a room available.

10:30:  Still waiting

10:35:  OK, waiting is over.  Time to leave clinic for the inpatient unit in the children's hospital.  J begins wishing his parents were kind people, but they insist that he can walk.  It's probably about 1/4 mile from the clinic to the Children's Hospital, but all inside.

10:40:  Still walking, accompanied by lots of moaning and groaning.

10:45:  Arrived at Children's Hospital.  We get one of the good rooms (less light from the hallway shining through the window on the door).

11:00:  Answer all the nurses questions about how J is doing and what meds he is taking.

11:10:  Answer all the residents' questions about how J is doing and what meds he is taking.

11:20:  Answer oncologist's questions about how J is doing and what meds he is taking (I had enough of answering the same questions and went back to work).

Until 6:00:  Run IV fluids.  Get those kidneys primed for action.

5:30:  Give Zofran in anticipation of starting chemotherapy.

5:45:  Get a visit from Woody Wolfe, a singer, who makes regular visits to Children's Hospitals around the world and adds to J's desire to learn to play the ukelele.

5:55:  Get's a visit from a therapy dog.

6:00:  Start chemotherapy (today it's the lime-green-poison-toxic waste-appearing liquid).

6:30:  Visits are over from the entertaining volunteers.  Dad abandons J and runs home to grab dinner, night time supplies, and take a walk with family around the neighborhood.

7:45:  Zofran not keeping nausea at bay.  Asks for prn nausea medicine.  Nurse gives option between benadryl and Ativan.  J picks Ativan (if you know both of those, you are picking Ativan as well).

8:00:  Throwing up.  Dad trying to get dinner, fresh water, vomit receptacles, tissues, paper towels, and movie set up.

8:30:  Feeling better.  Watching Night at the Museum on the Play Station in the room.

9:00:  Chemotherapy done.  Switched back to IV fluid.  Time to add a blog entry while trying to watch a movie:)

9:15:  Realize all the essential items that did not get packed.  Power cords for phone and kindle.  The right pair of shoes.  J's backpack containing homework (OK, I didn't ask for that).  Mom to the rescue, makes yet another trip to the hospital and gets a goodnight kiss in the driveway of the hospital just because, but also for being awesome.

10:10  Good night!  Prepare for a night interrupted by vitals every four hours and the need to pee every four hours (J, not me).  Of course, those won't happen on the same schedule, but will be staggered so there is not more than two hours continuous sleep.  Prepare for another exciting day tomorrow.