Port Removal #3

So we rocked up this morning, down on 3B, and received a rather inquisitive look, that was followed by a 'What are you guy's doing here?"

After having been admonished for going to the front admissions desk last time, we were told to go back to the front and they would admit us. We didn't see 3B again. We were up on the Surgical Day Procedure Unit, along with everyone else being admitted that morning it seemed. Fortunately, we were the first to be freed from the waiting area and were looked after by a lovely nurse. It's nice to know that the nursing staff are great throughout PMH and not just in 3B.

After distracting our little man, and him having a snooze, we were in pretty much on time. It was all over in about 40 minutes, and soon we were in the ward recovering. It didn't take long before we were on our way home. So nice to have a quick visit, though we were a little bit upset that we didn't tell them to do the surgery when we were next due in for chemo. Despite the fact that we have an amazing little boy, it can't be nice to have to fast after 5 days of steroids.

But you can't keep a good man down, and he's back in to the swing of things as if nothing ever happened. Amazing.

Bookworm

Sitting at my new table and chairs.

Flicking through one of dad's books. Oma bought it back in 1984!
Don't mind the jowls - it's the steroids. No, really.

We thought he was looking for pictures, but he likes to flick the pages, so the thicker the better. I wonder if we still have the 10cm thick dictionary in the family.

Booked Back In

Well, we just can't keep ourselves away from day trips to Hotel 3B. We got a message today to let us know that Oliver has been scheduled for removal of his port on Wednesday at 9.30. So that means more fasting and waiting. Hopefully, since it is early in the day, it will mean we get away quickly. Well the news certainly hasn't slowed down Oliver, and neither has the treatment this time around. He is testing out his legs more and more. Enjoy. We do.

Hard To Keep Cute Down

We are halfway through this cycle. His steroids and mercaptopurine have gone up again, due to his weight going up another 500g. We have expected this to result in a grumpier little man, but he seems to be handling it OK, almost better in fact, though that is fairly subjective depending on the state of his parents.

He has been walking more and more, though still loves his trolley. He is fairly wobbly at the moment due to his steroids, but is still eager to give his legs a workout. Won't be long now. I thought I'd share a few pics and video's with you.

Here is Oliver in a few of his favourite places.

Of course his favourite place is on mummy's shoulder. Can't say I blame him.

Next would have to be his bookcase. Let him do his own thing and it won't be long before he is going through his books.

The path below the lemon tree is also a favourite. Normally he negotiates it with his trolley, which I can't imagine is easy.

Oliver has learnt to sneeze. We think this is the cutest thing ever! We are a bit biased.

Sorry, I don't know how to re-orient this. Any idea's? Oliver is studying up hard. Actually, for those who know, he's flicking through my Boardman Tasker Omnibus. That probably means something to someone. Not sure what he's looking for, but he's obviously exasperated about not finding it.

In a follow-up to the last random news break, I have enrolled in a Master of Nursing Science at UWA, to begin in July. I'm pretty excited. At the moment I'm obviously interested in paediatric oncology, but I suspect I'll end up heading towards emergency nursing. The course is general and 2 years fulltime, and overloaded, so who knows what will happen at the end.

Let's Try That Again

With Karli feeling under the weather, Oliver and I headed back in to the hotel again yesterday. The plan was to have an IV line put in under a GA. So after breaky at 6.30, Oliver was fasting, and fast asleep by the time I got home around 10. Once he woke up it was off to PMH to pass the time until we went into theatre.

We had hoped that would be at about 12.30 or 1pm. We got in at about 3pm. Given our son's love for food, I was amazed at how happily he played whilst fasting. Though I suspect he didn't sleep because he was too hungry.

He was done and in recovery by 3.30. Clever dad took in his milk and cheese sticks, all which were hastily devoured, with a refill of milk from the nurse's fridge in the recovery area. We were back on the ward by 4, still chowing down, and out the door by 5 in time to enjoy the peak hour traffic.

We were a little concerned about him having a GA, but since they only used gas, and only for a short time, Oliver was none the worse for wear once he woke up. So that should be the way of it for the rest of his treatments, with a heavier GA when they decide to remove his port. Only 3 more to go. I don't think anything else could possibly go awry.