Time to Kick Some Butt!

We've had some crazy twists in the road over the past several weeks. Just over two weeks ago, JR started feeling very ill and the morning that we were going for his first "antibody" treatment, he started feeling some strong headaches that resulted in a pretty uncomfortable (putting it mildly) stomach. We got to the hospital and the doctors were able to control his symptoms, gave him some medication, he slept and felt fine. They decided to go ahead with his first treatment and we left feeling OK about everything. We thought perhaps he was just really nervous about having his port accessed and knew that he had a lot of questions and anxiety over it, so it made sense but I had never seen him have such a strong reaction and wasn't totally convinced that we were just dealing with a nervous tummy.
He felt OK for a day or two and attended a birthday party 2 weekends ago and I got a call that he had gotten sick at the party and frantically went to go get him. He had already rejoined the party but was tired and a little bewildered. That day was also Jim's birthday and we were having a couple locals over that evening to celebrate. JR just wanted to go to bed and wasn't feeling well again. He had a quiet day with Jim the next day as Addie and I went with some of her classmates to see a little play in New York (and finally over to American Girl Place for a quick purchase). That Sunday night/Monday a.m. turned into a very difficult time for my very strong son. I decided to bring him in to the hospital on Monday, ended up staying over Monday night and had many scans, tests, etc. He checked out fine and we were home Tuesday evening, only to have symptoms return and we ended up back at the hospital on Wednesday morning, stayed over Wednesday night, more tests, scans, etc. and finally a spinal tap which ended up providing some clues to our confused doctors. Not pleasant clues but nonetheless, revealed to us that we really need to get started with his new chemo and confirmed that the course of action we were already planning was one that was a promising long-term solution to a nasty and tricky disease. A plan for his short-term discomfort and symptoms was also devised and has kept J.R. doing a lot better since last week. Scary stuff.
So to reward him for all he's been through, we brought him back to the hospital today for another scan and his now-routine day 1 of antibodies and tomorrow will be day 2, chemo. We'll be repeating this "one-two punch" every two weeks for the foreseeable future. Not exactly what the average third grader would be hoping to do over his Spring Vacation week, but if he's less sleepy than he was today, we'll try to do a little Manhattan tomorrow. Addie will be in tow and the weather is supposed to be fantastic, so let's hope we squeak in a little fun! I would love to encourage everyone reading this blog to take that vacation, go on that trip, don't try to be too practical, experience all those magical times because it's impossible to get that time back and it's all we really remember when we look back. I can't wait to start planning. I was eavesdropping on a conversation that J.R. and his buddy Nicholas had in the back seat of my car a couple of weeks ago when Nicholas posed the question, "What was the most happiest day you've ever had?" to which J.R. responded that it was probably in Disneyland last year (and interestingly enough was exactly one year ago today when we were there). It's a great question to ask yourself and/or your children (and you can always remind yourself, as Homer Simpson would put it, "The happiest day of your life so far") and figure out what makes great memories. I wish lots and lots of them to all. I feel strongly that the best is yet to come.
As I step off my soapbox, I wanted to leave you with one last little profound thought that Jim and I have adopted as our latest motto: "Time to Kick Some Butt!" We're convinced that the aforementioned one-two punch is going to do it this time. It's not going to be a walk in the park and it's not going to happen tomorrow but we have a good feeling about this new plan. My friend Sheelah Quinn sent us a little wall-hanging the reads "Faith is the place between where things are and the good things that are sure to come." That's where we are right now.