A Plan

I can't believe that we are hooked up, ready for the last Round! Man, that feels so great!! 

 We met with Sue yesterday and have a plan. With our many moves over the years, I've always hated the time right before the final decision. The space that is left to chance. Once the final decision is made, the planning can begin. Our lives are back on a track. It may be one that is going in a different direction than previously planned, but the track is new, our journey is set. I love the moving forward feel of a new decision. I love the feeling of today. 

 Caden will be given a steroid that will enhance the performance of the nausea drugs. They will also be given at shorter intervals, so he will be getting medicine every two hours instead of three. This may make him more sleepy, but it will also keep that feeding tube and all of it's nutrients in place, hopefully. He will be getting a PET Scan, CAT Scan, and an echo around the 22nd. I will meet with Sue on the 23rd to go over the results and hopefully be freed to go home for two weeks instead of just one! I can't wait to see the results of the Chemo, I hope they are miraculous! I also found out that he will have an evaluation on the 6th of May to make sure that all is well and ordered for his surgery on the 7th. The suregery scar will look exactly like it does for liver transplant patients. My son will have the same scar as my little sister, Keilie, some 29 years ago. From side-to-side across his ribs and up his sternum. He knows this, but does not want to see pictures of it. I'm kind of glad. It's a pretty daunting reality to know is coming. He will be in the hospital for about a week, post-surgery. Then we are free to go home. None of this "stay within an hour radius of the hospital" stuff. We'll be free the moment we are discharged. I hope it will be for the last time!! I understand he'll have check-ups for a while, all of which will be in Seattle, but I don't mind the drive. If it means that he gets to sleep in his own bed, free from worry of Cancer, I'll take that 3.5 hour drive willingly. Especially if it's as beautiful as the last drive in. Stunning!! There is something to be said about a place that gets a lot of rain! His port will be left in until a later time. He will need to have it surgically removed, but that will be later in time; something that is out-patient this time. Yay! 

 For now, this Round, the plan is to stay for 5 days instead of only three. We've learned our lesson about being released too soon, we won't make that mistake again! Our plan is set, our course is plotted, our hopes are high. We got the room with the best view of the river and Mount Ranier! Things are looking sunny. Our plan is one of happiness, not fear! We are being watched over. Thank you for your continued prayers for us. We feel them. We need them. We love you!

-12:30 Update- 

Part of our plan made yesterday involved the feeding tube. That was he biggest stressor of round three. We told them that if he threw it up, we'd wait to place it again after his stomach calmed. That time came WAY earlier than I thought it would. Chemo was begun at 11:30. One hour later it's out. So now it's time for real food. And relief that he won't have it placed for a while. Man, there just is NO normal when it comes to Cancer, is there?!

-6:30 PM Update-

As I captured yet another photo of Caden sleeping...

A realization hit me. I've taken many pictures of him sleeping since this all began.

Each one in a different position. 

But each one for the same reason. 

He's escaped this harsh reality. 

His pain has lessened for another moment. 

His body is fighting even while unconscience. My son is ok for those brief few hours. He's comfortable. And it brings me incredible happiness to see him at peace. 

I've always snuck in to watch my babies sleep. Sometimes to glimpse the angel a three-year-old can look like. Sometimes to kiss away the tears I've caused in my hasty anger. Others to simply bask in the blessing of being a mom. Each picture taken of my sleeping Caden is a reminder of the hardships he's endure before each blessed release. They are the reminder scars after a hard battle. They are proof that he has fought a good fight and won.