Hisito part 3 round 3 labs week 2 and health fair AND Balalay recital

High School Evening of Honors

The Honorable Samantha laughing at something the Honorable Bailey just said.

 The Honorable Jackson, who by the way, is Royal High School's newly elected Public Relations ASB officer--pretty awesome!  His campaign posters had a picture of his burned up truck and said something to the effect of---Only a guy highly skilled in Public Relations can burn up their parents truck and not get in trouble!

Health Fair in Royal--Histio Heroes booth

Just a few of Adalynn's adoring fans!

Does she have style or what--we thought so too.

The many little, subtle costume changes were fun for all.

A beautiful pink flower.

Blood Counts this week were good!!

Here are the counts for May 17, 2012;

WBC normal range is: 4.5 -11.0 his count today: 6.2

HCT normal range is : 41.0-53.0 his count today: 34.5 lowRBC normal range is: 4.5 - 5.9 his count today: 3.79 lowANC normal range is: 1.8 - 7.8 his count today: 3.9

Histio Part 3 Chemo Round 3 Day 5

Day 5,  just the Neulasta shot, since they couldn't work Jackson in any earlier than 10 am on Saturday they had to wait till about 10 am to get the Neulasta shot on Sunday. No oxygen dropping kiddos this time, ( thank heavens ) and it went quickly. We all 7 were together for Sunday dinner today~so nice to be one big, tired, grouchy, family again!!  Jackson had dinner and chilled with his Uncle Matt who is still pretty couch bound himself. Mom and I left to take Brenda to the airport and on the way home we got an interesting phone call. Jackson and Carter had gone for a drive, Jax likes to do that on Sundays. On their way home, on road 11 the power steering went out in the old blue truck he drives. So he pulled it off the road, then the engine died, so he tried to start it again. Then he noticed a ton of smoke pouring out from under the hood, so he told Carter they had to get out of the car. Carter obeyed and got out then remember his football, so he opened the door to get his football, and Jax reached in to get his cell phone too. They called home and started walking across the street to Floren's house. He told Zoe and Sammi that the truck was overheating or something. They told Michael who went to get my Dad to help (Michael isn't too confident in his mechanical side)  Dad threw a tow rope in his truck and they headed out. Meanwhile back at the truck Mr. Floren had seen the truck smoking and grabbed his fire extinguisher, and had called 911~ but by then the truck was officially on FIRE. Michael said he and Dad could see tons of black smoke in the air as they drove, and Dad predicted they wouldn't need the tow rope after all! The flames went 20 feet in the air they say. The blue thunder (Sammi names all our vehicles) is no more. Sammi is elated, Jackson is bummed, and I am eternally grateful that my boys aren't hurt. Did I actually brag outloud about no "traffic or car issues" for this 3rd round of Chemo?  My bad.

Histio part 3 Chemo round 3 day 4

Well, Jackson talked a nurse, into talking to his Doctor, and now it is official.  His regular Chemo (days 2-4) have a faster infusion time of 40 minutes.  Nurse Jean we thank you!!  Michael reports to me that if he isn't making Jackson go to breakfast, or chemo, or to the mall (lest you speculate, it was Sports Authority and Red Robin, very manly places--no bath and body works for those men) then Jackson is passed out asleep on the hotel room bed.  He said he doesn't feel sick, just exhausted.  If you remember back to 2009-2010 Chemo this was the biggest hurdle, being so tired.  I am looking forward to summer break so that he can just rest with no school work hanging over his head.  How he is going to handle first semester of his Junior year I have no idea.  Better to cross that bridge when we have to, although I do like to start worrying ahead of time, makes me feel productive.

Meanwhile back at the ranch,  we had a great day.  I had to stay up till 12:30 getting my teenage socialite home from her party, so morning came way to soon.  Things picked up after the alarm clock went off though.  Today we got ourselves gussied up to go to Othello for Avery Mae's baptism. (Our church building is getting a facelift and is barely usable right now)  I wish I would have thought to take a picture of her on my phone, but alas I have failed as an Aunt.  Luckily Avery's paparrazzi Aunt was there--Brenda-- so there is ample photographic documentation of this great day.  Avery and Gabby looked sweet and it was touching to have Matt healthy enough to baptize her when two weeks ago his health was so precarious.  Courtney did the worlds cutest luncheon afterwards and it was a super fun day.

It's time to get my four to bed--Michael just called to brag that his child is all tucked in and snoring away--cheater.

Histio Part 3 Chemo round 3 Day 3

Late last night there was a knock on the hotel room door.  Hoping it was the publishers clearing house I opened it---no big cardboard check but there was a husband to moi, and a father to Jackson.  We have traded places, he is doing Chemo duty with Jackson, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and I am at home.  I drove home visited with my female family, Mom, Brenda and Courtney, then picked up my 3 youngest from Red Rock and we (along with Mom and Brenda) headed down the road to Warden for Sammi's softball game.  They won both games and Sammi played great, not to brag or anything!  I've talked to Michael and Jackson several times today (in fact they act a little weary when they answer the phone now) and Jackson is tired and wiped out but no headaches.  Sammi is at a party, and I am feeling a little young to be too tired to go pick up teenagers in the middle of the night.  But I cannot tell a lie--I'm tired!

Histio part 3 chemo round 3 day 2

New experience for Jackson today, "hospital school"  this way he hopefully has the help he needs so its not so hard to keep up in school.

He said the teachers were helpful and nice, and the kids too.  He had a better attitude about being there after he experienced it!  Don't knock it till you tried it -- right?!

 Today Jackson's nurse, Jean, fell victim to Jackson's challenging taunts.  He told her a "good nurse could get the medicine in faster than 75 minutes".  Jean enlisted the help of another competitive nurse and together they ramped up the infusion higher than they had gone before~they made it fun for Jax, alarms going off, recalculating---he finished two bags of fluids and his chemo in 37 minutes.  RECORD BREAKING!!  I know, I'm excited too.  The three of them were pretty proud of themselves.

If I got those two FULL bags of fluid in 37 minutes I would be running---to the ladies room.

  Julia brought Jackson Pringles yesterday and skittles.  This picture reminds me of when he was four getting chemo, clutching a Pringles can.

 I always make Jax walk by the board that has his 4 year old cutie picture on it--he is the tow head clutching a baseball mitt.

He is bigger now. And not a tow head.

Histio part 3 Chemo Round 3 Day 1

Good day!  Jackson and I had a good trip over, only a little sleet falling over the mountain pass.  More importantly, KNOCK ON WOOD, there were no traffic jams, rock slides, avalanche blasting, RV burning, Semi-truck wreck blocking, or transmissions falling out delays!  His counts were great;

WBC normal range is: 4.5 -11.0 his count on 4/25/12: 7.5

 HCT normal range is : 41.0-53.0 his count on 4/25/12: 37.0

RBC normal range is: 4.5 - 5.9 his count on 4/25/12: 4.24

ANC normal range is: 1.8 - 7.8 his count on 4/25/12: 4.8

ARA-C and fluids went in first this time, and then the IVIG with the second bag of fluids.  We started at 10:30 and finished at 4:30.  Jackson feels good, no headache.  Dr. Cheung said that with IVIG the headache side effect seems to be the biggest problem the first time you get IVIG.  Each time you get IVIG after that first time side-effects become less of an issue.  So far for Jax this has been true.

Julia took the time to come spend the day and evening with us.  It was so fun.  Julia has always had the ability to crack me up, she has the funniest expressions and way of talking.  I loved having hours to catch up--it's been years since we have hours of uninterrupted time.  I hope we can find the time to get the families together this summer, my kiddos would love to ride the FERRY to get to her house.  Thanks Jules! 

And thanks to everyone back home, those that gave Sierra and Sammi rides, took Zoe to play, and Carter off to play, and brought dinner, and played BINGO to raise money for Histio Heroes and for MichelleWallace, and prayed for Jackson.....we love you all.