Histio Part 3 Chemo Round 5 Days 1,2,& 3 PLUS the 4th of July!

I really wanted to post about our bike a thon and trip across America (I exaggerate at times) so I have not been good about posting blood counts and the Histio part of our lives, hope you haven't missed that---I know I haven't!  Suffice it to say since the addition of Neulasta at the end of every round of chemo his counts have been good--not always normal but pretty dang close!  This round we had to come a day early because it was time for the first MRI since valentines day when the new lesions were found.  The results were good---the biggest and fastest growing area of concern was the right orbital bone and skull behind it, and the MRI shows that area is for sure shrinking!  Just what we needed to keep Jax out of inpatient hospitalization and "killer" chemo doses.  We can keep going with the current chemo road map---phew, as much as I hate this disruption in our life it is better than the alternative of having Jax inpatient.  The other lesions on the pituitary stalk, pons area of the brain, and right side of the brain are stable, which makes me wonder if the body doesn't somehow know to take care of the most dangerous place first.  I'm just wondering and don't know except I'm glad the fast growing area is shrinking.  I came Monday night with Jax, Sierra, Zoe, and Carter.  We spent from Tuesday at 8 am until 5:30 pm at the hospital.  Then I fed them, we gathered jackets and headed to the ferry to go to my friend Julia's house.  We got in line for the 8:10 ferry at 7:20ish---not soon enough.  Bainbridge Island does their fireworks on the 3rd and apparently other people had the same idea as us!!  We did catch the 9:15 ferry and made it to Julia's in time to see the big fireworks.  Carter claims to have seen a heart, a box, a smiley face, Santa Claus and Mario.  The rest of us saw the heart and smiley face fireworks!  We felt pretty big city catching the 12:55 ferry back to Seattle and falling into bed at 2 am--we are so hip (read crazy).  The next day was IVIG and chemo and fairly long 6 hours.  That night we went to the movies and saw Seattle's fireworks from the freeway going back to the hotel.  On Thursday Mom and Courtney came over to spend the day with us and Courtney only wrecked Mom's car into our car once--not bad!  And finally today included Chemo---waiting 2 hours at the drivers licensing place to discover we needed Jackson's birth certificate in order to replace his license that burned up in the blue truck (the website does not tell you that about getting a replacement license--grrrr).  Tonight Sammi and Michael joined us, I'm so glad---I like us all together.

The sauna at our hotel---and two gorgeous ladies.

Ferry boat ride---hold on to your hats because soon Carter gets overexcited and starts dancing and yelling "I love ferry boats, I love ferry boats".  It was fine, I pretended I didn't know the kids until the others quit looking at the "cute little blond boy, dancing".

                                           First attempt at a group picture......

                                                      Much better, thanks for cooperating.

                                   Love this photo---however;  does my sister Brenda love it too?

                                          Sierra took this of the Seattle skyline & space needle.

Over-excitiment is hitting him.....

                                                                      and her....

                                                              and her.

Carter wanted to feel the blood pressure cuff---the nurses at Children's are so patient and good to the patients AND the siblings.

                          The fourth of July brought a quick visit from Hadley, Kristi, Heather and Seila.

 Hadley asked for donations for Children's hospital for birthday gifts this year---she delivered them to a happy to accept them hospital worker.  Nail polish and coloring books, will make lots of kiddos happy.

Hadley, Sierra, and Zoe by the Elephants near the volunteer office.

                                                   It gets hard to amuse yourself in a hotel room.

                                             Aunt Courtney and Zoe flashing their baby blues.

                                        Wish they would study books as intently as DS games.

                                        Grandma Louise texting.....or shooting angry birds

                                               The lucky china man outside our hotel.

                              Carter found an unoccupied x-box at Children's Hospital---SCORE!!