Histio 3 Chemo Round 11 Days 1,2,3,4

The pictures are not in great order---I blame my sister Brenda and my cousin Melanie, they are both great bloggers and have the responsibility to teach me how.  I am innocent, innocent I tell you.

On Wednesday we came over the snowy pass, we as in Jackson, Sammi and I.  Sammi had participated in a research study on Asthma during her recent surgery and she was due back for pulmonary testing.  She doesn't have asthma but they needed a control group.  Jax was due back for Round 11 of Chemo---getting close to the end!!  Chemo day 1 is a long day because of the labs, doctor visit, and IVIG.  We got to the hospital at 12 ish and left at 6 ish.  I won't even mention the wreck on Montlake blvd which slowed traffic for about 40 min.  We decided to drive home tonight in order to attend Randy Allred's funeral tomorrow.  It took us 6 hours to get home, plus a foolish purchase of expensive chains which we didn't need, but we made it safe and sound at midnight.  The pass was bad but our car did great, maybe because we were in the first wave to go over it after it finally opened at 9:22 pm and could only go about 10 miles an hour!!   The funeral for Randy was so well done, and I love his family. 

This sign cracked Jackson and I up on "end of the world day".

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Zoe and Carter in the Ronald McDonald House playroom.  That's right after 10 months of trying we finally got a room for this chemo round.  I brought Zoe and Carter back with me & Jax on Thursday after the funeral because I knew they would enjoy the RMH experience the most.

We were in a two person room and they were nice enough to allow us to squeeze in a roll away bed for the two youngest to share.  We were literally wall to wall beds!  We had to enter bed from the foot of it and crawl on.

Rocking out in the playroom.

Zoe made sure we made it to visit the therapy dogs.  That's right plural.

Throwing treats to Levi.  Carter is not a dog fan, but he tries.

It seems every time we try to convince him the dog is nice something backfires.

At chemo

Therapy dog Juno.  Carter finally got brave enough to pet Juno and for whatever reason Juno let out a HUGE BOOOMING BARK.  Scared Carter to death, he was on my lap from then on!

The RMH gave us some free tickets to the Seattle aquarium.  We have never taken the kids there.  Perfect place for Zoe and Carter.  Julia, Wade, and Brielle met us there also.  Julia and I were always trying to visit but spent most of the time chasing kids who were on to the next sea creature, and the next, and the next....

Jackson even put off the cool teenage persona and touched creatures from the ocean.  He is such a good sport on chemos when we have other kiddos with us.  He would much prefer "sleeping it off" to running all over Seattle, but he was willing to concede for Carter and Zoe's sake.

We don't measure up well to six gill sharks.

Couldn't pet enough sea cucumbers, sea stars, and anemones (sp?)

Riding an orca

Not to be outdone he rides the orca too.

The sea otter was much more interesting than the mother taking her picture.

3 musketeers

In the dome watching sharks, flounder, halibut, and various skate (like sting ray) and rock fish.

Santa came diving at the aquarium today!! We have never seen the dear boy looking so lean and athletic!

Here is Sammi---way back on chemo day 1 love the clips on her nose for the lung function testing!

And the day before Chemo (so Tuesday the 18th) Sierra underwent allergy testing by her Asthma doctor.  It usually takes 10 minutes for the skin to react, this is Sierra's back after 90 seconds.  The nurse couldn't believe it.  Her horse reaction ended up measuring bigger than any they could remember off hand and Dr. Hylander has been doing allergy testing for 30 years.  No wonder she didn't feel good in Nauvoo!  Poor girlie.