First let me say we made it home before the snow in NYC----!!!!!

OK-- now that I got that out of the way I will back up to Thursday.... not to sound like a broken record but 3F8 was a bit different this time--- LOTS of pain every day and even residual pain and headache when we came back to the Ronald each night--- usually ( or in the other rounds he would experience less and less pain and require less rescues of Diallaudid by Friday because they say the nerves are pretty saturated at that point--- well--- I did not see that this week! And to add to it he had bone marrows done on Friday morning ( well, it was going to be morning but ended up not actually happening until around 1) So, the added pain of that on top of anesthesia made Friday a really long day at the hospital. We did luck out this week and had a wonderful 3F8 roommate, Andrew and his family-- yes... sometimes there are sometimes 2 kids in a room doing antibody therapy-- Grier also got to meet Liam ( his mom, Gretchen started the Cookies for Kids Cancer-- we have talked for a long time but the boys have never had a chance to play) they hung out in the playroom and played with their itouch together--- He also got to play with his sister and he has not stop talking about it!! Funny... after you are in NYC for almost 20 days he gets "used" to it and it is time to go home--- he was even going places without me at the day hospital...and starting to talk more and more to the nurses---

During our long stay we got to see old friends that we met at the beginning of this journey as well as make some new ones--- As much as I cringe about having to stay a long time I am very thankful for that room at the Ronald-- :)

Grier also had another visitor from home on Thursday.... Mrs. Beth, his music teacher from preschool last year was in town and came to the Ronald for a visit-- Grier was very excited about this and had plans to show her the playroom but his headache was making him feel really bad--- so she came to our little room and hung out for a little-- :) Not sure how I missed that photo op!!!

After Treatment on Friday my mom headed back to the room to start the process of packing--- WOW!!!! who knew what you can accumulate in a month--- her help was awesome-- there would have been no way I could have pack that room, done laundry and packed our "pod" while taking care of Grier--- It was a long process.... and to think I was living the "simple" life!!!

Our flight was this morning at 8am and we left the Ronald around 6am--- we are all tired --- well... my mom and I are.. Grier has jumped back into life in Charlotte without missing a beat... not sure how is does this--- but I would like to know the secret :)

Next week will be the start of a new medication.... if you have read this blog for long time you know that he took accutane for 6 months--- he will start again on Monday--- It is also used for acne but in Grier's case... neuroblastoma --it is thought to make cells mature faster before they have time to "go bad"-- He will take it at a very high dose for 2 weeks and then have two weeks off-- his skin will dry out A LOT--- and it can cause mood swings--- I am hoping we do not have those side effects like last time-- We also do not get a pass this week at the doctor's office.... we have to go to our clinic on Christmas Eve to get a liver test (blood test) to make sure the levels are OK do to the high dose of Accutane--- then next week we go back to draw blood and the we FedEx it to NYC to see if he is able to get another round of 3F8 on Jan. 11th---- busy...busy.... but we are home and are lucky enough to live close to CMC--- the worst will be having to get the port accessed twice--- uggh!

That is it for now--- we survived a long stay and are home now---- Thanks for all the help while I was gone-- I had the best help with Hayes and Grace after-school--- Thanks Haley!!! Thanks to my carpool for Hayes.... and thanks to Nancy for taking care of Grace!!! Thanks for all the meals and anything else I missed--- It is really helpful to have such great friends when life gives you lemons!!! Also... Ross I know you are reading this and you are in trouble!!!!! THANK YOU TOO!!! :) Thanks for all the cards and packages--- that was a great way to try to get him to crack a smile after treatment!! And thanks to my mom for living in NYC for a month with us!!!

Merry Christmas everyone---

Amy