HUMP Day-

Today is HUMP day... I feel like we have gotten over the hump of this crazy week !

We woke up early this morning to snow--- lots of blowing snow.... it made the walk to the hospital very different... we were lucky that some of the sidewalks were shoveled early this morning-- Grier rode in the stroller -- he was warm and covered as we sloshed through the snow and slush!

As soon as we got to the hospital we headed up to the 9th floor.... a quick CBC test and then we were off to the 11th floor to wait for his MRI.  He was ready for the "white medicine"--- he whispered as we walked in the room to ask the anesthesiaologist if he could push the "white medicine"-- She was new to us and I guess had not been asked that ? before.... she said.. well, you can help but I have to push it.  He was fine with that and it took effect quickly.  We waited about 1 1/2 hours and the nurse brought groggy Grier out and we plopped him in the stroller and of we went back to the 9th Floor for 3F8-

Grier was a little "drunk" after the MRI but was chatty to everyone-- the clowns came and he was telling them jokes -- he had some visits from a few of our favorite nurses and told more jokes, talked about his friends at school and showed them a magic trick-- They started his pre-meds for 3F8 and then the infusion started.  The infusion takes 30 minutes... he was fine... sitting up talking and playing his itouch-- his heartrate was 98 and oxygen was 100--- we have not ever made it through the entire infusion like that before-- I was getting a little worried --- I want a reaction to know it is working--- Then it was time for the "flush"..... 20 minutes... his heartrate went up to 103-110 but he usually is 178-190 -- it was really weird.  He asked for a cold pack for his head and then it started -- lots of pain.... all after the whole process was done--- he actually had lots of pain and 3 rescues of dilaudid-- the most all week--- I guess it was another reminder that you don't know what to expect-  

After 3F8 we had to go to Nuclear Medicine for his radioactive injection.  He was still in a haze so he stayed in the stroller and was in and out of sleep while we waited our turn.  Around 3:30 we were done and it was time to brave the elements again-- We had watched the news all day and they kept saying the worst of the blizzard was yet to come--- and they were right!!! We walked back and the snowing was blowing hard and it was "slushy" all over.... we made it back and Grier slept off his cocktail of drugs--  He had a headache today -- he wanted to play so much but everytime he would get up he would lay back down because he did not feel great.

I did get an email from our doctor with some good news... his CT and MRI look good-- whew :)  we are waiting on 3 more test results....

Tomorrow we head back at 7:30 in the morning--- can we say VERY slippery??? Grier is going to do his MIBG without anesthesia for the first time--- actually we both are... I am not going to look at the screen while I am in there with him--- :) I hope he can do it but we do have anesthesia on call in case we need them-- This is a full body scan that lights up Neuroblastoma cells-- I have never been in the room during this scan so it will be new to me too--- I did get some great advice from friends... it is nice to know what can happen so I do not panic and assume the worst-

2 more shots as Grier says--- can't wait to say we are headed home-- :)