Day 19

Saturday.  Fever finally broke early this morning.  Nothing has grown in the culture.  Yay!  Looks like his body is just freakin out because of the fact that he doesn't have white blood cells.  Still on antibiotics though, and will continue until he starts to produce white blood cells.  Feeling much better today.  Just a bummer to now be hooked up to the IV all the time.  Riley is such a great water drinker that besides chemo, he was not hooked up to the IV for almost 2 weeks. 

Then some friends stopped by.  So awesome!!  Susannah, Cheyanne and Avery.  They brought Eegees.  So nice!! 

Preston and Papa went to the U of A bball game.  A friend of Vince's game him tickets for Riley.  Of course Riley could not go, so Papa and Preston enjoyed the game.  They hung out in the VIP room and everything.  Good times.  Riley was a very good sport.  He was happy for Preston.  Good brother.

Papa and Preston stopped by here after and told him all about it.  Then Vince and the kids all came by.  It was great to see them since they have been gone this whole week. After a while Vince took the kids home.  They were worn out, and so were we.  Riley and I celebrated New Years with a horn blower and a wish maker given to us by the child life staff.  I bet you all can guess our wish and hope for the new year! ---Here's to 2012... The year to knock out cancer!!

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5) (received 2 units)
Platelets: 42 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 42 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 18

Friday.  Overnight Riley spiked a fever.  It started about midnight and has lasted all day.  They immediately took a culture to see if anything would "grow" in the lab.  They started two broad and heavy hitting antibiotics, just in case the fever is due to an infection.  Now we wait.  Even with medication, Riley's temp reached 104 degrees for awhile today.  It has been scary.
I sit here and wait and pray. 

Labs today:

White blood cells: 0.4 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 9.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 24 (normal 150 - 425) (one unit transfused)
ANC: 8 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)



Day 17

Thursday.  Riley is not feeling the greatest.  His hemoglobin is low, so a transfusion is on the books for today.  (Hang in there Riley!)

Later tonight we did "facetime" on our iphones with the Las Vegas gang.  My kids have been having a great time with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  Vince is such an amazing dad!  He is keeping life as normal as possible for our kids. 

Labs today:

White blood cells: 0.7 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 7.8 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)  (2 units transfused)
Platelets: 32 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 14 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 16

Wednesday. Riley woke up this morning with a sore throat.  The doctor looked and found an open sore on his uvula, (the thing that hangs down in the back of your throat).  Ouch... so everything he eats and swallows, passes there.  As if eating wasn't hard enough already!  Mouth sores are common with chemo.  I have a feeling this is just the beginning.

Getting this shot was kinda funny.  The doctor is holding the light and Riley is saying Ahhhhh... and I had to snap at just the right time to see all the way back there.  I did it so Riley could see what his sore looked like.  OUCH!  (btw, look at Riley's wiskers.  Long, huh?  He has not shaved since being admitted to the hospital.  He says, "what is the point? It is all going to fall out anyway.)  He has a point.

Later today during Riley's shower, he discovered that his hair was falling out.  He had already decided that when it starts to fall out he would just buzz it all.  So we took the official "BEFORE" pictures...

Riley's comment, "Man, but I have such good hair!!

(I know buddy, I'm so sorry!!)

(It will grow back, I promise!!)

We decided to crank up the volume on some music and have a little fun...

Riley's teacher advisor and a friend came by the hospital that night.  Riley asked them to bring some gel.  They wondered what he was up to until the big reveal.  Then he wanted to finish it off.

My handsome boy.

Labs today:

White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 7.9 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 43 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC:  0 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)



Day 15

Tuesday.  Riley received platelets today.  I knew he would be out for awhile and I needed to do a few errands and get some laundry done, so it worked out well.  He snoozed and I scurried around town.  I picked up his new glasses at Walmart.  Bought a few snacks for our room.  Ran home and put in our laundry.  Downloaded music on his new ipod. Tried to "clean up" Christmas at our house.  It was a busy afternoon.  I don't feel like I can relax at home.  I just needed to hurry and get done whatever it was that had me there, and then hustle back to be with Riley.  Vince and the kids are in Las Vegas this week for the traditional Gibson Christmas / New Years.  If they were home, I of course would have stuck around.  ...  It just felt weird... Our house was so empty.  Our life has just changed.  We are different.  Still getting used to that.

Picture on my way out today.  This is where we are...

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.6 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 8.2 (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 13 (normal 150 - 425)  (received 1 bag transfused)
ANC: 42   ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 14

Monday.  Feeling like a new man today.  Amazing what a little blood can do!  Today Riley's nurse Taryn, pulled some strings and got Riley up on the roof of the hospital for a little fresh air.  We were escorted by security up to the helipad.  It was really cool!  We loved it, what a view!  One side looks over to the U of A football stadium.  The security guard said that during football games you can see replays from the giant new scoreboard.  We also had a great view of "A mountain".  Tucson is a lot greener than you think.  It was cool looking  over the city and seeing so many trees!  If we looked off into the distance, we could see Picacho Peak.  Home.  What a view! 

Later today Riley met Brandon.  A 16 year old fighting cancer.  He was diagnosed last May.  He has been through a lot.  Riley and Brandon did their walk together and talked up a storm.  Good for them both. :) 

Riley received a package a few days ago.  It said not to open until after Christmas.  We were obedient and today this is what we found!

I am so thankful for ALL THOSE who love and care for Riley.  They truly boost his spirit and remind him of their concern and love.  It means more than anyone could possibly understand.  Just to know that loved ones are cheering you on in hard times ... means the world!!

Thank you!!

Labs today:

White blood cells:  0.6   (normal 4.5 - 13.5)

Red Blood cells:  8.7   (normal 13.5 - 17.5)
Platelets: 22   (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 24   (< 500 = severely neutropenic)

Day 13

Sunday. Christmas Day.

Not exactly a regular Christmas around here. The staff was amazing though and they did everything to make us comfortable and happy. Santa and Mrs. Claus came around to see us and brought many gifts for all of the kids! Wow, that was pretty cool!! We had a fun morning together opening presents. I was just so happy to all be together!  Nana and Papa came early to help us celebrate Christmas.  After a while Papa found a safer place in the hall.  I thought that was pretty funny!  It did get a little cramped in our room.  :)

Then about 10ish Riley started feeling tired. We kicked everybody out of his room and let him sleep. We knew his red blood cell count was low.

A few hours later he woke up for a bit. Just around church time. Bro. Weiss from our ward set skype up for church. Completely awesome! Technology is amazing!! Riley watched a bit and then felt light headed and foggy. He went back to bed and we got the blood ordered. Because of his reaction to blood products, he is always premedicated with tylenol and benydryl. That knocks him out and he slept for the rest of the day. The other kids still hung out in the other room, playing, playing, playing! They had a ball.

The red blood cells take 2 hours each to go in. Riley had 2 units transfused today. By the night he was kinda waking up, but really took about another hour to get out of the "fog" of medication. By about 9 at night he was ready for the day. Ooops. Days and nights get switched around here. Riley decided to do his laps around 10pm. The nurses loved seeing him race around the floor. He is superman!

Labs today:
White blood cells: 0.4 (normal 4.5 - 13.5)
Red Blood cells: 7.4 (normal 13.5 - 17.5) (received 2 units)
Platelets: 29 (normal 150 - 425)
ANC: 36 ( < 500 = severely neutropenic)