At Ease

I always feel the need to put you all at ease right away and start my postings with “All is well,” particularly after a day or two with no update.

So, yes, all is well. We checked into the hospital yesterday morning after confirming that Austin’s platelet count had tripled and settled in for our five-night stay. This time feels easier because it covers a long weekend which means sleepovers for Braedan and Mark freed from work duty, so even I have some breaks from the hospital (mostly thanks to my mom, who puts in several-hour shifts each day).

Austin started chemo yesterday afternoon and you’d barely even know it. He’s still eating (grilled cheese sandwiches), sleeping (except for the pee output checks every two hours), racing the tricycle around the hallways, and showing off all his latest toys to any doctor or nurse brave enough to venture into our space. The greatest danger of their visits is that someone might get injured by his newly-acquired rocket ball launcher. (Having a kid with cancer quickly renders any attempt at embracing simplicity null and void.)

So, we’ve gotten mighty comfortable in that hospital — our routines are down pat. It’s still exhausting, even though we’re not actually doing anything. The very act of being there just has a way of dragging you down, making your mind tired if not your body. But, as always, we carry on — entertaining, soothing, juggling, making this thing work one more time, one more time, so we can get on with the rest of our lives.