Thursday, August 30, 2012

Quick Update and More Golf Pictures!

Today was a joyous day because...... Edward "made counts" with a crazy 1,770 neutrophils!  Thank the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  We are so close to finishing the chemo part of this journey, and the horrible/wonderful PICC line part of this journey.  The chemo is obviously working, but I hate days like today when I watch him turn pale, nauseous, angry, and upset during his infusion.  He becomes terribly clingy, making this a long and exhausting day for Mommy.  And the PICC line is wonderful because it has allowed his weekly blood draws to be painless.  No sticking his veins a millions times for an IV, but also, no swimming, no getting wet, no splash parks, no water tables, etc.  NO normal summer activities for a little boy.  And he definitely has "found" his PICC line (along with other body parts :) ahhhhh little boys.....) but he absolutely hates it and tries to rip it out of his arm, which is why he always has a long sleeve on his right arm.  Quite a few times I had to pull over on the side of the road because I saw him in the mirror slowly unwrapping the tape and begin to chew- yes, I said chew, on the line.  Oh the joys..... But we will not miss flushing his line every night with saline and heparin, and we will not miss wrapping his arm in press-n-seal cling wrap before his bath.  I will not miss having small heart attacks as he tries to put his hand in Winston's water bowel.  Haha, the list could go on and on, but I said this is a quick update!  And he is sound asleep next to me in his hospital crib, so I better hurry and get this posted before my typing in the dark wakes him up. Excuse any typos, as I am literally sitting here in dark.....

But today was a good day.  The nurses were super quick and efficient.  Everyone on the oncology floor was cheering for us and giving us hugs as they also realized that this is Edward's last cycle.  We have a 1 hr. infusion tomorrow around noon, and hopefully we will be discharged and resting at home in the early afternoon.  And how will the Johnson family of three be celebrating this tremendous milestone?  We will wake up on Saturday morning and watch Notre Dame beat Navy in Dublin, Ireland.  We have our game day shirts ready.  Instead of praying for neutrophils, I think we might be praying for some touchdowns!  Go Irish!

And here are more great pictures of the golf tournament last week.

 Papa, Uncle Aaron, Daddy, and Uncle Matt
 So happy that we could make it this week, and were not in the hospital!
 Cruising around the course, and no Eddie, they do not sell these cars at ToysRUs.
 Thank you for sponsoring this hole Uncle Glenn and Aunt Dottie!
 Looking like a natural!  Great job Michael!
 Thank you for sponsoring this hole Uncle Harry and Aunt Jackie!
 Uncle Aaron putting on the 18th green!
 Edward getting a pep talk from Uncle Matt!
 Four hours later, we all look a little bit.... tired! And Edward Michael Johnson, where is your hat young man?
 Thanking Emily with beautiful flowers from Bluebell Flower Shoppe.
 Telling everyone how incredibly grateful we were to have this special day devoted to pediatric cancer and our sweet boy.
 There is a look of mischief on that face.....
No shoes, no hat, walking around like he owns the place..... WHY am I surprised?


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