Save the Date! and Applesauce

We've learned to be creative about giving meds to Jace. For the last 1,106  days, Jace has had AT LEAST two pills of chemo meds to swallow every single day. On his worst days though (Thursdays of Chemo weeks) he swallows 21 pills:  12 Methotrexate, 2 6MPs, and 7 Dexamethazone.  In the beginning at Primary Children's Hospital, they taught us to poke his daily pills into a spoonful of chocolate pudding. After his first year of this, he started getting a taste aversion to chocolate pudding. (I wonder why?? ha ha). Next it was yogurt, but then we learned that the 6MP wasn't suppose to be given with milk.  Oops...So, for the last year, we've used applesauce.

Today I bought the last applesauce we'll need.:)  I started figuring it out, and as I placed some applesauce in the cart, I went to reach for another one. Then I stopped. We won't need more. Right in the middle of Wal Mart I almost did my own happy dance. It sounds stupid, but for the first time, I smiled a genuine smile realizing that this chapter is really ending. Actually, is the book in it's final chapters? I think my students should recognize this as the falling action...:) (While I'm thinking about it, can anyone tell me how to print this blog into a hard copy book?)

THANK you for the great feedback about a celebration. With a combination of ideas, and many encouraging words...:), we ARE going to have an "Up with Cancer" party the evening before Thanksgiving.  Everyone is invited. Please, please save the date, and spend November 21 with us in Rexburg. (IF you'd like to help, email me or leave a comment. My mother-in-law, Joan, graciously agreed to be the Party Planner, so she will coordinate efforts.:)

A tentative agenda includes:

*A blood drive that day for those interested (Jace definitely used his share of donated blood, so it would be nice if we could give some back...)
*A service project (Or several? Any ideas?)
AND THEN...
*A balloon launching at sunset.... in honor of JACE, a sign of victory for other people who have won their fight against cancer, and a remembrance of those who have passed on.  (As we get closer, I'll post the details of location and time.)

AND

*If you can't come, we really, really, really want you to launch a balloon WHEREVER you are. Take pictures too and email them to us?

Jace has two more months of applesauce and chemo treatments: October and November. We will go to Primary Children's Hospital for the next one, and then we'll finish in Rexburg in November.  Shortly after his November treatment, we'll schedule the surgery to remove his port.:)  By November 21, he should be feeling better and ready to celebrate. Can you believe it? I'm kind of doing another happy dance right now...:)

When I asked Jace if it was ok if we celebrated, he shrugged his shoulders a little-- and smiled.
"You can invite anyone you want..." I coaxed.
"Ok," he replied thoughtfully... "Let's just invite EVERYONE actually," he added.
My eyes filled with tears.
Done.

See you there?
Oh, and  just for the record... we WON'T be serving applesauce.:)

"Ok, but I Won't..."

First Game Day 2012!

As I pulled Jace’s jersey over his football shoulder pads at 5 PM last night, I told him, “If you get dizzy during the game, just sit down-- or tell your coach, OK??”

He impatiently replied, “Ok, but I won’t.”

“You won’t get dizzy, or you won’t tell your coach?” I quickly tried to clarify…

But it was too late. He was running away from me onto the field to start warming up for his football game.

I haven’t let up on the steady campaign against football…J, but I’m still losing.  Jace is determined to play, though football has proven more difficult for him than baseball. Despite his chemo treatments yesterday morning, which included anesthesia, LP, chemo to the spinal fluid and brain, AND IV chemo in his port, Jace insisted on playing in his game last night.   He’s trying to earn a starting offensive position, and he knows that won’t happen if he stays home. He spent most of the afternoon on the toilet with a bowl in front of him, but when it was time to ‘suit up,’ he didn’t hesitate.  

Jace also made me promise I wouldn’t remind his coach that he had chemo that same day.  Jace knew he wouldn’t get enough playing time if I did. 

I’ll admit that when I watched Jace trot off the field after a victory, smiling big…sweating…giving the other boys high fives… I melted a bit. I don’t like football any more than I did, but it’s proving to be another challenge that is NOT getting in the way of our Iron Man.  Isn't it interesting how sometimes our kids teach us the most valuable lessons?  This week Jace is teaching me that complaining doesn't help, we are stronger than we think we are, and when things are difficult, we just need to endure. Thank you all for sending such reassuring comments and thoughts. I'm so grateful for the feedback we get from this blog. 

This morning out of the shower Jace was dizzy and tired. He rested on my bed while I rubbed his feet and legs. I reminded him how close he is to finishing chemo. He smiled a weak, pale smile that said, thank goodness. Then he got ready for school, found his backpack and headed out.  I called after him, “If you get sick, call me?...”

He replied, “Ok, …but I won’t.”

8 AM After LP

7 PM  After Game