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Project Management
By Margot | February 20, 2010
Sam came home yesterday afternoon and as usual all of our moods brightened quite a bit. He is on a pain pump and fluids. It was kind of funny because he wanted to make what is becoming our traditional Toys R Us stop on the way home from the hospital and I was trying to figure out how I would do that with the fluid bag that was hanging from the dry-cleaning hook in the car and the pain pump but I figured what the heck and we stopped. I lined the ToysRUs Cart with Sam’s blanket, hung the fluids from the seatbelt on the cart they have for toddlers, and popped him in with the pain pump next to him and we were good to go.  We got a the only 720 bakugan and zoomed up to the check out. The check out lady did a double take but that was about it.
About two hours after we got home Sam spiked a 102.7 fever and the thought of bringing him back to clinic for a culture was not a happy one for any of us. Happily the home health nurse was coming right at 5 to set up the backpack for the fluids so Sam can be more mobile. Home health does not have culture bottles though so Neil dropped Andy off at his basketball game while I called the oncologist on call and asked if we could come in and grab a culture bottle, have the home nurse draw the culture and then have us drop it back at the hospital. She said that would be fine so Neil zoomed from the rec center to the hospital while the very nice nurse waited with me, we drew the culture when Neil got back and gave Sam some tylenol and then Neil raced back to the in-patient ward to drop off the culture. Sam’s temp stayed down all night and he had a pretty good night. He hit his pain button a couple of times.  He has some pain right up under his ribs and he usually hits the button if he needs to get up on his legs. For the most part though, pain is under control.
Uncle Paul is coming on Wednesday from Australia with cousin Marty. We are all very excited. The kids can’t wait to see them and it will be great for all the boys to hang out with little Marty and their Uncle Paul. Andy is extra excited because for sports day I got out Uncle Paul’s old basketball cards and some newspaper articles about him from some of his games in Australia and now Andy can’t wait to play basketball with him and he keeps telling everyone, “My Uncle Paul is famous.”   It’s funny.   Sam and Charlie are playing Madden 07 right now and it’s great to listen to them talk to each other about the game. Sam seems to be seeing the game ok.  Charlie knows more about football than any three year old should actually know. He loves to reinact the plays in his own instant replay.  Andy spent the night with Luke last night and Meredith said they had a good time. She had both Charlie and Andy for dinner last night while we raced around for the blood culture.
Thanks to everyone for the gift cards. They are hugely helpful. Not a lot of cooking going on around here lately.   Hope to get some notes out soon.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 15 Comments »
February 20th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Hey there! When can we meet up for photos? I know it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. I promise. 619-813-7329 Give hugs to your sweet boys & lets meet up this weekend.
xo,
Shawn
February 20th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Thinking strong thoughts of love for Sam and his family. Miss you all.
February 20th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
woohoo, Sam is back at home ! Hope this continues and then he can have a fabulous visit with your brother and little Marty !
Happy weekend and love to all,
Colleen
February 20th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
sooo glad you are all home. We are all sending out love and hugs!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:02 am
Hi – I’m guilty of being a “lurker” for a few months – for no other reason than I simply don’t know what to say most days. What do u say to a mother who’s child is suffering so that could possibly be of any comfort? So I will just simply say that I pray for Sam, his brother and his parents daily. I’m so happy you are all under one roof again and I certainly hope you all enjoy a beautiful visit from your brother and his little one. May God send you many blessings!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:04 am
I’m sorry – the “s” never showed up after the word brother. I certainly know young Sam has 2 terrific little brothers!!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:12 am
Where there is a will there is a way- you are both proof of that and it shows in Sam! So glad you are getting a little break from the hospital! Lots of good thoughts! Angela (Madison’s Mom checking in from Seattle)
February 21st, 2010 at 6:51 pm
thinking about sam. and all of you. daily.
please, please take shawn up on her offer for photos. it doesn’t matter–watching TV, cuddling, enjoying one another, just being together, doing nothing, doing anything. she’s right. it will be worth it. i promise too. trust me.
much love and hugs.
deb
February 22nd, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Delighted for all of you that Uncle Paul & Cousin Marty are coming to visit. Nothing like an outside energy infusion from “down under.” Lots of benefits… Hope that being home perks Sam up enough and that he can enjoy their attention and company. Jan
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Thinking of you every single minute.
LOVE
February 24th, 2010 at 4:47 am
Redman-so good to talk to you tonight and your strength and courage can be touched 2500 miles away. Sam is the hero of my life, a Warrior who fights this evil disease and keeps his brothers in check in chess. Fight, Red. Fight.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Thinking of you so often and sending a bucket of hugs and prayers from east to west and straight to chez hutchinson. LOVE, shirley
February 25th, 2010 at 1:04 am
As Debb says in the comments. I have been following your beautiful family for three years now and I when I visit there are no words that encompass what I feeling. I wish upon a miracle every day for Sam….
February 26th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Thought about the wonder and miracle of Sam first thing when I woke up today, and I took that thought with me when I made my pre-dawn walk around the lake.
Vickie
February 27th, 2010 at 2:54 am
Hey guys, thinking of you all the time!