Week 20 part 1

We made it! The final round of the Interim Maintenance Phase. We were given permission to admit early this morning in the hopes that one day ahead of our usual Monday schedule would allow us to get home by Christmas. All week I prayed Grayson would not become febrile. And if he had to, let it happen after his bday party Saturday. Considering we all suffered from a stomach virus of some sort (even Caden who is still recovering) Grayson came out of the past 10 days of exposure practically unaffected. He had two bouts of vomit Wednesday night immediately following dairy consumption. As soon as I eliminated it from his diet he was all good. He has been on red gatorade ever since (T and G never tolerated Pedialyte and surprisingly enough Caden has been downing the unflavored kind like his new cocktail of choice. He has been on it bc he was coughing so hard he was throwing up his entire bottles when he was riding that fever of 102 on Monday and Tuesday). I only allowed him to have milk this am and he wanted MILK so bad that he even drank chocolate milk, a first! And that was only bc I knew we had the hospital to depend on if he did catch the virus big time.

Charito decided to just drop me G and I off at the hospital. We made a family thing of it. We arrived by 9:30 this morning and by 11 ish he was hooked up to fluids. Then Charito and Triston took a walk up to the cafe for yummies. Even though we were all crabby and tired from the illnesses and party preparation and recovery (it really took its toll on G afterwards even tho you would never have guessed so with the way he sucked up every bit of freedom yesterday) it was nice to have everyone together. It wasnt just G and I loading up and setting up shop in our hospital room like usual. We enjoyed a nice lunch, mini naps and I got to soak up all the cuddles I could with Caden before I left him.

Daddy and the rest of my boys took off around 2 pm. After that Grayson slept some more and I caught up on emails. It has been really hard to keep my eyes open. I miss everyone already. So much.

We started G's green cocktail at 9 pm. He is getting pretty tired after playing trains and playdoh. But boy did it take us a couple hours to get to that cocktail point, playing the Urine Ph balance game again. Once again, he would not pee while sleeping so that put a pause on things to the point I just started waking him from his mini naps and made him walk around the room in order to pee. We are also on isolation due to this nasty cough he has. Best for his protection and the fact that RSV and norovirus and oh, um a million other viruses are going around.

I hope its a fast week. I cant help but worry and think about how much needs to get done before Christmas Eve. Will we be home in time? I know it is just a day and we can have our day any other time but it is still hard to picture something other than tradition. And some might say, well it is then time for a new tradition. But you are also talking to someone who doesnt like change, much less events I have no control over anymore.

There is so much emotion wrapped up into this week. I feel like the boys' bday party was just the intro of a feelings flood to come. From this tiny room I have to monitor Caden's cold and horrendous cough from afar. Guess whether he should consume a pedialyte bottle or formula bottle via the babysitters take on his behavior. I have to keep tabs on Triston and his emotions leading up to the most exciting holiday for a 5 yr old all the while hoping he understands if I am not there xmas morn. I have to keep myself together while my husband takes part in all the wrapping and little parent things we do in xmas preparation for our children. So much I am missing but so much I need to be here for to be sure my boy gets better.

G hasn't let us down and I can't let him down. He IS the courage I need through this holiday. Psst...the arrival of my parents on Thursday is big boost for me, too! I NEED my mommy and daddy just as anyone else does.