Can't go home....

Nope, Noah is not allowed to go home this round. He has a lot of sores - in his mouth, down his throat and even around his eyes! The doctor said she hasn't seen it affect eyes before, (leave it to Noah... ) but it would make sense since the sores occur on mucous membranes, and eyes have mucous membranes, too. We went to the clinic and Dr. Lucy said not to go home. At least she didn't add, "... actually, we'd like to admit you for a few days.." That may yet happen, but not today. They may want to admit him for continuous morphine if it gets too painful, and fluids if he get s dehydrated.
I am glad we stayed here in Vancouver this week, and that they could see him and give us something for him. I think the glutamine and the amount of liquid we have been pumping into him has helped him because he doesn't have quite as many sores, but I think the difference this time is more that he isn't nauseous. He was vomiting so much he became dehydrated, and it just got worse from there.

We have also had the NG tube discussion with the dietitian, Beth. She came to see us while Noah was in the hospital and she was quite frank with us, saying that she is concerned about his BMI (his height/weight ratio), which is falling -she even had it all plotted on a chart! She recommended that Noah get a tube for the next round; it is too late to do it now, because his throat is too sore, and the insertion of the tube would make it worse. His weight today is 31.3 kg, which is 68.6 lbs. (Miranda, two years younger, weighs 67, I think) I don't think it is scary-low, but it is worth being concerned about. We have realized that it might be a good idea, because as it is, he can't really eat right now and drinking is beginning to be an issue. We don't want a repeat of last round, and a tube would prevent the dehydration he experienced last time. It feels as if the Lord is nudging us in that direction, and it feels ok. I am now sorry I used it as a threat....I cringe when I think about it..
Tom's only concern is that it will make Noah's friends even more afraid of him! He has had a bit of trouble in that area, and it isn't their fault, they just don't know what to say to him and so they don't say anything! If we didn't have an XBox, I don't know what he would have done. It has been a good bridge between him and his friends. So an NG tube would just make him more freakish, in his opinion. Beth has told us that if it becomes an issue, if he is eating and drinking ok, we can take it out for the times when we are home, and then have it inserted again when we get back. We'll have to see what he thinks about the ordeal first. I can't imagine it is pleasant.

So, the current plan is that on Sunday Tom and the girls will go home and Noah and I will stay here. Noah has another appointment on Monday morning and his next round begins on the following Friday if his counts are ok. Tom is going crazy here- he can't stand all the people, and he really wants to go fishing. He bought new waders with the money he made refereeing basketball games this winter and he hasn't had a chance to try them out yet. If you know how much Tom loves fishing, you know how badly he is itching to get into the river. Our river, where there aren't any people, lol!

Well, I hear a movie and a big king-sized bed, albeit full of kids, calling my name... I should answer! Hope you all are enjoying sunshine somewhere!