Tantrums and Another Surgery

Life has been busy around here.  

Brody had his ENT appointment last week.  He is scheduled to have tubes placed January 13th.  Oh just another surgery within our little family.  This will help with all these doctor appointment we have had to go to, and more importantly, make the little guy feel better.  His left ear has been much worse and very retracted.  When measuring pressure, it didn't change at all.  He is hearing a muffled noise there, and the surgery should really help his speech.  Mason had tubes and adenoids removed.  Brody is just having tubes, and surgery is much easier.  It helps that Mason had this and it was easy easy on him.  

I was able to go with John to chemo while I was off for Christmas.  There won't be many I can go to, so I wanted to tag along.  I may have fallen asleep in one of those comfortable chairs on this particular day.  They were very slow so the nurses told me to prop my feet up and enjoy the quiet time. 

I can't say enough how awesome our friends are.  They say when things like this happen, your true friends shine.  I cannot think of a single person that hasn't worried or cared.  We have an army of people praying for us and offering up all kinds of help with the kids, laundry, grocery shopping, taking down Christmas decor, etc.  

Our friends have put together a meal train online where people sign up to bring food.  We are covered for the month of January basically.  It's unreal.  We are so so blessed with amazing people in our life.  

Jessica brought us dinner again and it was delicious.  Im having to jot down some of these recipes (esp. the cheese grits/sausage breakfast casserole...OMG it was amazing).  You can tell in these pictures the kids loved it too.  

Chocolate all over the face.  

Another morning of chemo, so I took the boys to my mom's house.  Good thing she takes vacation between Christmas and New Year's...not much of a vacation though!  

Brody giving Mason morning kisses.

Brody has decided he likes superheroes just as much as big brother.  He totally stole these guys from Mason and slept with them all night.  

Taking chemo through the veins is not fun for the veins.  This was after only two doses...he's had two more since then. 

Another day down.  

Our kids decided to get sick right before Christmas.  Colds this time of year are no fun.  I knew Mason didn't feel well when I found him passed out upstairs just watching TV. 

Not only have they been sick, Brody has turned into a whole new child.  He has been throwing the biggest tantrums!!  Obviously, a lot has been going on; and honestly, Brody has done worse than Mason with all the changes.  He has developed some serious separation anxiety on top of this new personality.  Here he is just climbing out of his high chair....  

I actually worked yesterday and he had to go to Mrs. Pat's house.  I dropped him off and told her I expected to pick up my sweet baby when I returned....which did NOT happen.  I do think things will get better with the kids once everyone is back to work, school, and daycare.  A little routine goes a looooong way.  

Will and Catey stopped by Sunday night with a big dish of baked ziti, salad, bread, and apple pies. Yummy.  We also got to see Baby Lawson which was an extra bonus.  

I went on and bought a dry erase calendar for the refrigerator.  This is what our lives have turned to.  I feel much better being organized and having everyone else know whats going on (aka John).  =)

Sweet little boy in one of his new outfits.

We had some snow flurries yesterday.  Mason was with my mom and I told her to make sure he saw it, even if it was just a bit.  He woke up pretty disappointed Christmas morning.  He was under the impression it would snow Christmas Day.  (I guess because of Santa)  He was happy to see the snow but did say to my mom, "It's Christmas!"  I think he is still confused about the snow.

As I am typing, John is in surgery to have his port a cath placed.  They called late yesterday and scheduled it for early this morning.  I know most people wouldn't be excited to have surgery on New Year's Eve, but we are ready for the port a cath.  It will be so much easier on him.

We have a big day because after the surgery, he is headed to Dr. Week's office for his last dose of chemo for this first cycle (and they will be able to deliver it through the port a cath!!!).  We are so thankful to have started the chemo earlier than originally planned.  I just can't imagine not starting yet.

He has done okay with the chemo, but it has been a little harder on him than we originally thought.  He feels pretty good while getting the chemo and can eat well after his treatment, but the days following are not as pleasant.  Turns out, having so many breaks in his treatment because of Christmas and the weekend, wasn't as easy on him as if he had gotten it five days in a row.

So Christmas and then this past weekend, he did not feel good.  He will get a little nauseas and dizzy, but the worst part is his whole body is achy and hurting, almost like he has the flu.  He feels so bad that it is hard to eat anything.  The nurse yesterday told him if he isn't throwing up, he is doing pretty good.  I was hoping there was a magic pill he could take.  =)

Robert took him to his treatment yesterday and said about half way through, he was like a whole new person.  The fluids really help.  We are going to work on him drinking even more water.  I'm hoping in a few of days, he will start feeling better and can enjoy a couple of weeks off chemo, get back to work, and feel a little more "normal".   And also get that appetite back up so he can put on more weight.  He weighs less than Robert...that is a first.  Seriously.  He weighed more than Robert when he was born.

Once he feels better after this cycle of chemo/ chemo recovery, we are going to see where we are at with the back pain.  I think it has really improved, but it's hard to tell.  I would never want to have him try to go without pain meds while he is feeling so bad.  I'm hoping we will be able to throw those pills away in about a week!  =)

Can't wait for a HEALTHY and new year!  I feel sure 2014 will be great!