Mark & Emily's fam: Round Three. Ready... Fight!

So, we made it through the first two rounds, and Liam had his third chemo treatment on Friday. Since this was the first outpatient clinic, Emily and I both went with him to see how it all works. It shouldn't too bad... but it probably will be all day. For a pretty normal treatment, we left around 9, and got home just after 5. (we would have been home sooner, but our exit on I15 is closed--gotta love construction :) ). Some weeks will be shorter, and some will be longer.

I'm sure everyone wants to know how he's doing... it's kind of hard to say. It isn't really a question of good days and bad days even... it changes very quickly. We tried to have some friends come and help us take some family pictures (thanks again you two), and we just couldn't get a smile out of him. But some days he has a big contented grin on his face for hours. Mostly he is tired. He sleeps a lot and he likes to just spend "quiet time" sitting. It's tough.

He is still responding more slowly than they initially hoped, but it seems to be consistent at least. The doctors are very quick to assure us, and I believe them, that there isn't a problem. It is just how his body responds. One of the chemo treatments has made him throw up each time. Poor emily has twice been caught with (one time she literally caught) hot dog vomit. At least we are making memories :).

The steroids are supposed to make him moody, and they say that most kids get really aggressive. He's normally a really good kid, but he can have his tantrums too, and I was a little concerned that he might lash out and maybe hurt Julia or Jenevieve. Instead of aggressive, he's been getting melancholic. To me that is just an indication of how deep his goodness goes. Instead of hurting anyone he just just want's to be cuddled more.

The good news is, he finished his steroid treatment, which was the most side-effect-y medication he has been on, so in a few days, that much of him should be back to normal. So in a lot of ways the worst is over. (at least we hope it is)

I think that the next milestone will be the hair. We still haven't told him. Firstly, because he tends to stress about things until they happen, so we will wait till it is more eminent, but secondly, we haven't told him... because we don't have a clue how to tell him. Apparently his social worker or one of the child life specialists has some tips that they will be giving us, but he's already started 'shedding' more than normal. It breaks your heart a little bit every time.

I'm sorry these posts have been few and far between. And I know that they are sparse and rough around the edges, but once again... I've got to go, so ... that's all you get. :)

These pictures are a few weeks old... (better late than never?) They are from the day that Liam got to come home from the hospital