10 Hours for 3 1/2 Minutes of Chemo

WOW!!!! That was a L-O-N-G day at the clinic. We headed to Loma Linda at 8 a.m. He didn't get his blood draw until nearly 11 a.m. The chemo is count dependent, so we had to wait for labs to come back before he could get his chemo. The good part of the morning is that I was able to see several of my clinic/hospital friends, other moms with cancer kids. Seems like we were all there for a long haul.

Today we delivered the Santa hats that our friends at church donated and the Rudolph goodie bags. Jacob looked like Santa with the bag slung over his shoulder. That helped the day feel more Merry. I also took my camera, so we could record where we go each week. Jacob has been writing "His Story" about cancer with Liz. I thought it would be good to have images of what he's been going through. He didn't really want pics of the port accessed, but agreed that he should save them to show his kids or his brother.

I was really proud of him. He really was a good sport. He was a little sluggish when it was time to walk to the room to access his port saying, "I'm never going to be ready to go." But he went ready or not. When the nurse said it was time, Jacob took a big breathe and stuck his chest way out. I think he's so brave for doing this each week.

Jacob & I enjoyed a nice sit-down lunch at Denny's Diner. Jacob ordered alien pancakes. I didn't think he would eat all 3 pancakes, 2 sausages, & 2 strips of bacon. But he did PLUS my 2 strips of bacon and 1/2 a pancake. He also enjoyed an icy glass of lemonade.

His labs game back after a couple of hours, but the doctors didn't come back from the hospital and tumor board meeting. The clinic got way backed up with patients and no doctors. I secretly thought, "well, at least if we have to wait a few more hours for chemo, he'll have time to digest and keep some of that food."

Dr. Mathias was kind and thorough when she returned. I know she had to be rushed, but she let us snap a pic (I'll share those another day). Then we had to wait for the chemo orders to get ready. Thankfully we waited in the infusion room, so Jacob could play the GameCube for a while.

He didn't get his chemo that only takes about 3 minutes to administer until 4:45 p.m.

After our long day, we went to the Pharmacy to get Jacob's newest favorite: Whatchamacallit.

I found this candy bar a couple weeks ago and bought one. I remember the entire commercial from my youth:

Hey, what ya eatin?

A Whatchamacallit

What-do-you-call-it?

A Whatchamacallit

I mean - what's it's name.

I told you the name.

Did not.

Did too.

You said, "Whatchamacallit."

That's right.

P.S. Thanks to Judy & Melissa for watching my kids all day. Thanks also to Sara for driving the preschool BOTH ways & other friend Sara for getting James at school. How could I be away all day without you?!!!