back on track

Adam's counts were back on track today. Almost back to healthy kid numbers. Hooray! He got his chemo with no problems. Ditto for the radiation. Martha took he and Antonio to the swimming pool after getting plenty lathered up with sun screen of course.

State Plates We Still Need

Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

good times

It's great when things come together. After having our friend Patrick the chef make a mess of jambalaya, salad and a great cheese plate, buying wine and beer, down loading a lot of summer tunes, and inviting all my staff from work, 'Ed's super fantastic summer time suare' couldn't have gone better. It was my way of saying thank you to all the folks who work so hard for the patients and the families who need help at the hospital where we all work. I think people had a very good time, enjoyed the food and the company. The weather cooperated. The blazing hot day settled into a slightly breezy, shadowy early evening. Good times.

Everyone was also happy to see Adam. Adam was on his best, polite behavior, meeting people at the door and directing them to the back yard. Camille was a hit as well. She had her biggest audience to date; dancing, singing and shooing away flies.

Adam goes back to the cancer clinic tomorrow to have his white blood count done to see if chemo can resume. His second week of radiation begins as well. He also met with Dr. Mawn, the eye specialist who did the surgery in March, to see how his eye was holding up to radiation. So far, so good. She advised that we consider putting Adam on zinc and a multivitamin. Supposedly zinc helps chemo patients maintain an appetite and as far as multivitamin is concerned Adam could definitely use it as he has never had the best eating habits.

33 US plates, the most recent, Indiana given by Adam's friend Evan.
Aruba "One Happy Island". Thanks Suzie

Don't mess with Adam. Thank Antonio.

Adam with camp bud Zack
Horizon counselors, Poncho and Jo-Nathan

untitled

Adam has been doing well. His mood, energy level and appetite all seem to have been on the rise. So it was a little surprising today when after his radiation treatment, which only took a few minutes, he was unable to have his outpt chemo because his white blood counts are too low. They are supposed to be above 750 but are in the 450-550 range. Hopefully by Monday his counts will be where they need to be in order to make up for this missed chemo date.

We continue to get plates. Uncle Paul sent in a North Carolina and a Virginia and someone who calls herself a 'friend of a friend', Peggy N. from Texas, sent a couple of gnarly TX plates. 'Friend of a friend' is the only explanation we got and it exemplifies the support we have been getting from near and far.

A lot on my mind lately. Someone told me my entries have seemed a little down lately. I guess it is hard to hide that stuff even when I am trying to stick to pure reportage. Tomorrow I have to take a road trip to Memphis for work. I am visiting a state psych hospital to see how they do things and maybe learn a thing or two. We'll see. It will give me time to think. I like taking car trips on my own. Just me, the road and usually some music. The mind wanders. We are trying to finish some work on the house. A small addition, new front porch, fresh paint and some long needed landscaping. It's nice and it's a little more than we thought it would be. My contractor, who is also a friend, felt a little guilty I think telling me how much I owed him to settle up because of Adam's cancer. That was weird. But I guess it also means he's a good guy. We started all that about 2 weeks before Adam's diagnosis. I am having my staff over for a back yard party this Saturday. It's awkward timing because my best friend at work got laid off this past Monday, along with some other fine folks (some by my own hand). Times are tough all over. Adam's treatment has become routine and I must admit, isn't the main thing getting me down at the moment. I haven't been sleeping well lately not because of Adam but because of other things. I guess I feel a little guilty about that but there it is.

32 plates so far.

Adam's second radiation treatment took less than 10 minutes. In and out with no problems. His appetite is way up and of all things he is loving tacos. But only the kind Martha makes at home. I don't know if his appetite will stay up once the chemo kicks in again, but we have to make hay while the sun shines right?

July is almost here. The middle of summer is almost here and that means we are about to enter the home stretch. This thing will be ending, Adam will be back in school, and we will be getting back to normal. Right?

My old JVC friend Dennis C., aka "the actual Buddhist", emailed me the story of the Paraquay plates (original blog entry May 18): I brought back those plates from a visit to Paraguay in 1981 just after my high school graduation. I was visiting the family of an exchange student who'd stayed with us the year before. I hope you won't be disappointed to know that the hand paint job was done by me, and that the Paraguayans aren't as "primitive" as one might imagine by that plate. I don't have anything more exotic to report about them, other than their rarity in the U.S. I doubt too many kids have any in their collections.

Thanks Dennis.

be happy

http://www.heavyload.org/

I just watched this wonderful documentary about this English punk band called Heavy Load; "Heavy Load: A Film About Happiness" It made me smile, feel good and forget about my awful day prior to coming home from work.

Nothing to do with Adam aside from my attempt to make him watch it with me half heatedly.

Check it out if you can. It came on IFC today and I am sure it will come on again.

Peace

E

Radiation begins

Adam's first radiation therapy visit went smoothly. Martha says, "They love him there for some reason." I think it may be because Adam lays very still during the treatment and does what he is told by the technicians, but that's just a guess.
Adam came back from camp with a little more color and a little more filled out. He had gone to camp looking pale and too skinny. The counselor suggested we check for ticks. Luckily none have been found. Yesterday Martha and I escorted Adam, Camille and a few other kids down to Belmont College's summer fair. It was pretty lame but it was nice to get out. The weather is pretty and not too hot. I noticed that Adam continues to be easily irritated by the younger kids. But really who wouldn't be...they are flat out annoying. I was a little on edge myself. For reasons I probably shouldn't go into (read: work related) I have not been sleeping well and I think I have just been more of an a-hole at home. Martha keeps apologizing to me about her mood, but really it's me. Adam has been as fine as he could be and so has she.

I know he is feeling lonely though. He wanted his friend Antonio to come over on Saturday but 'Tonio is at Camp. Adam teared up a little as he found this out from Ron, Antonio's dad. Then we called JP's dad to find out that JP is on a two week vacation. I felt bad but I also wasn't going to feel sorry for Adam. I got onto him a little to go play with Gray around the corner or go explore. Heck, there are kids all over this neighborhood. He stayed put....I can only push so far.

two weeks goes by fast

We picked up Adam today. We got to Camp Horizon, which is only about 35 minutes from our house, around 4pm. He didn't want to leave. We met some of his new friends and the counselors. Adam had two counselors and we gave them a bottle of wine each. Wine is always a risky gift for someone you don't really know but Jonathan and Poncho both seemed to really appreciate it. Adam says he liked archery, drama, pottery and swimming the most. He also played a mean game of Risk according to Poncho. We were pretty sure Adam would enjoy it, but you never know. He really did and says he wants to go back next year. Many of the kids at Horizon have been back year after year and some are in remission; especially the older ones. Adam and Lucas, a little boy he knows from clinic at Vandy, were the only totally bald kids. Others had scars and other signs of cancer's presence. Hopefully next summer Adam will be in remission and be a Horizon veteran. And he was clearly proud of himself for being picked to be the in the news story. (see post below)

Adam's two weeks of chemo holiday have gone by quickly but he has had a very good time. And he has felt better each day....especially this past week. Monday he starts radiation therapy and he will go daily for the next 4 weeks; Monday through Friday. He also starts outpt chemo again on Thursday. Outpt chemo will continue until the end of August.

Yesterday at work a nurse I work with but don't really know that well called me in my office and asked if she could come down and see me. This was 455 and I was really looking forward to leaving but I said 'Yes, sure, come on down' or something to that effect. I really had no idea what she wanted to talk about but I assumed that it must be a complaint about one of my staff. Not something I wanted to deal with at 5pm on a Thursday. She arrived at my office with a shy smile and what appeared to be tears welling up in her eyes. She tells me she is afraid she is going to get too emotional if she speaks but finally she does. She tells me her friend, who happens to work with Martha, told her recently about Adam. She said that she didn't know how to approach me, even though she sees me many times a week, but she did start praying the Rosary with her prayer group on behalf of Adam and our family. Then she hugged me.

Camp Horizon, staring Adam, watch it now

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8528624

old soul

Adam has been at camp since Sunday. Martha had to pick him up today to visit the radiation oncologist office for a pre visit in preparation for next weeks beginning of radiation therapy. We would have done this visit last week but we were in California. Adam is clearly liking camp because he was annoyed that Martha was picking him up and he was anxious to get back to camp. Luckily the doctor's visit was very short and he got back to having fun quickly.

I am sure that folks are sick of me saying it but we continue to be humbled by the support and love we receive from family, friends and strangers. My uncle Paul emailed a very nice note and an offer for more license plates. Very cool. A neighbor we have not seen for a while, who lives around the corner, stopped us on the street, (we were walking back from eating out), to catch up and to tell us she had heard about Adam. My brother in law's sister from Utah has sent us a great Utah plate with a boy scout theme.

I continue to wonder about what the universe has in store for us next and what all this will mean for Adam as he grows up. Will this make Adam an 'old soul' at the age of 12? Will he look back and think 'wow, if I could get through that I can get through anything!'? Adam was already a unique kid (I know, I am the pop, so of course I would think that), so what impact will this have on his character? He will survive and I believe he will thrive and this experience will show itself as a blessing. Some how, some way.

Adam departs for Camp

We just got back from dropping Adam off at Camp Horizon. It's only about 30 minutes away from Nashville. We two of Adam's counselors. One's name is Jonathon and he is from New Orleans. He graduated from Jesuit High and was in the same Jesuit class as Adam's cousin Patrick Bray. He is currently a grad student at LSU in public health. This is his first year as a Horizon counselor. Adam's other counselor is 'Poncho', aka Travis. Poncho has been volunteering at Horizon for a few years now and is an ER doctor in his real life.

Adam had no problem with us leaving him there though he did seem a little nervous. Adam is about 10 days out from his last inpt chemo so he is at his low point regarding mood and energy. The second Sunday after inpt chemo is usually the day he begins to snap back. I think he will be loving camp before he goes to sleep tonight.

The camp is 'old school.' It's deep in the woods and there ain't no AC. The cabins looked lived in and had that great campy smell. There was a big pond in the middle with canoes pulled up on the banks. And there was a giant bonfire circle. Adam loves camp so I am sure he will love Camp Horizon.

On my best day I really don't even come close but the aspiration is there thanks to the man I look up to the most. Happy Father's day Dad!

If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream-and not make dreams your master;
If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run-
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And-which is more-you’ll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

homecoming

April 08
June 08
We flew stand-by going to and coming back from California. A friend of Martha's gave us two stand-by round trip tickets. What a generous gift! We didn't have to wait at all on the trip to L.A. and we only had to wait a few hours on the trip back from San Diego. We got back last night just before 10pm Nashville time. I don't think we ever adjusted to pacific time so we all slept well last night.



The trip was a success. Martha and I both agree that these types of busy, packed, itinerary laden trips take their toll on our energy but we also agree that the purpose of the trip, to get away from chemo and let Adam have a fabulous time, was successfully accomplished. Adam didn't complain about his stomach once and his energy level seemed to stay up based on all the running around he did in the parks. We made a big deal on Thursday at Legoland that it was usually chemo day but "NO CHEMO TODAY!".



Adam is a bald as a cue ball. That I have gotten use to. But he is also losing his eyebrows and eyelashes. When I was talking to Jared about this today he said, "Now he looks like a kid with cancer." True, he does, but he is also harder to interpret with regards to his thoughts and feelings. I think we interpret how others are feeling by their eyes and the shape of their eyebrows. 90% of communication is nonverbal and a big part of the nonverbal stuff is in the eyes. I have had more difficulty lately understanding what Adam is trying to say. Certainly I have had challenges understanding what he is feeling. I need to listen more and look less, I guess. I hope I get better because I don't think his hair is coming back anytime soon and apparently eyebrows and lashes take a very long time to grow back.



Regarding his hair, Adam has been incredibly unselfconscious about going bald. He really doesn't seem to care. I think I thought this would be a bigger deal to him because I was projecting my own feelings about hair loss. I guess I was imagining how I would feel in the same circumstances. Maybe if Adam were a little older he would care more in an adolescent self conscious sort of way. Whatever. It's a blessing that Adam doesn't seem hurt by his hair loss. One less thing to deal with.



I picked up Camille today in Chattanooga from Jared. She had two fun filled weeks with her cousins in Alpharetta. Yet another blessing bestowed. Camille obviously had a great time and can't stop talking about her cousins Kira and Scott. All the way home from Chattanooga she was a chatter box until she nodded off to sleep. It's great to have her back. She came home and gave Adam a big hug. Adam was happy to see her (mostly). Tomorrow he's off to camp and Camille gets mom and dad all to herself.

legoland california

Legoland was very good. Maybe not as great as Disneyworld, but that would be an unfair comparison. The weather was gorgeous, and the temp was low 70s. Hardly something to complain about. There was no beer for sale in the park, so there is one thing to complain about. The people in California are so much skinnier than in our part of the country. Makes me want to run more. I did run yesterday. I took the rental to the Avis place and ran back to the hotel. With a nice cool breeze and little humidity, the run was great. Oh yeah, it was almost all down hill.

Today is Thursday, normally chemo day, but not today because we are in chemo holiday. Hooray!

Tomorrow morning we head for San Diego airport. We hopefully will see some sights before getting on our 3pm flight back to Nashville. I think by Saturday I will be remembering So Cal's 70 and no humidity fondly.

Adam has had a great time!

lego Einstein

Thank you....thank you very much.

First time driving on the road. He actually did pretty well and followed all the rules of the road. That's a relief!

Seaworld

Shamu
In the Sky Ride
Feeding Seals
We had a great day at SeaWorld. The day started overcast and cool but the clouds burned off and it really warmed up. Adam had a good day. A little tired from time to time but he really enjoyed himself. He loved the Journey to Atlantis ride and the River Rapids. Adam has a thing about rides that have the potential to really soak you.

Goin to Cali

We arrived in L.A. yesterday around 2 pm, west coast time, and then had to wait a little while to get a rental....but at least we got a cool convertible sportscar, a mitsubishi spider. Very nice. The traffic from L.A. to San Diego was heavy but flowing. You can see how folks get tempted to want to live out here. We arrived in San Diego around 7pm. Great hotel (the Grand Pacific Palisades), right on the beach. Southern California is a lot colder than I thought it would be. Had to buy Adam a fleece pull over today. None of us brought particularly warm clothes. Today we go to Sea World.

The hotel is very nice and the staff are friendly. They say the clouds should burn off by mid day and they are expecting a heat wave any day now. It's somewhere in the 60s right now.

make that 31

4th time's a charm

The last inpt chemo was by far the best experience we've had. It's not that Adam left running and skipping but he was able to get out in the early afternoon on Saturday and though he did throw up once, just as he was being discharged, he seemed not to be as depleted as he had been after earlier stays. I am not sure why this is but I can say that the 3 or 4 days prior to this inpt stay were some of the best for Adam since he started chemo (despite the fact that his white blood count was down so much during that same period of time).

It appears that our plans for Adam this week are going to work out. We leave tomorrow for L.A. and then we will rent a convertible and drive down to San Diego. Should be a nice drive. We are going to Sea World on Wednesday and Lego Land on Thursday. Should be a blast all around and Adam is very excited about his first trip to California. To be able to do this we had to schedule an MRI yesterday and a CT scan this morning. This timing was sort of weird so we went ahead and told Adam about the secret trip. Next week he is away for camp. His schedule is about as full as it can be.

Camille is in her second week staying with Jared, Heather, Kira and Scott in Alpharetta. It has been great for Adam and Camille to have time apart and we are very grateful to Jared and Heather for 'hosting' Camille during this time. We are going to retrieve Camille this Saturday. I hope by then that Camille and Adam will be happy to see each other for a little while before he is away at camp.

By the way, for those keeping up, the license plate count is at 29. We have some of the harder states to get already. I will get a picture up soon. We also got a lovely offer from Bob P. in Alaska to come and stay at his guest house. We are seriously considering this. Adam thinks that would be very cool. We continue to be shown so much love and support, it is overwhelming at times. Heather and Patrick brought some delicious food (sauce piquant) on Saturday. Not having to worry about dinner all the time has been a real relief. My cousins and in laws, Carson, Celia, Celia and Ward II, Ward III, Alisa, Kari, Jeannette, Eddie, Mary, Cathy and all the kin folk who I am forgetting, have really come through with heartfelt words and encouragement. Thank you, thank you.

curable

Martha stayed with Adam last night in the hospital. This is his last overnight chemo session and apparently it went the best. Adam slept most of the night and his stomach did not bother him too much. He has not felt nauseous yet....knock on wood! The resident even suggested he may be discharged earlier than we had figured.

Martha said she met a grandmother of a 9 year old boy who is also on the unit. He is staying inpt for a month and his cancer is incurable. The boy's tumor started at his eye but to remove it a large portion of his face would have to be removed. His pediatrician delayed for weeks before sending him to a specialist (the same eye specialist Adam has, Dr. Mawn), thinking it was a cyst. Sound familiar? Martha said after hearing this story that she would never complain again about Adam's treatment. Adam has had great care from beginning to now. And all the inconveniences that seem like a big deal at the time, like waiting and waiting to get a room, just seem like nothing when compared to the miracle of the treatment that is saving Adam's life. His cancer is curable.

wise mind

Adam's white blood count as recorded by the computer was still too low but as assessed by human hands was high enough. As disappointed as he was we are very happy to get started with the last inpt chemo. He may even get a bed sooner than has been normal which will be great too. The sooner in the sooner out. Our plans for next week are still on track but we will have to see how he does over the weekend.

Yesterday we held an in-service at work that we had been planning for a while. These in-services are a community service but also serve as a marketing tool to get folks to come see our facility and hear about our services. I am usually too on-edge to pay attention to the topic: making sure we have enough seats, food, air conditioning etc. This time the speaker was talking about a form of therapy that borrows much from the Buddhist tradition. Some Buddhists speak of three minds: emotional mind, rational mind and wise mind. Folks who are seeking treatment are often overly influenced by emotional mind or they find that there is a 'battle' between their emotional mind and their rational mind, with no integration. When there is successful integration then wise mind emerges. This is challenging and I guess analogous to that old fashioned concept of self actualization. Even the healthy among us tend to be in emotional or rational mind and only sometimes in wise mind. Folks with serious mental illness or personality disorders are ruled by their stormy emotions.

The talk really struck me as being right on. For the last 10 weeks I've been walking around with this battle of minds. Rarely have I been able to really integrate the emotional and the rational. And even rarer still have I been able to find or hear my wise mind. The speaker discussed the concept of 'emotional disregulation' and how at base this was the cause of so much of the problems folks seek therapy for. Amen. Emotional Disregulation describes what I have been feeling.

One of the main skills to improve integration of mind is 'mindfulness' exercises. That would include meditation, prayer, focus etc. The things I have been trying. But apparently I am not practicing enough. Another concept was the 'dialectic' between the need to accept yourself as you are, problems and all, and the genuine desire for positive change. Though opposite, these concepts are to be held together. So if I can just accept that I am an emotional basket case at times and that I can work to improve my emotional response to whatever is going on at work or home then I may actually be able to affect some change in myself. Aw right!

The trick is not to reject my own reactive thinking but to take a 'curious' positon within my mind and simply observe my responses. Take note, accept and decide to make a change... or not. We are more than 1/3 through Adam's treatment. Hopefully it will get easier but the future is unwritten. We don't know what radiation therapy will bring; if he will have serious side effects, eye problems etc. I would like to find my wise mind or at least be able to gain some acceptance of my reactivity. In 'When Things Fall Apart' the writer repeatedly talks about the illusion of 'groundedness' and that as soon as one feels grounded that is the time to watch out. There is no ground, no safety net. Groundlessness is reality and we are called to accept that.

In a weird way Adam has a lot more going in this department than I do. He is accepting of himself. He rides with the current. He reacts or doesn't react and is probably not having an internal battle over how he 'should' react. Is finding one's wise mind just another way of learning how to think when we were 11 years old?

serenity now

Apparently all these 'good' days have depleted Adam's white blood count. His inpt chemo treatment has been delayed by a day. We are not sure what the implications are if he cannot be admitted tomorrow. It may interfere with our special plans for next week. We will take it as it comes. I am very happy he has had some good days but I really want to get this last inpt chemo done with.

Adam is a little on edge himself. He apparently lost his temper with Dr. K this morning. Martha guesses, and I think she is right, that Adam has absorbed a lot over the last many weeks and has come to view Dr. K as the 'personification' of this whole thing and lost his temper.....finally. Martha made him apologize, which was the right thing to do, but I don't blame Adam. It was probably therapeutic and I think Dr. K can take it. Grayson's mom Heather told me yesterday when they brought Adam home how much he talked and how much he talked about hating to be admitted for chemo. I think this was the most he has ever said spontaneously about his feelings. And that's a good thing. He needs to talk more. Hopefully Camp Horizon will provide him that opportunity.

Adam has another very good day. His 'date' with Grayson apparently went very well. Heather said Adam talked a lot, which is always a good sign, and was very patient with Grayson as she got her hair done. Heather joked that Adam will make a great boyfriend one day.

Three really good days in a row is to be appreciated.

Thanks Lisa, Mary, Betty Lou and Julie and Sherman for the 'feedback'. Today actually went pretty well at work. I am working working to find a balance.

peace out

angels

Adam has strung together a few good days. The weekend went well. Yesterday Adam, JP and Foster went swimming out at Foster's grandmother's pool for most of the afternoon. Adam is feeling good again today. He still gets tired easily but his mood and desire to get out and have fun have been present.

Today Adam and Martha went to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant. This was the first time Adam has been there since his appearance has changed. The staff, who know us pretty well, were in a bit of a tizzy. There was also a rock and roll dude in there. Long hear, tattoos, leather, the whole works. As Adam and Martha were leaving one of the waiters caught them at the door and gave Adam a $20 bill. He said the 'dude' wanted Adam to go buy himself a new gameboy game. I guess angels come in all sizes, shapes and leathers!

Tomorrow Adam has a 'date' with an old friend, Grayson. She was a classmate of Adams at Children's House and St. Bernards Academy. She has been posting very supportive messages on this blog. She and her mom have asked Adam to go see Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian, tomorrow afternoon. Grayson is a cute and very positive girl and I know hanging out with her and her mom Heather will only brighten Adam even more.

Thursday it's back into Children's Hospital for the last of the inpatient chemo treatments. I know chem 'is our friend' but we will be happy to have this part of the chemo treatments behind us.

On a personal note, I have hit a bit of a concrete floor at work and have decided to take action of the chemical variety. My favorite medical provider is writing a prescription for an antidepressant. Balancing what is going on at home and the increasingly tight situation at work has taken its toll. Yes I am trying to meditate, yes I am trying to be mindful, yes I am still running (though not enough), yes I am learning guitar as a way to focus, and yes I am praying to God (whether he or she is listening I am not sure at times) but I still need some help. If I had time that might be of the talking kind but for the time being the serotonin increasing kind will have to do. Bless me father for I have sinned.......

good times

Yesterday we celebrated Martha's birthday. Our friend Suzie kept Camille and Adam spent the night and most of the day with JP and his family. I was worried about Adam because it has become harder to predict how he will feel during any given period of time. We gave Adam his cell phone, his medication and told him to call if there were any problems. I had reserved a hotel room down town and made reservations to a very nice restaurant. Finally we were going to be able to spend a few hours away.

It was like taking a deep breath. Everything seemed to be going well. Martha and I got to enjoy each others company, hang out and take a nap. High excitement for the over 40 crowd! We woke up just in time to go to the Watermark restaurant. It was really nice. The food was good, the wine was tasty and we were really enjoying ourselves when Martha's cell phone rang.

I thought "Oh shit" and held my breath. Martha saw that it was Adam and I watched her expression as she said 'hello' and asked what was going on. Was he throwing up, was he hurting, was he isolating from his friend? What? What?

He was just checking in! He had been having a great time all day. There was a street festival and he and JP had been hanging out with other street kids, playing games and having fun. What a relief. What a gift. http://www.othaturner.com/PARTY.HTML (this is the Ode to Otha street party held just one street over from us yearly. Adam had a great time)

It seems that Adam's blood count must have come back. He still has an appointment tomorrow to see if he needs a transfusion but from how he has done all weekend I doubt he will need one.

Camille will be staying with Jared and Heather for the next two weeks. Some well earned time away from goings on here. And I know Adam could use the break as well.

It was a really good weekend. This Thursday is Adam's last inpt chemo. And our special surprise for Adam is coming together.

peace.