When will it end?!

Isaiah continues to be unwell.  We ended up at the hospital again last night and will go back again today.
I've looked back since we returned from Vietnam on December 14th and discovered that Isaiah has been sick every week.
It all started on December 17th.  Isaiah received regular chemo but also had a fever and had to return to hospital on the 18th.  After opening presents Christmas morning, he spiked a fever and returned to the hospital.  He was neutropenic and was admitted.  He stayed there for five days with Dave because we were all too sick to visit him.  On December 29th he was discharged but was back again on New Year's day with a fever.  We returned on the 2nd for more antibiotics.  Isaiah continued to be unwell and spiked another fever on the 7th of January.  More antibiotics on the 7th and 8th.  January 14th was regular chemo and Lumbar puncture.
Then the whole week of January 18th, Isaiah was vomiting and had diarrhea. (Everyone except for Dave was also sick).  January 27th was blood work day.
On February 3rd, he spiked another fever and was back to the hospital for more antibiotics on the 3rd and 4th.  February 11th, regular chemo.  Now February 14th and 15th for more antibiotics due to fever.

The total number of times at the hospital since Victoria has joined our family is 18.  We've had something every week.  I kept thinking three kids was so much more work but now I'm thinking that it's been a lot of other things.  If we were all well and didn't have to visit the hospital so much, three kids would be a breeze.

February 13th - I knew the fever was imminent

At the hospital late February 14th

Isaiah has made up words for all of the things he needs to get done at the hospital.  I don't know how he comes up with these words.  It's adorable and I had to document them somewhere:

npw - "the sucker"
npw (without vacuum) - "nose blob"
eye swab - "eye slob"
when they access his port - "getting a poke"
where he gets his LP - "the special room"
Dr. Schultz (his oncologist) - "the pickle doctor"
his VAD - "my button" or "my rock"

Adam also calls the nurses "teachers" which is adorable.

much of the same

We've been playing a lot of musical beds these past few weeks.  Below is a picture of all three of them ending up in our bed.  David is very thankful for the spare bed we have in Victoria's room.  The kids started calling it Daddy's bed for a while.  One night Dave was demoted to the bunk bed.  It was a rough night but it made me laugh seeing David all curled up in the bottom bunk.  A bunch of sick kids can make for interesting nights.  Fortunately, we are on night three of all kids being in their proper beds.  

It's continued to be a bit of a rough time for Isaiah.  We've made so many trips to Children's Hospital since we've been home from Vietnam.  We had to make another three visits this past week as Isaiah spiked yet another fever.  He's still out of school and we won't know until Wednesday (chemo day) if he'll be allowed to go back.  At this point, I'm thinking they will want him to stay home.  His cough seems to be as bad as it was in December.  Our activities have been restricted as we are trying our best to avoid crowded places.  Today we invited one of his friends to the swimming pool because he has nagged me for weeks to arrange a play date.  It was very crowded and he had a few coughing fits in the pool but enjoyed himself so much.  He needed something fun to lift his spirit.  He was so exhausted and asked to go to bed at 5pm.

He's been working on his Valentine's Day cards and really wants to go to his class party on Friday.  Hopefully he will be allowed to go.

The other two munchkins are doing well.  The lifeguard let Adam go down the water slide today even though he was a good two inches too short.  He was thrilled!
He started swimming lessons last week and is really enjoying it.  He has his two good girl friends in his class which makes it extra special.
Adam is starting to enjoy quieter activities like reading and colouring but is still a boy through and through.  He has so much energy and I feel bad for him (and for me) that we've been a bit house bound.  I'm very thankful for his swimming lessons.  He really needs physical activity to get his energy out.

Victoria took four steps on the weekend.  Her feet are so small though; size 3 or 3-6 months.  They really need to grow because they don't sell hard soled shoes until size 4.  She will have to walk outside in soft shoes I guess.  She is such a happy little girl.  Recently, she has been crawling up to me to give me kisses.  It's adorable.  She loves to empty my cupboards.  She found chips the other day and tried eating them.  Sneaky girl.

update on the three

It's been some time since my last post.  I've been busy enjoying my children!

Isaiah returned to school after the new year but got sick again and ended up back at Childrens' Hospital (thankfully as an outpatient only).  His oncologist decided that it would be best for him to stay out of school for awhile since he still has his cough from end of November and seems to be catching every virus out there.  The plan is for him to stay out of school until at least his next chemo appointment on February 11th.  Although it is a long time to be out of school I'm reminded that it is only kindergarten and I am LOVING having him home.  I always see having time with Isaiah as a gift.  I see all the medications his body has to endure and am just so thankful that I have been granted more time with my sweet boy.  He truly is an amazing 5 year old.  We've been doing home learning together and it is going very well.  Despite avoiding germy kindergarten, he currently has the stomach flu and had a bad night of vomiting.

Adam has been joining us in our learning some of the times.  He is so musical and quickly picked up the whole French alphabet song along with a handful of nursery rhymes.  He also loves listening to the music on my phone.  His favourite song at the moment is "Happy" by Pharrell Williams.  I enjoy hearing Adam sing throughout the day.  Adam and Isaiah are both in skating lessons and I'm so impressed with Adam's skating.  He really enjoys his class.  Adam continues to be my little cuddler.  He often invites me to cuddle on the couch.  "Hey mama!  I have an idea.  You wanna cuddle with me on the couch?"  He'd be content to sit there for an hour reading stories and cuddling.  I love my little Oatsy.

Victoria is doing so well.  She took her very first step yesterday and took two more today.  I think she is close to walking.  She is now comfortable with exploring the house independently.  Her favourite thing to do is empty the cupboard with all the cans and rip up toilet paper into tiny little pieces.  She also loves being chased up the stairs.  She is such a perfect little girl.  She is ALWAYS happy.  It's so easy to get a smile out of her.  I love when I peek at her playing and she makes eye contact with me and gives me that sweet smile that you see in the picture.  Unfortunately, she now also has the stomach flu.  At the dinner table, she vomited everything up but once placed in the bath, gave us that beautiful smile again.  I love her so much.

So yes, life is much busier with three but I've relaxed my standards for housekeeping at home and am enjoying my time with them.  We are building wonderful memories together and I'm becoming quite the LEGO builder.

Discharged!

After 5 days in the hospital, Isaiah was discharged last night.  We're so glad to be home, especially Dave who spent every night with Isaiah.

Thank you to everyone who sent us food and treats.  Loretta and Tony, that rigatoni came in very handy and was so delicious.  Jess and Nick, thanks for the home-made soup and goodies for Isaiah.  You guys were so sweet to spend all that time going back and forth to the hospital.  Barb and John, thanks for sending along food for David in the hospital.  I know Dave really appreciated that.  Nancy, thanks for giving Dave a break at the hospital.  Mom, thanks for buying me groceries.  Amanda and Peter, thanks for sending us food when we got home with Victoria!

Thank you also to all those who offered to help.  We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who always support us during these times.  This was such tricky timing for Isaiah to be in the hospital because we just got home and were trying to adjust to a family of five, not to mention that we were all sick and  it was Christmas.

Glad it's all over....or so I hope.  We are supposed to stay isolated at home and have to go for blood work on Friday as Isaiah is 8 points away from needing a blood transfusion.  We went for a walk today, despite everything.  I found it so humorous how someone almost needing a blood transfusion could climb all the way to the top (see picture below).  I guess that was my job to stop him but he was having so much fun.  Don't worry, we have spent the whole day inside building Lego and resting so that his body can recover.  

  

Merry Christmas in the hospital

I thought we were all getting better but things took a turn for the worse on Christmas day.  Adam and Isaiah both had fevers again which meant for Isaiah that he had to go to the hospital.  He was admitted because of low blood counts.  Dave is staying with him.  I can't even visit him because he's in the oncology ward and we're all sick.  It's too risky to be walking through the halls with the other vulnerable patients.  It's been such a rough go since we've been home.  I hope Isaiah won't be in hospital for too long.  I also hope that my other little ones get better.  I was really looking forward to these 4 days off as a family.  What a bummer.

Isaiah was really mad that he had to miss turkey dinner at my mom's house.  He cried.  I was sad to miss the dinner as well.  I love turkey.  I guess this will motivate me to cook the turkey I have in my freezer.  

Recent happenings prior to Victoria's birthday (last post)

We've all been so sick these past few days.  Being sick and having to look after three kids who are sick is not fun.  During this sick period, we still managed to celebrate Isaiah's fifth birthday.  We literally sang, had two bites of cake, turned off all the lights and went to bed.

Thankfully we are all on the upswing.  We managed to make it to Christmas Eve service tonight.  Family photo didn't turn out too well.  Victoria isn't looking in the first one, is crying in the second one and Adam is mining for gold in the third.  Oh well.  

Happy 1st birthday Victoria!

One year ago today, at 10:40pm, a small package was found near the front gates of an orphanage.  Wearing white infant clothing, a white hat and wrapped in a red felt blanket was a beautiful little girl.

One year later, my Christmas gift:

I know that it must have been hard for Victoria's birth mother to leave her.  I'm thankful that she chose life for Victoria and gave her the opportunity to enjoy God's beautiful world.  

Happy 1st Birthday Victoria