Making it

A week ago today, we finished our 4th round of high-dose methotrexate. Ev has one more chemo med to take this evening and then we are done with the interim maintenance phase. Being in the hospital so often these past 2 1/2 months left me feeling confused as to where to call home. Our desire is always to be at home, but the hospital has become familiar and with that comes a comfort. And, thankfully, the last two visits went smoothly.

Ev still thinks we will be going back any day now. As I get him dressed for the day, he tells me that he doesn't want to go to Riley. To my great joy, I have been able to tell him we are not and that we get to see family, take brother to school or go to the store. He will tell people that he gets poked at Riley, and that seems to be his greatest reason for not wanting to go. (As a mother, I can handle this fear of his and not be overwhelmed by it. A poke is so small on the scale of what he has and continues to go through.)

The other night, Jeff and I were asking the boys in which state they were born. Ben says, Vermont and Ev says, Riley's. It was a good laugh for all of us.

In a weeks time, we will begin the delayed intensification phase. This is the last big hit before the much longer maintenance phase. So, from the second week in December to the first week of February Everett's immune system will get annihilated (assumably). My goal is to do the best I can to keep him out of the hospital. When and if his ANC reaches the low digits or 0, there's nothing I can do.

I can't control any of this, but I can still do something about it. A confusing statement, but very accurate. So, we will figuratively board up our windows and doors and stay away from civilization as the Oncler from The Lorax did. But, please don't pity us for it, we are happy, alive and thankful for where we are and the victories that have been won. Ben will still go to school and we will still be able to see family.

So, we will see what comes of these next few months.

Ev was Captain America for the entirety of our last visit. This also means he slept in his hat/mask.

When we walk around the hospital, Ev has to wear his mask...there were so many people that recognized him as Captain America that when we got back to his room he didn't take it off for a couple hours.