Recovery...And then we begin again...

Some of this is repeating my last post…I apologize for the repetitiveness.Titus finished his delayed intensification on August 16th, the 16th being the last day he received chemo this month. Since that point his blood counts have gone up and down and he has needed three transfusions this month. He has had some days where he was not very active and putting himself to sleep and he has had days where he played nonstop like a little boy should. He has almost two more weeks until he begins his next two months of treatment. He will have lab work again this coming Friday, the 31st. Hopefully all of his counts will be trending up and he won’t need yet another transfusion. Sept. 7th, as long on his ANC is above 750, he will begin the next two months with Intrathecal Methotrexate (meds given via lumbar puncture), and IV Vincristine and IV Methotrexate. On one hand I pray that his body will recover quickly so he can continue his treatment on time, on the other hand I want more time for him to recover… All in God’s timing.

Literally for the last four months Titus has not left our home unless it is to go to the doctor, grandma’s, or run errands in the car. I can’t express how happy I am that we have been able to keep him infection free with is immune system being as shot as it is. It is amazing how much of a germaphobe I have become. People are gross! No offense I was standing in line at the drugstore one day, and a little girl and her mom were waiting behind me. The little girl started coughing this nasty cough, I literally about had a panic attack, I came home and changed my clothes and prayed that I hadn’t brought her nasty germs home. With Aubri back in school as of last week, I am praying HARD that she doesn’t bring anything dangerous (for him) home.

With him being “stuck” at home, I am really looking forward to getting our basement finished, and then the kids bedrooms moved around and done. Titus’ current bedroom is literally the size of a walk in closet. I assume when this house was built maybe it was an office, but I don’t think the square footage qualifies it as a “bedroom” lol. It worked when it was a nursery, and will be one again for Aurora, sooner than later I hope! She is growing fast and won’t fit in the bassinet much longer! Once the basement is done though, Titus will get Aubri’s room, which is a good sized room, where he will have a place to put all of his toys! He will have more space to play, room to play with toys on the floor and still have room to move around! Check out the home makeover section to see what else we need, maybe you know someone who knows someone that can help with carpet, or tile, or painting, etc. Anyway, enough for tonight. Please continue to lift my little boy in prayer as we continue on this journey.

August 10th counts:

• WBC: 1000
• HGB: 7.7 – received a blood transfusion
• ANC: 500 – severe neutropenia
• PLT: 81,000

August 17th Counts

• WBC: 1200
• HGB: 9.1
• ANC: 560 – Moderate neutropenia
• PLT: 11,000 – Platelet transfusion

August 24th Counts

• WBC: 970
• HGB: 6.9 – Blood transfusion
• ANC: 130 – severe neutropenia
• PLT: 32,000

Reminder of normal/abnormal counts:

Hemoglobin (HGB):

• Normal = 11/12
• Low (need transfusion) <8

Neutrophils (ANC):

• Normal >1500
• Mild neutropenia 1000-1500
• Moderate neutropenia 500-1000
• Severe neutropenia <500

Platelets (PLT):

• Normal >150,000
• Restrict Activity <50,000
• PLT transfusion <20,000

White Blood Cells (WBC):

• Normal range is about 4,500 – 11,000

School and Other Things

The beginning of a new school year is upon us! Aubriana begins her second grade year on Monday and is so excited! I am excited for her and can’t believe how OLD she is! She soaks up her school work and seems to truly love it. She is also the best helper a mom could ask for and such a wonderful big sister.

Aurora is almost 9 weeks old already! She weighs more than 12 pounds already, she seems to be packing on the pounds, maybe this means it’s going to be a cold long winter???

I am set to return to my studies a week from Tuesday. It has been nice and much needed to have a break from school, but I am hoping that I can transition back into it smoothly! I have 7 more classes to complete in order to graduate! If all goes smoothly between now and then I will be done the week after my 30th birthday…um, lets not go there yet!

This Sunday, August the 19th, marks our sweet Joshua Jr.’s second birthday. Our lives will forever be touched by his and although he was on this earth for such a short time, he left a large and lasting impression. We love you and will miss you baby, until we meet again!

Life is quite the journey. With so many ups and downs, twists and turns, sometimes giving up seems like the best option. I am so grateful for the family and friends in my life who have lent me strength when I needed it to keep going. You know who you are.

Delayed Intensification - Complete!

Well, we now have two weeks “off” of chemo, Titus has completed the delayed intensification phase of his treatment, yay! His ANC has stayed just above 500 over the last three weeks which is good, not great but good. He needed a blood transfusion last Friday (his hemoglobin was 7.7, normal is above 11), and today he received a platelet transfusion (his platelets were 11,000, transfusions are given after it is under 20,000). Starting September the 7th he will begin the next phase, which includes 2 lumbar punctures, then methotrexate and vincristine every 10 days. This phase lasts 2 months and then we begin long term maintenance, which is the monthly visits and lasts about 2.5 years. Time has been flying over the last 5.5 months, days running into weeks, weeks running into months…He has made it this far without any serious illnesses and with minimal side effects. I believe that all of your prayers have had something to do with that! Thank you to all of you who have been faithfully lifting him, and the rest of our family in your prayers.

Titus will be evaluated by a physical therapist in a few weeks for leg and ankle weakness that has been caused by a couple of his chemo’s. Even with that, he is a busy little guy and besides his cute baldish head, you would never know he was sick. It is amazing how little leukemia has done to slow him down, and for that I am so grateful. As a mom, his disease is never far from my mind, but when I see him being silly with his sister, it does so much to ease the worry.

Please don’t forget Titus as he has a long road ahead of him, one that will never truly end. With many possible lasting effects from chemo, and the chance of coming out of remission always in the air, I am praying for his future now as much as his present.