“Home is a shelter from storms – all sorts of storms.”  ~ William J. Bennett

We are home after weathering another week of high-dose 3F8s in New York.  It was wonderful to arrive back in Wisconsin yesterday afternoon.  I took comfort in doing the laundry and running to the grocery store while John weeded through mail, email, and the obligations of our house that were neglected for the week.

Jack’s treatments on Thursday and Friday were predictable and he came through just fine.  He was so happy to leave the hospital on Friday with his port de-accessed, ‘tubies’ removed, and treatment behind him.  After a good nap and a hot shower, we were able to meet friends from home for dinner – you would have never guessed what this kid had been through.  We looked like the average tourist family on vacation . . . if only that were the case.

The kids were playing outside after dinner yesterday when it started gently raining.  It was a hot, summer rain and they excitedly asked if they could stay outside and run around until it stormed.  Sure, why not!  I grabbed the camera and got a couple of cute shots of them dancing around.  My favorite picture, by far, is the new one of Jack who was able to make a little blonde mohawk with his wet hair.  He finally had his own ‘crazy hair’ he’s been longing for since we made the blue paper creation back in February.

And though the late evening shower was gentle and fun, things got a bit stormier as the night wore on.  We know that the after effects of Jack’s treatments are always the worst on Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights and last night was no exception.  Having taken both Ativan and Dilaudid before bed, Jack still couldn’t sleep and had horrible tingling feet.  We did the usual rubbing, but nothing helped.  Another Ativan at 11 pm and Jack still wasn’t sleeping.  Long story short, he did not collapse until 3 am when exhaustion finally outweighed the itching, tingling restlessness.

I felt so bad for him and was glad to tuck him in and fall into bed myself in the wee hours of the morning.  At 6 am, however, I felt bad for myself when Annie came in to our bedroom to say she wasn’t tired any more and wanted to have breakfast.  Ugh.  I tried sending he back to bed for a while, but she was too excited to be home again and get outside to play.  We all did our best to stay very quiet this morning in hopes Jack could rest . . . and rest he did until 11:15!  I was three hours into weeding the flower beds when he came wandering outside in his jammies wondering where we all were. 

Jack did a great job wearing himself out today and he is fast asleep in his bed as I type.  Hopefully the night will be calm and the threat of storms will steer clear.

Sarah