Birthday Boy

Today was Sammy's birthday party. He officially turns seven on Tuesday, but we used today to do the whole present, party, family night thing together.  To be honest, I'm too tired to write about it....I will tomorrow...so here are a few highlights of the day.  Sammy felt like it was the best day ever!  What a difference a year makes....what a difference the week of the cycle makes!!!

I Feel Like The Clinic is Home!

The sentence, "I feel like the clinic is home," came out of my son's mouth in the car yesterday as we chatted about this morning's visit for chemo.  I was stunned, but in context, it actually made sense.  We had been planning the Clinic birthday celebration (Sammy turns seven on Tuesday), and he was very excited.  He really wanted to be at the clinic with his wonderful doctors, nurses, and his friend (psychologist), Leslie.  Leslie was bringing donuts for Sam to celebrate, Nana was bringing something sweet for the staff...Sammy just wanted to be there.  He sees the clinic so differently lately.

Accessing  Sam's port is often done while Sam is busy with his DS or watching a movie...or tricking Nana by making her leave the room then telling her no blood would come out....followed by a smiling Sammy holding up the vial of blood that had come out first time!  This is the kid who took four hours to drink down a teaspoon of medicine, was still taking off a band aid as the clinic was closing because it was so traumatic, and screamed the place down if a nurse even came near him, never mind with a large needle that needed to get pushed into his chest!

Sam is the big man in town...confident, aware of what is going on...able to verbalize his thoughts and opinions.  Sammy told the doctors that the past steroid pulse was the worst one ever, as was Easter...he had a rotten time and hated the weekend.  He also said how much he is looking forward to this weekend, we are holding his birthday party on Saturday and Sam will be surrounded by family and friends, and he was particularly looking forward to the extra love and attention!!!

So, Sam is very comfortable at the clinic, he is positively jubilant about his upcoming birthday, and he loves his 'clinic family' very much indeed.

Blogging Buddy Katy of Superman Sammy 04/27 by Get Bizzy Blogging | Blog Talk Radio

In case you missed the radio show, here is the link.

Blogging Buddy Katy of Superman Sammy 04/27 by Get Bizzy Blogging | Blog Talk Radio

I'm On the Radio!

Yep!  That's right.  I'm going to join Carolee Sperry at Blogging Biz Mom to talk about how this blog has helped me deal with Sammy's illness.  I will be talking about how the blog got started and the impact it has had on my life in terms of support from blogging friends.  I will also be talking about the way the blog has helped others going through similar situations.

Click on the picture to link to BlogTalk Radio.

BlogTalkRadio

We will be live on Wednesday, April 27th at 6:30pm.  Hope you can join us.  

Happy Easter!

Easter and steroids are not the best partners....suffice it to say, we had the traditional morning after a very untraditional night.  I think we all settled down to sleep around four in the morning.  Sammy had been very itchy and steroidy.

I had spent the night with him, trying to help him sleep, Jack was awakened by the 'body wash' at 3am, and finally I broke all my rules and stuck Sam in between Brian and I to try to get to sleep.

Easter morning began with bleary eyed me taking photos of the Easter Bunny gifts and the egg hunt around the house.  It has been a little on the 'gggrrr' side since then.  Here are the good pictures we got while the moment lasted:

Clinic Today

Today's clinic visit went well.  Sammy was tired from a late night as we had friends over, but he picked up and became his usual goofy self once we were settled in and he was accessed.  Here is a glimpse of our little morning getting chemo.  It is amazing how this no longer phases Sam...he just treats it like a regular part of his life.  I suspect he'll be very glad once it's over though :)

Eating before Chemo!

Getting accessed

Drawing blood

Happy blood came out on the first try (unusual)

Ready to get the chemo

All done!  

Capturing a Moment

Inspired by Ally over at cancerandbabyequalschaos, I am going to try to capture precious moments or interesting happenings each week..."Yeah, right!' I hear you say...and you are probably right...but I'm gonna give it a try.  You know it will be based on the trials and tribulations of my family's fun with cancer, but what the heck!  May as well do something fun now and again :)

So my photo is:

Okay, I broke the rules already...it's supposed to be one captured this week.  But I wanted to start with this as my mum captured it of me in Cornwall, back before my world turned upside down.  We were in a little church, enjoying the beauty within and the view.  I was in my early twenties and my whole life stretched before me.

I love this photo because it brings peace to me...happy memories, beautiful places, family, future...and I never look back with bitterness at my new lot...just contentment.  This photo reminds me of me...the person I still am, and will always be.