Home Sweet Home

We were only in the hospital for a week but it might as well have been a month.  We were both so grateful to get home and sleep in our own beds.  Steve was especially happy to be freed from all those cords.  Our family was very cared for while we were gone.  Many meals were brought to my kids that were at home and my house was clean laundry done and folded.  My youngest that stayed at my sisters house cried when she brought her home because she had had so much fun with her cousins and loves it at their home.  I was very grateful for all the help and selfless acts of service so many people gave to our family.  Steve has spent much of his days sleeping since we got home.  Today is the first day he is really up and about.  The day after we got home, he had to get a shot that boosts his white blood cell count.  They said it is pretty painful because it stimulates the bone marrow to go into over drive and boost his counts. They said a lot of people experience bone pain that is pretty bad.  They gave us lots of meds to give him before the shot and then more pills for after.  We did it at night before he went to bed, so I think he slept off most of the side effects.  He didn't feel great the next day but it wasn't as bad as they had prepared us for.  Two nights ago, he had his first interferon shot.  We gave him all the pre meds once again but that one knocked him down a bit more the next day.  He was pretty sick, and no energy.  Jacob, our oldest, had an awards assembly I went to that morning. I was surprised when Steve showed up a bit late, but just in time to see Jacob get his award for being on the honor roll and getting good citizenship all year and also intramural champion.  Of course, the best award was the intramural champion.  Steve sneaked out right after Jacob got his award.  He wasn't really suppose to be around so many people at this time in his treatment.  He is at a higher risk for infection and sickness right now.  That was all he could do that day.  He came home and slept the rest of the day.  Today is the first day he seems to be doing better.  He actually went out and started mowing the lawn.  It is a riding lawn mower, but still a great accomplishment right now.  Jacob took over as soon as he got home from school.  I am learning a lot right now about nutrition and how it will help him heal.  It's amazing!!! I didn't really think we were that unhealthy but I see a lot of areas that we will be improving on.  I'm kind of excited to do all we can to help Steve get healthy again and stay healthy.  That is one thing we have gained a greater appreciation of, is having good health.  We have really always been healthy.  Our kids and us have never had anything other than the occasional cough or flu.  We have been very fortunate that way.  Watching Steve lose his health so quickly, has been a challenge.  He will get it back and we will never take it for granted again.  Steve has 2 more shots this week then he has a week off.  We will head back to the huntsman for round 2 after that.  For now, we are just going to enjoy our time together as a family!