Hospital Time! Day 1 & Day 2 (Days -9 & -8)

So, Kal was admitted into the hospital yesterday to start the real party and process of pre-transplant, transplant, and post-transplant. We're here! We finally made it! It almost seems so surreal- like you've been planning, struggling, and preparing for an upcoming race, and one day you wake up with your feet on the ground running.

One thing you should know first about the hospital process for a bone marrow/stem cell transplant is how they count in days. Every day in the hospital before the transplant is counted as negative (-) days. Transplant day is Day 0. Every day after that is positive days. Therefore, our first day in the hospital, yesterday, is actually considered Day -9. Today is Day -8. Get it? It's like you're the NASA people counting down for a rocket to blast off. Anyway, I will be trying my best to update everyone daily, or at least every other day, depending on what's going on.

Day -9: Day of Admit

Happy boy before all the medicines

Not too shabby of a view, for sure! Kal likes to watch the cars as they drive by.

I had to zoom in for you guys to see it, but we actually get a view of the Salt Lake Temple from our room! Ba-boom! Talk about an awesome reminder for keeping our sights and perspective in the right direction.

After getting everything situated with paperwork, rules of the ICS (Immunocompromised Unit) laid out, etc., then it was time to get things going. They did all of their vitals they needed to take for him, and then started him on Prilosec (so the rest of the medicine won't come back up and/or injure his stomach) (orally), steroids (orally), Tylenol (orally), and Benadryl (IV). Then they started him on what is called "Rabbit." It's called that because it's actually made from rabbits. I know, weird, right? I'm not the scientist that could explain what they take out of the rabbits, how they process it, and why it works. I just know it works, and that's good enough for me! The "Rabbit" is what will knock down all of his T-cells, which, to my understanding, are basically the first line of defense in a person's body. This will help his body not reject the stem cells after they enter his body.  Oh, and I apologize to those who I misinformed. The nurse told me yesterday that the "Rabbit" is actually not chemo. It is just a really strong, immune suppressing drug. He will be on this for 4 days, and then be on 2 kinds of chemo for 4 days after that.

Don't let the screen fool you. It says it's giving him chemo, but it's really the "Rabbit" infusion.

It's kind of like in the movies, when your army is trying to enter and take over a strong, guarded city with a wall. You first have to take out the guards that are on watch (that's what the "Rabbit" does). Then you take down the wall (with chemo), then you take out the people of the city (I know, pretty harsh, right?) (also what the chemo does), your people enter the city to live (transplant), and then you and your army get to rule the city now, reproduce, grow the population, and live there forever. Tada! Easy as pie, right?! I mean, that's if everything goes as planned, of course.

With the "Rabbit" comes very common side affects. The most common side affects are rash/hives and flu-like symptoms. That's why they administer the Tylenol and Benadryl beforehand, to help keep down any side affects that may arise.

Other than getting a little warm and pretty crabby yesterday, he actually did really well. No "true fever" and no rash. The doctors were shocked that he didn't have those symptoms, as most patients do. A little miracle for ya!

The only other stuff going on yesterday were meetings with Child Life, Social Work, BMT charge nurse, BMT doctors, having the nurse changing the dressing for his central line again, and a sponge bath. Overall, especially compared to some of the other kids here, it was pretty chill. That's a good thing, for sure. The doctors said the best thing you can be here is "boring." That means you have nothing crazy going on and things are going as planned (or even better than expected). If you're not "boring," you're probably in some trouble, medically-speaking. So, here's to hoping we stay absolutely, completely boring throughout our whole stay here! (;

Day -8

Well, I don't want to jinx it, but today has been pretty darn boring, medically-speaking. (Like I said above, boring means Kal is doing really good!)

Morning snuggles: ohhh I just love them! And, doesn't that mini hospital gown just add to his cuteness?! So cute. (:

Not so many new things today- again with all those same medicines. He is napping a whole lot better today, and I even got to catch a cat nap- whoop whoop!

Physical therapy came to check on him, and so did the BMT doctors and Lactation Specialist. I could tell the Lactation Specialist wasn't exactly thrilled that she was called up to our room to give us advice on how to wean Kal to a bottle. Hahaha. It was actually kind of funny to see her trying to give me advice. She was very hesitant, but luckily the nurse was in the room at the same time, and kept explaining to the Lactation Specialist that it for safety's sake that they want the breastfeeding kids to wean to formula, due to increased risk of infection from the mother, and from the mother's breastmilk. She finally suggested that perhaps cold packs and cabbage leaves might help. They've been known to somehow dry your milk supply up, and if there's no milk for Kal to have from me, then he'll be forced into drinking from the bottle. We'll see how that goes. Jonald ran to the store to get me some cabbage, and now I smell like a salad bar, just so you know. Oh you know, it's the new, latest trend, right? Hahaha.

Also, a dear friend was so sweet to drop off lunch and goodies today. Ohh the roasted chicken ceasar salad, cookie, and roll were divine! Plus, she included some sugary goodies to keep things interesting, as well as the most amazing swaddling blankets in the world. It was actually the perfect timing, because that morning Kal's diaper leaked poo on his only swaddling blanket, and I had to just have him sleep in that one anyway, because there was no way he would nap while I threw it in the washer and dryer. Perfect timing= mini miracle for us!

Well, time for Kal to eat. Plus there's some annoying alarm going off saying his infusion is complete (for his flush, I think). We're going to have the nurse try and give him the bottle. Please pray for him that he can wean well, please! (: