Friday, July 30, 2010

30 July 2010

T+318

There has been a confirmed case of whooping cough at school! Thankfully, the sick child is in Year 5 and doesn't play or mix with Jeremy's class. Even though Jeremy has now had his 3 doses of Infanrix Hexa (which protects against whooping cough and 5 other diseases), if Jeremy comes into contact with whooping cough (eg. someone in his class catches it), then he will need to go on a course of antibiotics as a preventative measure.

There has also been a confirmed case of chicken pox at school. Again, we are thankful that the sick child is in Year 6 and has not been in contact with Jeremy.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

29 July 2010

T+317

A happy fever-free day at school!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

28 July 2010

T+316

Around 10pm last night, Jeremy spiked a fever of 38.0 - he was given Panadol and quickly went back to sleep. So he stayed home from school today, but thankfully has not had any more fevers since.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

27 July 2010

T+315 or 45 weeks!

Look who Jeremy brought home from school today! His name is Bear and he has come to have some adventures with us (which will be duly photographed and written up in the class book). Bear visited us 2 years ago when Stephanie was in Kindy (he was called Recycle Bear back then!). We are trying not to think about where he has been and how dirty he actually might be!

After blowing some bubbles outside with Jeremy, Bear had to have a special medical sleep ...

Monday, July 26, 2010

26 July 2010

T+314

We went to see the doctor after school today, as Jeremy still sometimes says that it hurts in his ear and that he can't hear what we are saying. The doctor didn't want Jeremy to have any more antibiotics, and tried to make an appointment with the local ENT specialist. However, as the next available appointment was in September, I told the doctor that I would speak to the bone marrow transplant doctor about seeing a specialist at hospital.

The bone marrow transplant doctor reassured me that Jeremy's ear problems have nothing to do with TBI or chemo, and that they are part of "normal" childhood illnesses. He will try to get an appointment for Jeremy to see the ENT specialist at hospital, as well as arrange for a hearing test.

Putting things into perspective, we are thankful that these are minor issues and that Jeremy is happy and active - and in remission! And, in the words of Jeremy's favourite Colin Buchanan song (I think he likes the drums!) -

Passing through, passing through on the way to heaven
Passing through, passing through on the way to heaven
Passing through, passing through on the way to heaven
Don’t let this old world get its grip on you
God’s children are only passing through

Sunday, July 25, 2010

25 July 2010

T+313

Jeremy was excited to go to EeEe's concert - she was playing violin in an orchestra. His first comment was "The conductor's using a chopstick"! The next thing he said was "That man's not wearing any shoes!" and he pointed at one of the violinists! But he seemed to enjoy the concert (we left at interval because he was getting restless), and told us that he liked the third piece the best because it had a solo clarinet.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

24 July 2010

T+312

Jeremy (and Stephanie) had a fun time running around at his schoolfriend's Pokemon party.

Friday, July 23, 2010

23 July 2010

T+311

Jeremy's favourite school day is Friday because his class has Golden Time after lunch. Golden Time means free play with the classroom toys!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

22 July 2010

T+310

This morning Jeremy had an ear-ache, so the doctor told us to give him some more antibiotics. We are thankful that he is still running around happily at school (he even collided with a classmate at lunchtime and grazed his elbow) as if nothing were wrong with him!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

21 July 2010

T+309

A cold but happy day at school!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

20 July 2010

T+308 or 44 weeks

Praise and thanks be to God! Jeremy's results from his bone marrow aspirate on 7 July are MRD negative - ie. no detectable leukaemia cells! Thank you to all who were praying about this for us!

Jeremy was happy to go back to school today for the start of Term 3 of Kindy. We are thankful that he is well again, and pray that he remains healthy during this term!

Monday, July 19, 2010

19 July 2010

T+307

Stephanie and Jeremy were able to enjoy the sunshine and play outside at the park with two of their school friends.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

18 July 2010

T+306

Still coughing a bit, so he stayed home today, but should be OK to start school on Tuesday!

17 July 2010

T+305

A happy day spent playing with family and eating home-made pizza and chicken wings!

Friday, July 16, 2010

16 July 2010

T+304

Praise God for another fever-free day!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

15 July 2010

T+303 or 10 months!

Thankfully, no fevers today! He still has a cough and the snorts ...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

14 July 2010

T+302

Still more fevers, so Jeremy went to see the doctor today. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for a middle ear infection, and panadol and rest for his respiratory virus (his fevers, cough and body aches are flu-like symptoms but he does not have the flu). It might take him more than a week to recover from his virus, given his lowered immune system. It is amazing that he still feels up to chasing Stephanie around the house and generally being a very active little boy at home!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

13 July 2010

T+301 or 43 weeks

More fevers in the middle of the night, this morning and again after a much-needed nap this afternoon. But he was excited to make gingerbread letters and learn how to play Chinese checkers.

Monday, July 12, 2010

12 July 2010

T+300

More fevers around 38 degrees today - but otherwise lots of fun playing at home.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

11 July 2010

T+299

Jeremy spiked a fever of 38.6 around 5.30am, and an even higher one of 39.0 around 11.30am, so he stayed home from church today. He was still febrile tonight, but ate lots of "dipping meat" and couscous for dinner. He has started coughing again, but is otherwise happy and bouncy.

10 July 2010

T+298

Jeremy was afebrile during the daytime, and enjoyed eating a delicious sushi lunch with family and playing with his cousins.

However, he woke up around 9pm with a low grade fever ...

Friday, July 9, 2010

9 July 2010

T+297

Another day of low-grade fevers and lots of happy play!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

8 July 2010

T+296

Jeremy spiked a fever of 38.1 this morning and again this evening - probably from his immunisations yesterday. Thankfully, he was otherwise "clinically well" (ie. happy, full of energy, running around and eating as per usual) and enjoyed baking cherry muffins and playing Gruffalo with Stephanie!

7 July 2010

T+295

Thanks to all who have been praying for Jeremy!

Having fasted since last night, he was very hungry by the time it was his turn to have his special medical sleep around 1pm today - and he gobbled up lots of sushi, chips and cereal when he woke up! This time he was able to have his third set of childhood immunisations while he was asleep, thus avoiding the trauma of 2 additional needles. We should know the results of his bone marrow aspirate in a week or so.

While he was waiting at hospital to have his general anaesthetic, he went to the allergy clinic to have a skin prick test. Praise God that his new immune system is much less allergic than his old one! He only developed small lumps for the histamine control, one type of mould, and peanuts - there was no reaction for dairy, egg white, egg yolk, and lots of other types of nuts. We will speak to the immunologist later this week, but it seems that the next step will be some challenge tests under hospital supervision to determine that he has truly "lost" his food allergies when he had his bone marrow transplant.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

6 July 2010

T+294 or 42 weeks

Stephanie and Jeremy went to see The Gruffalo at the Seymour Centre. Although we had read the book some time ago, Stephanie (of her own initiative) borrowed it again from the school library and read it to Jeremy - now both of them nearly know it for memory and had fun shouting out the lines with the other children in the audience!

As Jeremy has realised that he will miss breakfast tomorrow because of his special medical sleep, he asked to eat lots of cereal this afternoon! We are praying that the results of tomorrow's bone marrow aspirate will be free of leukaemia, and that he will not have a fever from his immunisations.

Monday, July 5, 2010

5 July 2010

T+293

The first day of school holidays meant a train trip to the city to visit BaBa at work!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

4 July 2010

T+292
Psalm 12:6 - The promises of the Lord can be trusted!

Saturday, July 3, 2010

3 July 2010

T+291

Jeremy enjoyed an extra special lunch of his favourite sushi -
salmon and tobiko!

Friday, July 2, 2010

2 July 2010

T+290

No fevers since his spike on Wednesday night and as he was otherwise "well", Jeremy finished Term 2 of kindy with a half-day of school.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

1 July 2010

T+289

Jeremy had to miss the school Athletics Carnival today, because he spiked a fever of 38.5 in the middle of the night. This was very disappointing for him, as he had been looking forward to the "Mathletics" (as he calls it!) Carnival for weeks. But he didn't complain about not being able to go - with his usual understanding and acceptance of such things, he just said that he would go next year.

On the other hand, his appetite seems to be slowly coming back - he chomped through 2 dry Weet Bix for breakfast this morning!

Hopefully he is all better for his bone marrow aspirate and next set of immunisations on Wednesday 7 July.