Day -2

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Carter is up and down with how he feels. One minute he's up throwing his football, the next he's feeling sick to his stomach. Thank God today is his last day of chemo. It will still be in there making him sick but at least no more is going in. He asked about it last night. Why are they giving me medicine that makes me sick? So hard for a kid to understand you have to go through the pain to get the gain. But I heard him telling himself, "You got this Carter" softly under his breath. And he does. We got some special mail from Miami yesterday and Derrick read him each one. He loved it. Thanks to everyone who's encouraged our family and my boy through this. Please keep it coming!

Day -3

Well, Carter officially feels yucky. He's mostly dealing with fevers, chills, and poopies. Lots and lots of poopies. His skin is looking a little flushed and his cheeks are getting puffy. I told him he looks like he gained weight from working out ;) . He still looks handsome! Anywho. He's doing great, all things considered and in pretty good spirits. He has been sleeping a good bit this morning. If you're in the hospital you become nocturnal. He feels gross but still loves having company. Just make sure you aren't feeling sick at all if you want to visit! From what they say, we are still in the thick of it with more to come. At least we have 2.5 days of chemo down and only 2 more to go! He will still feel gross afterwards, but at least we know he's done with yucky chemo meds that are so harsh on his little body. Second birthday coming up this Thursday(The day he gets his transplant cells). Be sure to wish him a happy birthday if you can! Now we have to have cake two days per year. What a shame!

Day -4

Today was a good day. Carter tolerated his chemo pretty well. No puke. . So far! Just some nausea and fever. He was feeling a little better too. Thanks to all of our sweet visitors! We love you!

Day -6, -5

Yesterday's radiation went well. We finished early in the morning. That afternoon was a little rough mixed with great. He threw up from the radiation but later was feeling better. We had visitors and went to the play room. Carter got a phone call that cheered him up. We saw part of the Halloween parade and Carter put his football outfit on. We went to the play room later to see the super heroes repel down the side of the building. Then they came inside and Carter walked right up to Batman with a pool stick and challenged him to a game of pool. He's really liking playing pool. The heroes were so nice! That night he was a little sad. Feeling a little emotional about the gravity of the situation. It was a late night. This morning he felt better. We donned our Kelly tough shirts and watched Duke and the canes run up the score on NC while he did chemo. He had a pretty good day but did get sick and picked up a fever. He's sleeping now and was ok when he fell asleep! Thanks to everyone who has sent well wishes and expressed concern. Sorry if I haven't responded to you! It can be a little hard to take attention off Carter.

Day -7

Today went great! The days are negative numbers until carter gets his transplant. That's day 0, then we count up. Surgery went great today and carter had a great day. He is wheeling his iv machine through the hallways aggressively and playing pool in the atrium. As well as lots of video games. He is eating well and not very sore from his surgery. In other news. .I went for a run today which was nice and derrick brought in an air mattress. Still trucking! Radiation tomorrow. 

Admitted!

 

 Some of Carter's wall decorations.

 

Playing Minecraft.

 

 

The stash.

The view from our room. Not bad.

 

And so the sun has set on our first night in the hospital. Today Carter had to do some radiation measurements, which were easy but he had to lay still- he didn't care for that. He did get to listen to Bob Marley while laying there though, which helped. Then we came to his room. Thanks to help from my wonderful Pastor, Joe, I had hung up some stuff and already moved us in by the time Carter arrived. I'm so glad he decided to come visit us because I felt a little panicky this morning. Just the overwhelming feeling of all that was getting started. Having him there to laugh and talk to calmed me down a lot. And I realized, I love visitors. Visitors are how I will make it through. Carter spent some time playing games, working on a model car, and tossing his football. Tonight he's getting some transfusions to get him ready for his line placement surgery tomorrow morning. That's for his central line or whatever they call it. Basically an iv in his chest area so he doesn't have to have to have it in his arm all the time. Carter is doing great so far and seems to be enjoying himself. I feel a little like this may be the calm before the storm, but I'm going to relish it while I can!

Carter Goes to the VT Game

What else can I really say about the Miami Hurricanes? 

They have brought my little boy in to their family and made him feel like a stud. He needs it so much right now. I don't think I've EVER seen him this confident or at ease with himself.

We were fortunate enough to watch the Canes beat the Hokies in Blacksburg, Virginia last night. Which, I must say, is a gorgeous part of this world! I could NOT get over the pumpkin patches that went on for hills and hills. Who put those there? Do they grow? (Mind blown!) 

We got there with enough time for Carter to get to spend some pre-game time with the boys and Coach Golden to walk him out to be with the team. He got to see them afterwards too and hang out in the locker room. Duke had an AMAZING game and Carter got to be there to see it all. I'm so thankful for everyone that continues to show him love and make him feel so welcome. We really feel like we have a full team supporting us going into his transplant. Not only the team we've already been blessed with of family and friends, but now a team of football players and coaches too! 

Wednesday is our day for admittance!

Everyone was asking if we will be at Miami's next game. That would be awesome, but we will have to rock our Kelly Tough shirts from MUSC. It will be fitting I'm sure. And we will be rooting the Canes on! Good thing we get cable!

So far all I know of for Carter's calendar is that Wednesday he gets admitted. Thursday he gets his line/port thingy put in so he doesn't have to have an iv in his arm all day every day. Friday he gets radiation. Saturday- Thursday he gets chemo and then on Thursday, November 6th he gets his actual transplant. They call it his second birthday and Carter has already expressed his excitement at being spoiled for two days per year. They don't tell you who your donor was with a cord blood transplant, but they were able to figure out that it was from a boy who is now 10 and probably was born in the northeast U.S. Pretty neat. After the transplant and his second birthday (woop!) It's all about the healing. As soon as his counts improve and his new cells activate and start working, we are on the road to recovery! Yay!

Little bean was on Sports Center:  http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/76238/canes-welcome-aboard-carter-hucks