Day -7

Today was a great day! Logan was a lot more perky. He woke up in a great mood, probably because he had such a good night's sleep. I don't know how he sleeps through all that goes on during the night. The nurses come in and out and check his vitals, draw labs, and change his diapers. We had a really nice nurse last night. She insisted that I let her change Logan's diapers so that I could get some sleep. Normally Logan's diaper wouldn't have to be changed during the night but he is on IV fluids so he has to be changed almost every hour and a half. When we change his diapers we have to wear gloves because some of the chemicals from the chemotherapy are secreted through the urine and could absorb into our skin. But to get back to today, it was great. Logan ate a little today. I'm not so worried about it anymore. The nurse told me because he is getting fluids and calories we don't have to worry about him eating so much. On transplant day he will start getting TPN, which is an IV nutritional supplement that provides his full dietary needs.
Logan got an hour of freedom from the all the lines today. The nurse said they are going to unhook him everyday for an hour, and he can do what he wants on the floor. We walked all over the place, and did a little art in the playroom with the other kids. Then he got a bath, not a real bath in the bathtub, just a sponge bath. He is nice and squeaky clean and happy!
Billy and I also signed up for a study today. It's a study to see if parents can control there child's pain with a Patient Controlled Analgesia(PCA.) So, in other words, instead of calling the nurse every time, we are going to be able to press the button for the pain meds if we think our child is in pain. Of course it will be more organized then that, it is a study after all. We will have to fill out a chart telling how we knew the child was in pain, if the meds helped after an hour, how we know they helped, and how the child is behaving after receiving the meds. It will give us something to do, and the way I see it no one knows their child better then the parent. We know if they are in pain or not.
Tonight Billy is staying at the hospital and I get to go to the apartment. Billy will get sleep tonight though because we have a great night nurse. That's all I can think of to write today. Also, I want to thank everyone for all of the support. It always helps to know that people care.