Back to Thinking about Jon

For the last 21 days we have not really thought once about this upcoming procedure. Or at least, not with any focus. We have been watching Rebecca and Thalia learn to be in the world together. They are doing a great job. We provide food and a warm house for them and Rebecca does all the rest. They are both adjusting to the new skills they need (breastfeeding is not all that easy or straightforward, but it is worth persisting). Thalia is still cuter than she should be at this age. She cycles through all the baby activities quickly -- sleeping, crying, eating, getting a new diaper. Over and over, as babies do.

Today we are back at Hopkins after a long vacation. Jon is right now having a bone marrow biopsy. I used to be allowed to sit in the room while they poked a hole in his back with a big awl, but now they don't let me in. It is such a primitive procedure, using a sharp stick to get through the bone and suck out a sample so they can see what's really going on. I don't know how much meds they will give him but I am here to drive him home.

This morning, for the first time in over a month, Jon said he had a sore throat. This is the kind of thing that can derail us in a heartbeat. If this sore throat turns into a real cold and descends into his lungs, the whole thing will be delayed. At least I think that's true. They have already taken the cells they need so maybe they will have more tolerance for imperfect health. There is no way to know. We have been pretty careful about keeping both Jon and Thalia from the germy public, but we did go to temple the other night for her baby naming, and who knows what we might have collected up there.

Anyway, that's where we are now. If he doesn't get too sick to keep going, we will move up here on January 2 for most of January. But we certainly know better than to set our hearts on a schedule. And we have a very sweet little baby to hold and admire, if we have to stay home for longer.  

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