The last few weeks have been fantastic. We have had no hospital visits and lots of socialising going on. After the rush of birthdays and wedding celebrations, things calmed down and we have been able to enjoy more quality time together as a family and also with friends.
You may have seen the photos of Charlie and Thomas with their fireman backpacks on, soaking one another, along with the photos of our family bike ride and the numerous pictures taken at various parks.Well this has brought so much enjoyment to me and Paul,seeing our little boy playing and having fun just like any normal 3 year old should. Charlie is still getting tired very quickly but it just means we limit the length of time he does anything and so he still has lots of fun and is learning how to socialise.Though this is debatable at times when he growls at the little girls and makes them cry!
Although more relaxed, we are still very concious about him contracting anything and we have to keep him away from any potential bugs for his own good. A sibling of one of Thomas's school friends had a really contagious virus last week with a rash covering his whole body and times like that bring the reality of Charlie's illness home and the risks posed to him in such situations. Needless to say we stood well back-not good for my social life with potentially offending other mums!
I have been trying to have some "me" time more recently and this has been heaven. I have been walking with a friend once a week along the river,giving us time to unwind and catch up with any vital gossip, and I did a power walk with one of my friends from school on Monday which was tough going with all the hills (mountains in fact) they have here,but was so enjoyable. And next week I hope to start a regular swim day with 2 friends from school. As Charlie isnt safe to go into childcare yet, we will alternate looking after the kids by the side of the pool whilst the others do their laps-genius!
We have been lucky and met some wonderful people out here who invite us along to social gatherings. I even went to my very first Tupperware party this week.Mum would be proud! (she use to drag my sister around on buses when she was about 3 years old, with all her Tupperware gear and hold parties at peoples houses. I'm told that my sister was the selling point which made people part with their cash-child labour at its best in the 70's)! I also attended my very first Melbourne cup party this week. Lots of champers and not much winning! Paul on the other hand had a flutter and his horse came in first.
Thomas started a new outdoor swimming class on Sundays and is loving it. We took Charlie along the first week only to find it was an amazing pool with slides and lots of fun things for children to explore and do in the water. All Charlie could do was splash his hand in the water which was really upsetting. After this experience we have vowed to get a house with a pool next year so he can go in and enjoy himself like he should be able to. Thomas has been having lots of playdates recently which again, gives us a feeling of normality in a very abnormal environment. He has been invited to a fun day tomorrow at the hospital for children of siblings with cancer-not sure how they can put "fun" and "hospital" in the same sentence! He is really looking forward to it though so hopefully it will be good for him.
As some of you may have heard, I made a big boo boo! Paul and myself were invited to an 80's party (so I thought) weeks ago. I was very organised and got Paul an outfit which arrived 2 weeks ago, and ordered myself one too. Only to re-read the invite 3 days before the party and its a 70's do! What a wally I felt and Paul wasnt too impressed after getting hyped up to go as Tom Cruise from Top Gun! To the fancy dress shop we go!
So today was time for another visit to the dreaded H word. Charlie was quite composed until we got to the road he recognised took us to the hospital. Then he started to demand to go back. "Turn round right now mummy,its the other way". He wasnt too bad leading up to his theatre place but on waking up he was so distressed. They needed to put a tube down his throat during the Lumbar Puncture process, to open his airways and he could taste it for ages afterwards. He just kept asking over and over to go home. He then had to have more chemo on top of the chemo they put in his spine when doing the lumbar puncture and they then needed to take more bloods but it wouldnt come out of his port,agghh! The poor love thought he was going home but I firstly had to take him to the blood collectors for a finger prick. Charlie was so relieved to be out of the Oncology ward that he didnt flinch when they took his blood.
Although it was all very distressing, Charlie is doing well and is now on maintenance,as of today-whoo! This means he has oral chemo at home everyday, steroids twice a day (yikes as these didnt agree with him and make you agressive/moody etc), another oral chemo once a week and then hospital visits, fortnightly for bloods taking (to check on his counts) and once a month for more chemo. This will be ongoing until April 2012 so we've still a way to go.
On seeing the consultant today, I asked what the likelihood of flying with Charlie was. If I'm honest, I was hopeful-you need to be when you're going through this. I was upset and disappointed with her response though she was very understanding. She herself is Scottish and explained that she wouldnt want to rule it out as she knows how important it is to go home but Charlie's port is the main concern along with if he got febrile whilst on the journey. She said that we would need to see how he goes in the next 7months or so and maybe his port could be removed (eek) if it wasnt needed for a short period then replaced when he got back. I dont think I want to take any risks and Charlie's health comes first so we will see. So disappointed with this answer as really felt hopeful for making a visit home next year,fingers crossed we still can.
On a lighter note, not only is it my nephews birthday today,happy 5th birthday Oliver but my sis in law and good friend, Michelle is in labour! She is expecting a little girl but who knows as I dreamt it was a boy! Can't wait to see her and wish we could have a cuddle (with the baby too of course)!
Living at the other end of the world can be tough at times like this!
