The last 2 weeks have been much rosier for the Barratt family. We had to say a sad farewell to my mum and dad and the boys have really missed them not being around. Charlie kept forgetting they'd gone, and often shouted for grandad to come and play with him!
Charlie was unable to go ahead with his treatment until last week due to his neutrophils being a little too low so we had 3 weeks off from the hospital which gave us some sense of normality. However, it was great that he was able to go ahead last week with his treatment (I say "great" as its something he has to have to make him better but I know its not really great to wish your child to go ahead and have a lumbar puncture and chemotherapy)!
He was a very upset little boy who begged me not to take him. Once I started up the car engine I heard this little voice say "Dont go mummy,I dont like hospital". It was a very hard day for both of us and by the time we got home in the afternoon, I was exhausted with all the reasurrance I tried to give him throughout the procedures he had.Charlie on the other hand, was full of beans, busy running round playing games with Thomas!! He is so resilliant and just gets on with what he has to,though he tires very easily.
Friday was playgroup day and Charlie was lively and energetic so we went along and had a lovely morning. It was just what was needed after Thursday being so intense and distressing. A few of the mums came up to us and asked how things were going with his treatment which is lovely of them to care, but sometimes I wish we could just blend in. Whilst he has a bald head, I think thats out of the question! I was a little concerned about Charlie getting any colds,coughs or worse from playgroup but things seem fine and we were glad we went along.Its so important we try to keep things are normal as we can when hes well not only for his sake, but for all of us and attending playgroup does just that.
Saturday was my birthday-21 again before you ask! And I was so overwhelmed by the thought Paul had put into my gifts. Amongst them, he had bought a canvas with a beautiful picture of the boys beaming with laughter on it from a holiday we had in Budle Bay,Northumbria last year. They looked like they didnt have a care in the world and were so happy. The picture has so much meaning to it and just made me cry!
Saturday evening, and we went to the fireworks display arranged by Brisbane council to celebrate my birthday. Oh ok, they were for the riverfire display they put on every year. Thomas asked how they knew it was my birthday though so I played along with it and told him daddy had rung them up to tell them. We went to Paul's office to enjoy the display and it was amazing. Thomas and Charlie loved the fireworks and I was later told that Thomas was telling 2 little girls he'd befriended why his brother had no hair. He explained that he had cancer and that hes given medicine at the hospital and the medicine doesnt know whether to kill the good cells or bad ones so it kills all of them....I hadnt realised he had taken any of the information in we'd been telling him so this was good to hear but also not really the right setting,bless him!
We spent Sunday busily socialising,making the most of Charlie being well. We visited some friends in the morning and then went to a BBQ at the local mountain with a friend I'd made through school. It was a lovely day and the children played happily whilst we chatted and ate!
Thomas is back to school today and was excited to do his "Show and Tell" on the Riverfire display we saw at the weekend. Charlie and I had a coffee break in Paddington with one of the new friends I'd made and then came home to the cleaning! So as you can see, all's very normal and boring with us at the moment.Just the way I like it!!
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