Our First Ambulance Ride

So today is March 8th and I'm supposed to be in my car, with my whole healthy family, listening to laughing and arguing, headed to Crested Butte for a week of skiing with friends. A little better than a month ago, I was shopping for ski stuff. How things can change in a breath! So thankful for travel insurance. But here I sit, updating a blog that should never even have to exist.:).

Yesterday Clayton woke up holding his tummy and groaning most of the day. It was hard to tell if he was really sick, or just tired. He tends to be a little whiny these days, and deservingly so. I checked his fever throughout the day, and he had none, so no worries. By 7:30 the story changed. He started running 102. We had been told that if he gets a fever, we run, not walk to our closest hospital.

Fifteen minutes later we were at Providence. We went there just because we thought their ER would be quicker. Bless their hearts, they are absolutely precious there and so nice, but not the pediatric hospital that had spoiled us for the past three weeks. We were totally blessed by the care we received, but unfortunately, it wasn't specialized enough for our Texas Children's Hospital doctor to allow us to stay. After reviewing Clayton's bloodwork, we determined he was very low with his White Blood Counts and Neutrapenic. This requires 48 hrs of IV Antibiodics.

So, by 2:15am Clayton and I boarded a lovely ambulance with two awesome grandads from Limestone County and began the journey to Houston. Clayton thought it was pretty cool, even though at this point he still wasn't feeling very good. I, however, did not think it was so cool because I was so tired and a bench in a bumpy ambulance was not my idea of restful.
We arrived at Tx Childrens around 6:15 and stayed in the ER until 12:15 when a room on the Oncology floor opened up. Clayton ate a McDonalds Happy Meal and seemed better. No more fever at this point.

I had a first today and hopefully a last. I was helping the nurse hold Clayton's hand this morning while he drew blood from his Port. I was standing there one minute, and on the floor the next. I guess I was tired, hot, hungry and just plum done. AND, probably watching the blood flow from my screaming boy was the final flaw. The nurse kindly helped me into a chair, gave me some food, and better I felt.

So, here we are tonight back at Tx Childrens. Hanging out.. watching the movie channel, organizing the kids back home, and chillin hoping to go home tomorrow. I can't help but feel sorry for the kiddos who are still here from when we left last time.

Last night in the car on the way to church before the fever occured, Cort was working on his AWANA study and answering questions in his book when he looked at me and said, " Mom, Do you think God is as powerful as we think he is?" Of course, I answered, Yes.. He said, "Then why can't God just poof His hand and make this cancer go away in Clayton so we can all be back normal. If cancer kills people, why can't he just make it go away?" Wow... How do you answer that one in 9 year old terms. Obviously, I reminded Cort that God can do that and we are trusting Him to heal Clayton and provide us all with a testimony of His good works. Unfortunately, I don't think that explanation was enough for a little boy who wants his little brother back, his dad at baseball practice, his mom's eyes tear free( I'm really trying), and his sisters to calm down. Hard questions.. out of the mouths of babes.

Thank you all so much for your support and prayers. We are blessed and honored by all of you who love our family and have continued to pray for us. You are all wonderful. Please pray that we would be cleared to go home tomorrow, we'd stay fever free for a nice Spring Break, and of course, for the tumor and any other cancer in Clayton's body to be just bombarded with a combination of Chemo and God's awesome hand and
be diminished. We are trusting Him for it.