Back to the Hospital and Valentine's Day!

For the last few days, Ellie has been saying that it was going to be a happy and sad Valentine's Day this year.    Happy, because of all the candy and fun.  Sad, because it was the day for Spencer to head back to the hospital.  And she was right.

Here's a little glimpse at our Happy/Sad Valentine's Day:

I took advantage of being home for the week and, with my sister Heather, put some of my creative juices to work making these 3D Valentines for the kids to take to school.  It may be a stretch to call it creative, since the idea for these are all over the internet, but it was a labor of love and a fun distraction for me over the last few days. 

Last night the Kulbeth's brought us over some yummy Valentine cupcakes--too bad the topping didn't survive to see the light of day. (...CAMI!!!) 

This morning Aunt Heather opened up her niece hair salon for business and went to work creating the doggone cutest Valentine hair-dos you've ever seen! 

Emma's do♥...                                                                      Ellie's do♥...

Ellie had to rouse him from a sound sleep at 8:30am to do it, but after her hair was all "heartified" by Heather she went in to bid Spencer adieu before he headed back to the hospital today.

After the kids got off to school, we spent a rushed morning of repacking and doing as much laundry as possible before shlepping Spencer up to the CCBD-NOVA clinic to get his blood checked.  (CCBD-NOVA is short for Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders of Northern Virginia--just in case you're not familiar with that widely used acronym). 

Then after a gloriously relaxing week at home, we drove him straight from the clinic to the hospital where Spencer was readmitted to the hospital for round 2 of chemo.   After checking in, we took him to the pediatric sedation "suite" where he got his bone marrow biopsy and spinal tap. "Suite" is a kind way to term a dark, windowless room in the bowels of the hospital. 

 Then, in a "Welcome back to the hospital" type of way, they informed us that there was no room for him on the pediatric hem-onc floor yet, and that we  got to wait, wait, and wait some more until a room opened up!  6+ hours later, we had grown weary of looking at the painted blue sky and pacing the floors in the dark room, but thank goodness for Glen's delivery of some Five Guys for dinner, spotty internet coverage and free access to Goldfish crackers, so we stayed sane....almost. 

Meanwhile at home, the kids were spreading out their Valentine haul and determining who had the best (most candy) Valentine stash.  Too bad a bucketload of homework kept them from getting distracted for too long. (Thanks for taking the pictures, H.)

Back at the hospital,  Spencer finally did get up to his room at about 7:30 tonight and was thrilled to discover that he's back in the same large, unshared room as before (#513)!  Visitors bearing Valentines and goodies showed up almost immediately upon our arrival in the room.  Thank you for making him feel loved! 

And what would a Valentine's post be without a shout-out to my own Valentine?  

Glen is still just as kind, generous, hard-working, thoughtful, and hot as the day I met him and I can't imagine going through all this without him by my side!    Love you, Hunny!  ♥

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Update

Spence's ANC was over 1500 today, which means that he can eat fast food again (until the chemo brings his counts down again).  After not being allowed to eat all day before his procedures, he eagerly scarfed down the Five Guys burger Glen brought to him in about 60 seconds flat. 

He is also happy to have one of his favorite nurses tonight (and another favorite on Wednesday)! 

He had a great week at home and we are already looking forward to his next visit home in another month. 

We've discovered the hard way that you shouldn't send important packages to the hospital.  If you're sending a package or card, I recommend sending it to our home address or delivering it in person. 

If you want to come visit him, please call the room first, to see if he's available and feeling up for visitors.  703-776-4513.

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"Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion’s joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion."

  Henry B. Eyring