This last week went so much better! Max only had to have the vincristine, and only threw up once. Our week almost felt like we were back to normal. Max was playing and laughing and having a blast. We were able to get some shopping done and even played at the splash pad. It was so nice having my silly little 2 year old back and happy.

We kept busy all week going through all the donations for the fundraiser yard sale. There were a lot of really great things people donated. I'm still amazed by all the amazing people that donated items for the yard sale and baked goods for the bake sale. I had so many people helping out as well. We really are blessed with some amazing people in our life. The fundraiser yard sale/ bake sale went great! We were so busy all morning. I never would have been able to pull it off without all the family and friends that came. People were so generous as well once they found out what the yard sale was for. I think I cried at least a dozen times Saturday, touched by how good people are. It was amazing to find out how many people went thought the same cancer or knew someone who did. It gives me hope every time I hear how well those survivors are doing now. We made just over $2,100! Thank you again to everyone for your help!

Yesterday was chemo day 3. He had both medicines, the vincristine and the dactinomycin. He cried while the dacto was being injected, crying that it hurt. He still cries every time the nurse comes in to either access his port or de-access it. He especially hates the tape. It breaks my heart every time. I try to keep him happy and distracted with a toy or a game on the kindle, but it was harder yesterday because the nutritionist and the complementary medicine doctors came in to talk with us. The nutritionist said we need to "power pack" feed Max right now to get extra calories and protein in his diet. And the complementary medicine doctor just advised me in how to use and not use essential oils while he's going through chemo. It was all great information. We also had a faculty member from the U talk to us about being part of a study for really young children going through chemo. They just want me to keep a diary of his side effects though out the week. Seemed easy enough, and if it will help future children going through chemo, then why not help? Sam and Nate played in the new "fun zone" (play room) at the hospital while Max and I went to his appointment. Sam was pretty excited to check out the new room and had a blast. It's nice that we can still enjoy Nate's days off as a family as best we can.

Unfortunately, Max developed a fever just after he finished chemo. When a child that's going through chemo gets a fever of 100.4 for more than and hour, or a one time fever of 101, they have to go get checked out at the hospital. The chemo meds they give him lower his white blood cells, which are the ones that show symptoms of infections. When they are lowered, the only sign of infection is a fever. They did lab work and everything came back normal. Thankfully! They sent us home and told us to come back at 6 am to follow up if he still had a fever. The fever went away during the night and Max woke up happy and playful this morning. So far, he's doing great. His appetite has decreased a little, but he's doing great.

 Max eating chips and watching a movie while we wait to get chemo.

 This is the child life specialist with Max trying to do some distracting playing while he's getting his chemo.

 Max at the Art City days, eating more chips. lol At least he's eating!

 Sam on the trampoline at Art City days.

 Splash Pad fun!

 Our huge yard sale

 The boys at Clark Planetarium, shooting their Buzz light year lasers.

 Sam hanging out in the play room at the hospital.

I, personally, am doing pretty okay under the circumstances. I have my days when I can't believe this is actually happening to us. Then I have my days when I feel like I got this and we are going to kick this cancer's butt! Although, if anyone asks me how I'm doing, I generally break down a little. I have faith that this is the Lord's plan for us right now and that everything is going to turn out okay with Max. And we are already 3 treatments down! We got this!