The Countdown is on!

So it's been kind of a hairy past few weeks...we spent Nov 28 - Dec 9 in hospital for assorted issues. First Daniel had pneumonia, so we were admitted, and as part of the admission protocol for kids with fever & cough, he was tested for H1N1, which came back positive. So we were in isolation for several days, after which he improved considerably and we were sent home.

He was home comfortably for one day, then got another fever, so we went back to Sick Kids, found out he had a viral infection with high fevers, so we were admitted again and stayed another few days on what seemed like every antibiotic under the sun. Pink ones, white ones, chalky ones, and ones that tasted, apparently, like "cat butt". Frankly, I shudder to think how he has sufficient data to make that comparison.

After a grand total of almost 3 weeks on antibiotics, several chest xrays, numerous needles and too many hospital cafeteria meals to count, everyone is home, happy and healthy in time for the holidays. Daniel is fully recovered, his counts have recovered solidly, and he has more than enough energy to tell me off, so that's always a good sign.

Daniel was very happy to learn today that his next chemo appointment in January will include a spinal tap in Cujo's room. He had a smile on his face like I had just told him we were having chocolate for breakfast. Ironically, just as he is getting quite comfortable with all of this, we are nearing the end of treatment. Our official end date is April 27, 2010, a date which seemed impossibly far away when we started all of this three years ago.

I'm very proud to say that Daniel is this week's featured hero at http://www.alexslemonade.org, please check him out.

I am very grateful that everyone is feeling good, and able to enjoy the holidays together. We wish all our family and friends a peaceful and beautiful Christmas, and a New Year full of health and prosperity. Merry Christmas to all!