actually something to update!

Ridge's counts have been going down the last week as a result of several labs done in one day. They went up a little today, so we hope we are on the turn around there. In a little while, today, Ridge will have his PICC line removed (this is located in his arm and the line/catheter itself runs up towards his chest internally). This line is used when his central line clots off and his meds need to keep going somehow, and it is also used when he receives blood. Kind of a big and scary step, but the thought behind it is that the line is used so rarely, it really isn't functional right now. So, we remove it, and then in a desperate situation, a new line can be placed. In a routine blood transfusion or in an event where the central line clots off, I suppose the meds could be stopped for those 2-4 hours. scary, but also kind of exciting. They continue to reduce Ridge's medications and we aren't really seeing anything negative yet from this being done, so that is also good news.

Sawyer's small class @ school has been experiencing some flu-like symptoms, and we have thankfully avoided it. Since this is Fall Break week, we have kept him "home" (aka at the hospital) with me today to see if anyone else is absent/sick/sent home from his class today. We figure if whatever's going around can run its course through his class this week, maybe he will avoid it and in turn, so will Ridge and Brandon and myself. We will see. He has been really good up here today and it has been nice getting to actually spend some time w/ him b/c i do not see him much. Don't get me wrong- I could NOT do this daily, and I am SO SO SO appreciative that he has somewhere he can go and play and learn every day. But I am also very glad to get to spend the day with him today. And I am also very passionate about avoiding the flu/h1n1/whatever at all costs. I won't start the vaccine debate, I have no idea how I feel about the h1n1 vaccine and we are so on the fence about whether or not we will be getting it....probably not. of course tomorrow i might say we will. we DID get the regular flu shot, and i am all for that. enough of that discussion.

Thank goodness for the internet...my Christmas shopping for Sawyer is halfway finished, as is Brandon's shopping for me, since I picked out my own gift and showed him the website for him to order it. :) Ridge is a toss up b/c I have no idea what to get him. He really doesn't need anything, and it's too soon to know what size clothes to get him, even though he doesn't need clothes. So...maybe I will get him a lot of diapers and baby food. Who knows? For everyone else, there's giftcards. No surprises this year, folks. Even if we are home, I sure don't think I will feel confident enough to get out there and shop w/ Ridge in tow. So I don't feel too behind. Just a little...normally I'm finished by about now, but it's okay....yay for the internet.

The little one is waking up (i've been blogging with BOTH children asleep!) so I better tend to him.

love to you all!