This Last Week

It's been a week since I last wrote - sorry! I've been so tired every night that it's been difficult to start. Jamey's mouth sores are better. We were having some doubts as to whether or not he would be able to get chemo this week, but the doctor thinks it is fine. We have been worried that he will get more sores in his mouth. The sores have been really hard on him, and we are happy to see them healing. Other than the sores, though, Jamey's been in a great mood lately. It's so nice to see him with energy again!!!

This will be our last hospital stay (barring any fevers) - YEAH!!! We just want to get it over with. I'm also worried about him getting a staph infection. Children's is such a dirty hospital - absolutely disgusting. The doctors and nurses are great, but I've never been in such a disgusting place. Many of the cleaning crew do nothing. At our last stay one of the cleaning crew was watching the ball game in an empty room for two hours! Meanwhile, the bathrooms and rooms are gross. No matter how much you complain about it, it doesn't get better. All the parents complain, but nothing gets done. I'm bringing a box of disinfecting wipes so I can go over his room thoroughly tomorrow.

Orly came up for the weekend, as did Liron and Meyer. We had a lovely time with them. On Saturday I had a surprise birthday party for David. It went really well. Jamey took him out (they went to Dave and Buster's). They were supposed to call me at 8:15, on their way back, but nobody called. I tried calling David's cell, but he didn't answer. Meanwhile, I had our 20 closest friends at the house! He finally called me at 8:25 and asked us to meet him out. I gave him some lame excuse and told him to come home. He called me back a few moments later to find out why I was being so difficult, and I again told him to come home. Boy was he surprised when he finally got here! It was a great evening - one which we really needed (Michelle made the coolest cookies - they spelled out Happy Birthday David, Karen, Jamey, Noah, Coby - and it was all surrounded by stars. The cookies were covered in sparkles).

For his birthday, I made David a book with my Mac (love it!). It had pictures, and people sent him well wishes which I put in it. I then sent it to Apple and had them print up a book for him. It came in the mail on Thursday, and is beautiful. He really loved reading the kind notes everyone sent.

Hope our stay at the hospital goes by quickly . . .

October 17

It's been a little while since I posted - I've been so busy! Jamey went into the hospital last Friday. We all took turns staying with him. His friend Jano came to visit and also his grandfather Bob came by. He was very happy about that. This stay was much easier than before. To begin with, they gave him a different anti-nausea drug. He felt much better. Another thing that contributed to a better hospital stay was that Jamey bought himself a beautiful new lego set. This really kept him busy! Finally, the hospital changed Jamey's protocol, which allowed him to get out a day earlier. We were able to go home on Moday so it was shorter than the last 3 visits.

Jamey was not feeling too well om Monday, but he seemed to be doing better by the end of the day. Yesterday he started getting mouth sores, and today he came home from school and they were terrible. His mouth was very swollen, and he was in a lot of pain. We gave hime some medicine, though, and hopefully it will get better by tomorrow.

My mon is here from Israel (Viviana). She came in on Monday and staying until mid November. It is great having her around. This weekend we are having a lot of family over, which will be nice. My sister Orly + family and my niece, Liron + Boyfriend. My mom is cooking traditional Israeli and Tunisian food so it will be great weekend to eat and just enjoy.

Jamey has one more treatment at the hospital next weekend. Then he has 6 weeks of intensive treatment, the last phase before maintetance (Delayed Intensification). We can't wait to be at maintenace, where treatent will be a lot easier for him and hoepfully life can go back to normal, well as normal as it can be.

Anyway, we are looking forward to this weekend. :-)

More Pictures from the ride

More Pictures

The Ride

HE DID IT!!! David, David K., Chris, and Jeffrey rode the 100 mile Sea Gull Century Ride on Saturday. They were phenomenal. We waited for them at the finish line with the Kaminows - it was so neat to see them finishing. What an accomplishment. They are inspiring. Ellen, Rachel, and I hope to do this next year. In addition, through the generosity of so many people, David and I were the top fundraisers in the country for the Leukemia Society. People have been so wonderful. Margarita, a friend from school, arranged for a Let's Dish party for us (it's tomorrow). Everyone has been so nice.

We are having a great week. Jamey is feeling great, which is wonderful. He goes back in on Friday, and David, my mom, and I are preparing ourselves for him to be down for several days. We have only two of these treatments left. Phew! Also, DAVID TURNS 40 ON THURSDAY - he doesn't look a day over 39. :-)

Next Monday my mother-in-law arrives from Israel. She's wonderful, and we can't wait for her to arrive. It's going to be a full house here next week.

Coming Home

Jamey came home today. That was wonderful. He was so happy to be here, play with his legos, and hug the dog. I'm pretty happy to be home, myself. Two of these chemo treatments down, two more to go.

Mothers are pretty remarkable. I don't know how we would've survived through all this without mine. SHe's been here through everything, helping us, supporting us and Jamey, just doing everying (even laundry!). I think the dog likes her better than us now!!! (She definitely knows where her bread is buttered . . . ). Anyway, we are so lucky that she dropped her life to adjust to our needs . . . I can't say thanks enough.

David went to NY today on business. He must be so tired. We were at the hospital all weekend, little sleep, then he woke up at 3 to be out of the house by 4. If that's not enough, he will be riding 100 miles this weekend.

We've had a ton of donations from wonderful people - we can't thank you enough!! We've raised about $11,000 so far. It's amazing.

Hope this is a good week - I'll post some pictures of the ride.