Day Pass Trip Home

Liam has been getting daily "day passes", we were finally brave enough to bring Liam home. We we worried that going home would mean a big "break down" to get Liam back to the hospital. But, we explained to Liam we were going home to pick up toys and have a bit of play, and he was ok going back to the hospital.

What a great break from the hospital 4 hours is! We are fortunate to be only 20 minutes away from the hospital so going home is an option for us. 

The doctors decide day by day whether a "day pass" is appropriate, depending on Liam's blood cell counts, and just in general, how Liam is doing. Liam's blood cell counts have not hit 0 yet, so the toughest days, in terms of how Liam feels are yet to come.

Soccer Time

Liam ran and ran, we all looked with amazement at how well he was running and how much he ran around.

With Liam's day pass, we spent a couple of hours on the soccer field and at the playground at the hospital. This is the best physio therapy for Liam!

Weekend at the Hospital

We haven't been discharged yet. Liam's body is taking more time this cycle to get his blood counts back, maybe due to whatever caused the fever, they didn't find any specific reason for the fever, but they can't check for everything. Liam is still feeling good and hasn't had a fever again. They are just waiting for his blood cell counts to come back up before letting us go home.

The doctor gave Liam a "day pass" to leave for a few hours. We figure going home would be too tough on Liam, he'd get upset at coming back to the hospital, so Troy took him to the park at the hospital. (I had a much needed break from the hospital at home with M)

Does this picture scream "freedom" or what!

A little golf, a little soccer, all just outside the hospital door. The backside of the hospital might be the windiest part of the city, but Liam didn't mind.

Happy 4th Birthday!

 

The child life specialists and nurses know how to brighten a child's day in the hospital. 

I woke up before Liam and put up his Thomas the train birthday decorations that we had at home up in his room. They  decorated Liam's door and all the nurses signed a birthday message for him. Everyone stopped in to wish him a happy birthday.

Then they opened up the play room in the morning for Liam, Grandma and Grandpa brought sister for a visitor, so they had a great play. Everyone got together and sang Liam happy birthday, and even brought him presents! He received a remote control car and stickers from Cars 2, a hit with Liam, of course.

Since it's Stampede time, two chuckwagon drivers also came to visit the kids at the hospital! Luke Tournier and Gary Gorst even joined in to sing happy birthday to Liam. 

Everyone made it a very special day for Liam.

Playroom Fun

 

After Liam woke from his nap in the clinic, I carried him to our room kicking and screaming. He is getting to know the routine, and he really didn't want to stay at the hospital. He doesn't mind going to appointments then going home.

Lucky, the playroom was open and Liam doesn't have any cough, runny nose, so he could go for a bit of a play. He enjoyed setting up some train tracks, this helped Liam calm down and be in a better mood for the rest of the day.

Some fun this week

We finally got the opportunity to check out Jamie's Preschool this week! It is a preschool for immune-compromised kids, so we could feel more at ease taking Liam.

We went on Tuesday, which was preschool and music class. Then on Thursday for gym class at Stars gymnastics centre.

Liam was absolutely so excited to go, he was beside himself. At the gymnastics centre, he just ran from mat to mat jumping and falling. They even had a bouncy castle, so he spent a good amount of the hour in there.

School is over for the summer, so we'll have to wait until September to go again.

Child life specialists

The child life specialists are another group of amazing people at the Children's Hospital. They bring Liam Cars toys/blankets, today is a new Cars coloring easel.

At Liam's age, rotating activities is key, especially since we can't leave the room due to Liam's cough.

This afternoon the volunteers run a weekly Bingo game. The kids who can't leave their rooms get to play using a walkie talkie!

More Pictures of Head Shaves

The before shot, Liam wasn't really keen on cutting his hair

Not sure what to think

After Picture

Maybe this isn't that bad...

After Picture

Serious business in the hospital

 

Our amazing new play set

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our amazing new play set. I am so touched by everyone who contributed, thank you to my Mom for organizing. And thanks to Alex and my Dad for helping us build it, and thanks to Roberta and Tanya for helping me keep the children out of the yard during construction. It is timely since we now have to be aware of being in public places when Liam's white blood count is down.

We've had some rainy days, but today was very nice outside, we got the swings up and Liam was loving it in no time. We didn't think Liam was going to try the slide, it was a bit intimidating at first, Grandpa went with Liam the first couple times. After that, Liam went over and over and over...

Liam has always been a cautious guy, but he is a bit more cautious now, he does stumble easy, but he runs through the grass with no problem now.

I think we are going to get a LOT of use out of the play set! The challenge is when we actually need to be inside...