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.

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!

Serious business in the hospital

 

Quiet weekend in the hospital

Not much going on, yesterday Liam had some diarrhea (likely from the antibiotics), but as a result we can't leave the room. Liam's going to need a transfusion for Platelets today, it only takes 10-15 minutes and is through his IV. 

This is all a part of our new "normal", getting transfusions is expected. And unfortunately fevers are going to happen as well.

Liam had a fever Friday morning, then he didn't have a fever again until the afternoon. He didn't have a fever Saturday or so far this morning.

We won't be leaving the hospital until Liam's blood counts come back. Nadir is the expected period when the blood counts drop, should end about today, and his blood counts should start going up tomorrow.

Blood counts today:

	Liam's Count	Normal Range	When take action
White Blood Cells	0.1	4.0-14.0	n/a
Hemoglobin	100	110-157	<80
Platelets	31	150-400	<10-20
ANC	0

Blood counts today

Liam should not look as good as he does or have the energy he does with these numbers! Liam's colour isn't great, but he doesn't look very bad.

Liam is getting a blood transfusion for his hemoglobin, this takes about 3-4 hours. So now Liam is getting antibiotics and blood instead of just antibiotics.

Woke with a fever

Liam woke up with a fever this morning, so off we went to the Children's Hospital. Liam got checked out by the doctor, he's still in a good mood, although he was extra cuddly this morning, our first sign something was wrong.

They treat fevers seriously when he doesn't have white blood cells, once Liam has a fever, they treat with antibiotics right away for at least 48 hours, so we'll be in the hospital for the weekend.