Update (3 ER Trips in One Weekend)

We have had a very eventful few days. ER visits, Jacob's birthday, the 5K and now another hospital stay. The short of the long is this: he's got some pain in his abdomen, and something's going on (maybe with his liver?) that isn't quite normal. At the moment we're here at Primary Children's Hospital. We've been here 2 nights already and will likely stay another. We are waiting on test results and the doc's are putting their heads together trying to figure out what exactly is happening. When we know more, we'll post again. That's the quick recap.

If you'd like to read more I'm also going to detail the events since last Thursday, as much for my sake and my record-keeping as for your information. I'm sorry if it's difficult to follow; I'm not really attempting to write well, just trying to get all the information together. And it's long, sorry.

Thursday, Oct. 27th
Went to the ER at Primary Children's because the whites of Jacob's eyes were turning yellow. Waited in the ER until about 3 in the morning then we were moved upstairs to the ICS floor (ICS means 'immune-compromised services' it's the cancer floor where we stayed when Jacob was first diagnosed).
We stayed in the hospital until Friday afternoon. Ruled out a blood clot, put him on a medication to help his liver function better.

Emergency Room at Primary Children's

Playing 'Angry Birds' while waiting in the ER


Jacob finally fell asleep about two in the morning, we're still in the ER
(Scott was sleeping on the floor at the time)

Friday, Oct. 28th Jacob's 6th Birthday
Jacob had a procedure in the morning (this was scheduled prior to our ER visit). He had another bone marrow aspirate (to see how well chemo is working) and they put a dose of meth-a-trex-ate in his spine (chemo drug and I have no idea how to spell it). Then Jacob slept most of the afternoon (it had been a long night). All the nursing staff put on funny hats and sang "Happy Birthday."

Sleeping in the chair in the hospital (the string is a balloon for his b-day)

Riding in the wagon out to the car to go home. He wears the mask going through the hospital.

After he was discharged we went to PF Chang's for dinner, as per Jacob's request. Panda Express has been a favorite of late, so I told him that PF Chang's is even better. Naturally that's what he wanted for his B-day dinner. In an effort to make his birthday special and to have some degree of normalcy, we got take-out and had a picnic in the back of the car. Guests included Mom, Dad, Jacob, Isaac and Elizabeth. It was fun, but a little tricky, as I'm sure you can imagine; Chinese food in the back of the car with a toddler is messy, to say the least. It was a birthday dinner we won't forget (and one we hope we don't have to repeat).

Once we got home (around 9pm) Jacob wanted to open his present. Once he opened his Star Wars Legos he wanted to put them together. Scott and I were tired, Jacob said he could stay up and put them together alone, which he did! He stayed up until about 2:30am putting his new T-6 Shuttle together :) Whatever the birthday boy wants, right?

Putting together Legos.

Saturday, Oct. 29th
Early in the morning we put on our warm winter clothes and went to the 5K at Spanish Fork High School. It was a wonderful event (pictures and a full report to come). It warmed our hearts to see all the people who love us and who came out to help. The rest of the day we rested and finished putting the Legos together.

Sunday, Oct. 30th
Mostly uneventful--in the morning at least. Scott and I took turns going to church. Jacob laid on the couch most of the day. He did put together another Lego set. After dinner he was getting uncomfortable, complaining of his stomach hurting and a general achy-ness. He said his bones hurt. I gave him pain medication at 5:30pm and noticed he felt warm-ish. I took his temperature. It was 100.3. This is concerning. Our instructions were to wait an hour and take his temperature again.

We waited. Put Isaac and Ellie in their jammies, did the dishes. 6:30 came and it was time to take Jacob's temperature again. 102.8. This is bad. Scott said, "I think that means we're getting in the car right now."

He was right.

I called a friend to take Isaac and El, we got in the car and drove to our local ER at Mountain View Hospital (Primary Children's is an hour away). At the ER they took his blood and started an antibiotic. A major concern for chemo kids is infection. If they have a fever over 101 it's an automatic antibiotic--and a strong one.

ER at Mountain View Hospital, playing 'Angry Birds.'

Of course the ER doctor was in contact with Primary's, and they decided to transfer him up. He needed a blood transfusion, his heart rate was high and he just needed to be at Primary's. So Jacob got his first ride in an ambulance. No lights, but I did notice they were going faster than the posted 55 MPH through the I-15 construction. :)

Riding in Ambulance #91

We arrived at Primary Children's ER about 11pm and spent a few hours there. Jacob was very hungry at this point (not to mention upset, tired and uncomfortable) he really wanted some Fritos chips. The sweet ER nurses and techs scoured the hospital for Fritos. Someone even said they called the University Hospital looking for some. No luck, he had to settle for barbeque chips. One of the doctors came in and said, "you are the only patient I've ever seen in shock protocol eating barbeque chips!" (I, of course, asked what 'shock protocol' meant, and I guess it's that his heart rate was so high and some of his other vitals were concerning).

ER at Primary Children's--finally some Fritos!

Because of his high heart rate as well as another test that came back a little high Jacob was sent up to PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). We stayed there the rest of the night while Jacob got his blood transfusion.

Monday, Oct. 31st
Jacob wanted Spaghetti for breakfast, which we promptly ordered at 7am. Stayed in the PICU until after lunch. His heart rate and lactate tests (no idea how to spell that one, but that's what it sounds like...it has nothing to do with milk) both came down so we could move back to ICS. The pain in Jacob's stomach has worsened. He was on morphine and oxycodone through the night.

Jacob with his new Angry Bird, a present for being so brave.
The bird's name is "Fluff."

Tuesday, Nov. 1st
At 9am this morning Jacob had an ultrasound to see what's going on in his belly. It was really painful to just have the tech move the tool around on his tummy because he is so sensitive. He screamed through the first half of the ultrasound. Then the morphine kicked in and he fell into a sleep, sort of. At least he calmed down enough to finish the ultrasound.

And now we are just waiting. Waiting to see what the ultrasound showed. There is an entire team of doctors trying to figure out just what is going on here. It's not uncommon for the liver to get a little 'stressed-out' during chemotherapy, but this much pain is unusual. We have the oncologists and GI doctors putting their heads together to get to the bottom of this. (I think 'GI' is gastrointestinal, but I don't know for sure. Scott here: I think it stands for "General Infantry," as in "GI Joe." Pretty sure they're military medical doctors. Man! they're bringing in the big guns for this kid!)

So, that's the update. We're just waiting right now. Jacob and Scott are playing Star Wars Legos on the X-Box. Jacob has also passed the time playing 'Angry Birds.' :)

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. It means so much to us.