back in the hospital

Just a quick note tonight to let you know that we are back in the hospital, admitted for at least 2 days. Ethan has been doing fairly well since we've been home but has had a couple of days where he has seemed more tired and pale.


Although he didn't officially have a fever, which is the big thing we always have to call about, Ethan did have some other symptoms today that pointed toward a possible fever - he was chilled at times, sweaty at others. Sometimes the steroids that he has to take every day can mask a fever, so his doctors wanted us to take him in to get checked out. Basically the concern is that if he does have an infection, they need to treat it with antibiotics because his body is immunosuppressed right now, and so can't fight as hard as it normally would. We got some blood tests done and cultures sent off to see if he does indeed have an infection but they started him on IV antibiotics that will last for 2 days just in case there is an infection.

In addition to all of this - Day 15 of his induction treatment (first month) is tomorrow with a scheduled bone marrow biopsy and 2 doses of IV chemo. He will be sedated for the biopsy and it is scheduled for 10:30am. We can expect to be in the hospital for at least 2 days while he gets his antibiotics, and then we will see how his body responds to the chemo as well.

Please keep Ethan in your prayers tonight and tomorrow. He's actually pretty excited to be here - the whole time we were in the ER he kept asking when we could take the "special elevators" to go up to his room. He was bouncing off the walls once we got here, checking out his special bathroom and a flashlight that has now become his new favorite thing. This boy is such a delight and I am so thankful for his exuberance about being here as it definitely makes things a lot easier all around.