We had our first crash course in taking care of Oliver today. We talked about different blood counts, his risk of infection, how to give meds through the feeding tube, how to flush the feeding tube and what to do if we suspect Oliver is coming down with something. Monday will be a busy day for us-finishing our 'training' and it looks like they will discharge Oliver on Tuesday. Sean and I are both still nervous about leaving the hospital with Oliver still being so fragile and his immune system being so compromised, but it's not really up to us!
Oliver is truly a little champion! He made more platelets last night and his platelet count was up to 13,000 this morning. He is nursing more and more, and using the feeding tube much less. He also has discovered that he can demand to be held. If he can't be in our arms or on our chest he will settle for laying next to us, as long as we are touching...occasionally he enjoys being in the swing or laying in bed looking around-but he has figured out when we are trying to trick him into falling asleep without us...and he is persistent in his request to be snuggled! Fortunately for Oliver there is no shortage of people just waiting to hold him. I think the nurses in cancer care like it when we leave because they have an excuse to hold him. He is the youngest kid in cancer care and he gets a lot of attention. He has been dubbed 'the golden child' partially because he is so charming, and partially because...well...because he has a beautiful golden yellow glow :)
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