A Special Surprise.

Ashton was given a feeding tube today, so feeding problem solved...I think.
They weighed him first thing this morning and he was 11.4 kg. Last Friday he was
12.1 kg. That is a big change for a guy his size. With the weight loss and his lack of appetite they decided that they would place a feeding tube through his nose into his stomach while he was under anesthesia today. He woke up great but very unhappy about this new feeling in his throat. He is going to have it in 24 hours a day everyday most likely for the next 6 weeks. Tonight we have just been giving him his food, which is just like PediaSure, with a syringe. Tomorrow night we will get more food delivered to our house along with a pump, to regulate the amount he gets, and a back pack to carry it around with us. This takes a lot of stress off of me...I've always been worried he wasn't getting the right nutrition and this is comforting to know he will be getting everything he needs. He can also eat any solid foods he wants, he just hasn't been interested yet. He is still getting used to the tube, it makes him feel gaggy every so often and the dr. said it would take a day or two for him to not really notice it anymore. So that whole procedure kept us at the Hospital until 4:30 this afternoon. Not a good time to be leaving because the commuter traffic is pretty bad. We needed to get home by six because a bunch of Pats friends from work were going to be stopping by to visit and to bring some food. We made it in time and they all showed up about 15 minutes after we got home. What came next was a huge surprise.....

There was a knock at the door and I could hear quite a few people on our porch so I grabbed Ashton and we stood at the top of the stairs as Pat opened the door. The next thing I knew, we were being greeted by many smiling faces, a Santa hat or two, and a BIG BLACK CADILLAC ESCALADE "MOTOR CAR". Ashton was so thrilled. Thank you to all of you sweet generous people who brought that to him and made his hard day turn happy. You all know who you are and really, I can't say enough thanks for this special gift and all the other great things you brought. Ashton sat in that car for about 40 minutes tonight and it is still sitting in the middle of the living room. We plan to keep it there until he can really take it for a spin outside. Can't wait!

After the kids were in bed tonight, I met with a special friend who has a son going through a similar situation. Different cancer but we are dealing with many of the same emotions. We had coffee and just spilled our stories. There is another local mom who should have been joining us, the meeting was not clarified and wires got crossed, but next time I hope she is there. We plan to meet quite often and just give each other support. Tonight I don't feel so lonely...there are so many people out there who care and knowing that makes me feel so great.