Monday update

We've met a couple times with the hospital social worker and she thinks that the school tutor may start tomorrow (some things you just can't escape from no matter where you are!). Sawyer's school has already sent up a laptop for him to use with the needed software programs. And there is some thought to maybe trying to Skype him into a class or two at school. It may not happen but it's an interesting idea. If nothing else, Skpe on his new iPad will allow him to stay better connected with his friends.

Sawyer's iPad arrived today! We are very grateful to our work colleagues for being so generous with that gift. And they chose an orange cover for it (orange is the official color for leukemia).

Sawyer is feeling better today. The doctors are working with him to figure out what medicine(s) work best for his not feeling like eating. The one that seems to be helpful right now has the side effect of making him sleepy; but at least he's eating! Today was the second day without any chemo treatment, but he'll have one tomorrow.

He's able to wear his own clothes and not be stuck in hospital garb, and he's free to get up and walk about as he wants. He can leave the room too, as long as he wears a mask.

Mark and I got set up with a day pass to the Ronald McDonald House that's in the hospital (there's a larger one a few blocks away). We need to go up for an orientation at some point. We've been told that we can get meals, showers, and laundry there.We don't anticipate asking for a room since we can both stay in the room with Sawyer fairly comfortably and we have many offers of rooms with people who live in Rochester. We'll let others who aren't as fortunate as us use the space.

My mom is taking care of our house and keeping Nana, our dog, and Dove, the cat, company. She enjoys the quiet house and the ability to spread out with her sewing projects.My aunt and uncle also live next door to us and are terrific about making sure things are taken care of.

November 8th is a target date for Sawyer -- the new Call of Duty game comes out and the last Eragon book is released (he's been waiting what seems like 3 years for that to come out!). We have the other ones of the series on CD but will probably download it to his new iPad. It will be a competition between playing the new game vs. listening to the book!