Typing up his animal report!

Logan has an animal report due next week - this time he has to actually write out a several page report (it can be hand written or typed so he's choosing to type!), complete with title page, table of contents, several small paragraphs on assigned topics, illustrations and bibliography!

So far he's doing a fabulous job. We checked out several books from the library. He took notes while reading from those (and a few sources on the Internet). And is now translating those notes into his rough draft. It's coming along! 👍🏼

Still awake 😳

The boys had migrated to the game room sometime after dinner and have been playing a combo of board games and iPad games (as seen here hiding under the table) all night!

It's 10:45pm and I've finally got all boys laying down in the dark in their sleeping bags. But, I can hear them talking excitedly clear across the house! LOL They are in for a rude awakening come morning time 😁

(As an aside, I'm so relieved that the big boys decided to let Callum join them for the camp out on the floor. I debated back and forth about this before they came over, because I knew he'd want to stay with them but guessed the older kids would want their space - and did want to respect Logan's desire to have some alone time with his buddies only..... So as it became later in the evening, they had basically told Callum they didn't want him playing/sleeping with them, and it totally broke his heart and feelings. I tried to sugar coat it by saying it meant he could have special time with me and Daddy if he wanted but he just wanted to hang with the big kids. So, every few minutes, he'd poke his head around to watch them play, because he couldn't stay away. :) He finally asked again about joining them for the night and they agreed to allow him to stay. He's now cuddled up next to them and chatting away, happy as ever. Phew!!)

Sleepover!

Logan has two of his buddies over for a sleepover tonight. They're having a blast (Callum is tagging along when he can) - so cute. :)

Getting our craft on! 💖

Last weekend, Callum and I started working on our Valentine craft.... We're making Valen-Slime jars this year! (His teacher is a stickler for the no candy rule, so this is the non-candy option the boys picked out this year).

But, the first batch wasn't the right slimy consistency we were looking for (too rubbery and not slimy enough!). We messed around with it but it just wasn't working. 😩

The next day, I visited 7-8 stores to look for more glue (since we had used it all up on that initial batch) and wouldn't you know it, every.single.store was wiped out!! So weird!! 😱

So, we worked on the labels for the jars instead, while I ordered a gallon (!!) of glue on Amazon, which arrived a couple of days later. 👍🏼

Fast forward to today, where we decided to give it another try. The first batch didn't work out again, so I hunted for various recipes and we started testing smaller batches (and colors) out. We finally did land on one that was better (although, still not slimy enough for my taste! But Callum approved so I went with it).

We made green, blue, and pink slime, added some glitter and sealed up the jars - which are now ready to hand out to classmates next week! Phew!

Cutting the cord

A couple of weeks ago, at Callum's monthly check up, our oncologist told me that moving forward, he wants me to start calling our pediatrician if Callum gets sick, a fever, etc.

What?!? So soon!! 😩

But, Callum has been doing so well and his numbers continue to rise, that they're feeling comfortable at each monthly visit, of letting us (slowly) return to normal life. 👍🏼

So, Tuesday morning, I got a call from the school. Callum had some sort of issue on the playground where he couldn't breathe and was complaining of his chest hurting. It just so happened I was already driving to school when they called (I was headed there to volunteer for the 100th day activities), so I told them I'd stop by the office first to see how he was doing.

He was visibly upset; pretty shaken by what had happened. The nurse and I couldn't really make sense of it, and he was clearly breathing and seemed ok. But when I asked him if he was hurt, or scared, he said both (as big fat tears rolled down his face). 😢

(I took this pic of him that night when he was back home and clearly, feeling much better)

He's been fighting a cold like the rest of us, and I had been dealing with some chest congestion just that morning, myself. So I wondered if the activity on the playground caused his chest to tighten and hurt. I finally got him to relax enough to sit up, and then distract him with a couple pieces of candy. 😊

He finally started feeling better and wanted to head back to class to work on the 100th day activities - so off we went. I spent the next couple of hours giving him some distance but also keeping an eye on him. He seemed much better, and when it was time for me to go, he waved goodbye and didn't seem to mind (vs earlier, in the nurse's office, he was telling me he wanted to go to the hospital right now)

Jon and I chatted and thought maybe we should call the pediatrician? It was a strange sort of feeling to call them instead of the oncology clinic, but I did. They decided they better take a listen (to his chest) just to be sure he was ok.

So yesterday afternoon we headed to the Drs office - his Dr heard just the tiniest bit of bronchitis in his lungs, so because of that (and mostly because of Callum's history), we left with antibiotics and instructions to give a few puffs from his inhaler each night, just to give him a little extra help fighting the crud in his nose and lungs. I don't think Dr Safir would've normally prescribed antibiotics, honestly, but it was clear he was taking a more conservative and cautious approach with Callum. I noticed that of the nurses and school staff the day before too. It's funny how much we've all been affected by this....

So! Continuing on the theme of cutting the cord, I (finally) decided to pull out our emergency overnight bag from the car (which I've kept packed and stocked in the car since he was first diagnosed) and unpack it.

Which felt a little weird.

Like, one less security blanket for us to fall back on. 😁

Next up (but maybe in a couple of weeks because I'm finding I can't do it all at once!)....cleaning out his medicine cabinet. 😱

Play dates galore!

Today was our 3rd play date this week! One of Logan's friends came over to hang out for a bit.

I thought these funny butt shots of the boys playing Twister needed to be posted. ;-)

"Things I love", by Callum

I'm pretty much smitten with the fact that tacos made the list. :)