Day #3- Much to be Grateful For!

They had a party for patients and their families in the Atrium at the hospital. It was a chance for us to get out of the room and spend some time with Savannah. Between the playrooms, playground and all the children's activities, Savannah and her cousins, Noah, Riley and Ella, think that a children's hospital is a pretty fun place to go. I think Payton would have a different story!

Payton did get out and play in the play room. He was a little wobbly on his feet but was still strong enough to push that lawn mower around and was even quite irritated at the tubing connecting his mediport to the IV pole and fluids.

Eating my pop-um in my bed and playing with my cars from Brian and Lisa, Michael and Dani.

Day #3 and Payton finally got to start drinking. As much as he thought he wanted juice or "wa-wa" he still was just not feeling very well today and didn't drink quite as much as we thought he would. The one thing he did want was a "pop-um" or popsicle as well all know it. He was so happy to have a popsicle and he loved being pulled around in the wagon eating his popsicle. Day #3 brought more pain because he is starting to want to move more and insists on walking. He has learned that he really doesn't want to get back in the hospital bed and points to the chair to be held to go nigh-nigh! He was started on oral pain medication tonight so hopefully it will last a little longer than the morphine but still continue to control his pain. He was a little more irritable but that probably means he is now wanting to be more like his normal self and just is not quite ready to be.

Good news came from the biopsy reports today, stage I Wilm's tumor with favorable histology. The lymph node and liver biopsies came back without any cancer growth. What an answer to lots of fasting and prayers. Because of the tumor being in stage I he will still need 19 weeks of chemotherapy, but will more than likely have a 100% cure rate after the chemotherapy. Tonight the surgeon brought in pictures of the kidney/tumor. It was hard to tell that it was actually a kidney because it was so large. The tumor weighed 449 grams and was 12.5 cm long. Payton's little round belly is much flatter now that that awful tumor is gone. We are hoping to be out of the hospital by Saturday, much will depend on how Payton does on oral medication and how he does with eating tomorrow.

We are so very grateful for all the love and support that we have felt. We have had so many people bringing food, toys, balloons, flowers, prayers and words of encouragement. How do you even begin to thank the wonderful people in our life that we call family and friends. We are so grateful that the Lord answered our prayers. In so many small and large ways, we have seen the Lord's hand in carrying us through this experience. 19 weeks to go and we are ready to face the battle!