5/30/06: We enjoyed a lovely picnic with the Porters down by the pool. We finally got that 4 generation picture of Geoff, Phillip, Sanford and Dee Porter. Everyone made a lap around the pool and Dee was able to get some owls hooting with his authentic bird calls. Geoffrey enjoyed seeing everyone and being the center of attention. He also enjoyed being swung by Aunt Elaine and Grandma Colleen.
5/29/06: We finally took Geoffrey to church which was a big deal for us, both in worry and in getting to the point where we could do it. As I stood holding Geoff in the foyer, another mom asked if it was hard to see all the other kids playing on the floor and chewing on each others toys. I said no, it wasn't hard, we were use to it. But I was glad that she acknowledged that element of our lives. I think we'll go to the butterfly museam tomorrow.
5/26/06: Geoffrey was first case today, so we were up bright and early. True to form, Geoff woke up at 5am and groused for an hour because he couldn't eat. But the proceedure went well, despite their having to go for Bone Marrow two times, because the first attempt, in the right hip, was dry. Dr. Hamsah said that was likely because they had done most of the punches in that side. Ouch. But we're home and safe and having fun now.
5/25/06: Happy 17 months old to Geoffrey. The nurses at the clinic sang him the "Happy End of Therapy" song and gave him a little cake. That is, they gave me and Phillip a cake. Geoffrey will gladly poke the frosting, but he knows it's not a big chocolate chip. It's so much better... He's up to 19 lbs and 11 oz but not quite 30 inches tall yet. I think he'll make 20 lbs this week. He's really great. His new trick is putting the key rings on the hook. He puts the ring on his thumb, puts his thumb on the hook, then slides the ring on. I don't know how he figured that out, but it's pretty darn cute.
Check out my HAIR!
5/23/06: The CMN Celebrity Waiter Night was really great. Geoffrey was happy and energetic the whole time. Colleen, Sanford, and Phillip entertained him walking up and down the Touchdown Terrace of the Stadium. Phillip and I were given a chance to thank the doctors and nurses and CMN. I froze up a bit, but Phillip did a good job.
This morning Grandma and I took Geoff to Shands for a CT scan. Rather than have him anesthitized, the technicians used a bag of foam beads. The bag was molded around him, then vacumed tight. All you could see was his face, barely. It gave me a little bit of a panicy feeling seeing him all bound up, but it's better than a superfluous anesthitization. With an hour to spare we mosied over to the clinic for his 11am ECHO. He's all tuckered out now.
5/21/06: Has it been that long? Evidently so. We had some friends over for a pool day on Thursday and Geoff had a great time trying to get in and out of the pool. Saturday and Sunday, we just give Geoffrey a medication to prevent a virus. We didn't have clinic this past week, but we'll more than make up for it this week. Tuesday is a CT scan, and EKG. Thursday is clinic, and Friday is his final diagnostic spinal and Bone Marrow Asperate. When his tests come back clean they'll take out the port, in a month or so. It will take about 6 months off chemo for his immunity to build back to normal.
Geoffrey shows off his little barrel chest in a hand towel
5/17/06: Last day of chemo!! Geoffrey and I went to Satchels Pizza for lunch with Kim and Debbie Thompson. We ate in the VW Van. It was really fun. Tonight we'll take dinner to a family in the hospital. It's our turn. Tomorrow we'll have a little pool party, because it's pool day, and also because it's good to celebrate.
5/16/06: Geoffrey likes strawberries. He's getting a little more adventerous with food, but it's still slow going. We finally remembered to get more chocolate chips. For days, he's been saying "please" and pointing to the freezer, only to look at the yellow burrito bag in confusion. Now, when he looks at that spot, he'll find the desire of his heart.
5/15/06: Geoffrey was tearing apart his bookshelf, and complaining today. I wondered what book he wanted so bad. It was a little Golden book version of "David and Goliath." I was struck by the similarity between Geoffrey's life battle, and David's triumph over Goliath. Geoffrey, so little, defeating this scary thing that grown men are loath to take on. He's won by just doing what is natural to him, like David. He's resting so sweetly now and I can't help feeling like the luckiest mom ever.
5/14/06: Geoff came out with 2 really great mother's day gifts. He went to sleep on his own last night, and he learned to sign mom. Just in time! Tonight, he drifted off to sleep and Phillip brought him to bed without waking him. Yeah Dad! Happy Mothers day!
5/13/06: We had such a good time at the band banquet. Geoff and Phillip made a dazling pair. It was so great to be out, though, every 10 minutes or so I would have a mild shock that we were to this point. Geoff love the ceiling fans and wanted nothing but the light switches all nigh. Today we visited the Porters and made a DVD of Geoff's pictures, and hung out in the hammock.
5/12/06: Geoff and I went to Thornbrook Chocolates today, that was really fun. We also played in Grandma's back yard and had a lovely time visiting. Geoff finally hit the 19lb mark and has 4-5ml of hair up top. It's darkening and looking very cute. Tonight Geoff and Phillip are going to dress up the same. Thankfully Geoff has a little shirt and tie, so Phillip doesn't have to dress up in Gator Sweat pants for the band banquet!
5/11/06: Last MTX shot today! Last week of 6MP! We don't even have to go to clinic next week!!! Crazy. Geoff's counts were great today, 1964, so we'll be going to the band banquet tomorrow night. It will be so great to see all the students, and parents, I've missed you all. Thank you for your amazing love and support.
I wrote to the mayor to inform her of my concerns about the cancer hospital. She wrote back the next day. Wow. Go Mayor Hanrahan. I know that it is an intrahospital issue, but I'd already written to them and hadn't heard anything back yet. I feel a little sad that the issue of children being treated as cancer patients will probably never get recognized by the administration. Because if your child doesn't have cancer, it's not an immediate concern. If your child has cancer, you are too busy, emotionally, financially, and mentally. If your child has had cancer, you want to put it behind you.
When a child gets cancer, one parent has to stay home with the child. The child can't be in school or in day care. That creates all sorts of financial and insurance difficulties. So hospitals don't make money on kids with cancer. We've been so blessed that it was our plan to have me stay home anyway. Geoff and I spent 123 days in the hospital last year, and at least 40 more days in the clinic. Thankfully, we only had to do this for 1 year, and we've got an amazing support group. Thank you all.
5/10/06: We had a visit with the Speach Therapist today, she is very pleased with Geoff's development. He said "shoe" the other day, when he and Phillip were signing the same. Today he said "ishy" when we were playing with the fish. It's neat to see him finally using the "mom" sign and jabber "da da da" for Phillip's picture. He's doing great.
5/9/06: later that day... Geoffrey loves bathtime. I'd been letting him play with a big yellow ball (12" with smiley face) in the bath, but wanted to let him get to know his new bath boat. So, I took the ball out, and put it in the living room. Geoff excitedly got into the bath, looked around, and then climbed out of the bath tub and toddled shakily out of the bathroom, and past the kitchen, and into the living room. He found his big yellow ball, and proudly carried it back through the living room, past the kitchen, back into the the bathroom, where he contentedly pushed it into the bath tub and then climbed in. Now it was bathtime.
5/9/06: 4:30am. Geoff is awake and curious. It's been thundering and lightning. We go to the window and watch the cars drive by. Backlit, I can only see his silhouette as he turns to look at me. But I know that expression, the smile, peacefully sharing a moment. Geoff's a great kid.
As we aproach the end of treatment, it's like giving birth to him all over again. New worries and a new lifestyle free of one burden.
5/8/06: Today Phillip talked with Mrs. Gindy, the mom of a guy he marched in Gator Band with. Brian Gindy went to PKY and then on to Gator Band, all the while fightin Leukemia. Diagnosed at 13, he relapsed 3 times before sucombing at 25. PKY Band has a service award named after Brian Gindy because he was that kind of guy, living a life that touched others. Last February we learned of his PKY connection and that he'd had Leukemaia. When Geoff was diagnosed the following May it was too much to talk to the Gindys.
Geoffrey is doing well, his counts aren't great, but he doesn't show any signs of Jaundice, or other complications. He's getting some molars and in general delighting us with his antics and personality.
5/5/06: It's hard to not remember what we were going through last year, the worry and wonder. Then the diagnosis and subsequent surguries and treatment. We're doing well though. Here are some pictures of Geoff from before his diagnosis last year.
5/4/06: Clinic went well, Geoff's counts are around 600, and there were so many kids though. It's sad to see that there just seem to be more and more kids diagnosed with cancer. We started circulating a petition today to encourage Shands to include children in their plans for the new Cancer Hospital. I can't believe we really have just 2 weeks of chemo left. It doesn't seem like a whole year has gone by, but it has. Geoff was diagnosed with Leukemia on 05/05/05. We fear going off chemo because then we have to worry that it could come back. But it's been ok, Geoff is great, Phillip is amazing, and on the whole, the Porters are doing just fine.
5/3/06: We're reading "Deaf like me" and it's really hitting home. There is so many degrees of deafness and such disparity in how to raise a child with hearing impairment. Eliza recently attended a class that was billed as being a signing class, but actually was part of the trend to gesture with your baby. It was really frustrating. Geoff's doing great though, and despite a snotty nose, and waking up crying last night, he is a delight. Today he clearly signed "car" while we played with a hot wheel. His furry little head is just about the sweetest thing ever! I love to hold him and let his peach fuzz brush my lips. Yep, he's great, and we're doing just fine.
05/02/06: Geoff loves going outside, and Eliza loves being able to let him make whatever mess he likes out there. On Sunday he licked a mixing spoon clean as you can see. Monday he destroyed a dinner roll, it was awesome. Nothing exciting has happened with his treatment, Hurray! We're watching his eyes and other systems just in case. Another baby developed jaundice from the chemo at this stage. We just have 2 weeks and 1 day left of chemo, for those of you who like us, are keeping track.
He's not laughing with you... terrible!
04/30/06: Another delightful day with Geoffrey. Phillip set up this barrier on the back porch so Geoff can wander outside safely. It's so nice to see him up and active. He ate a lot of food today including pasta, peanutbutter, crackers and milk. Tonight he "said" light and ceiling fan appropriately. He also helped Eliza sweep the porch.
4/29/06: Geoff is picking up so many signs and jabbering really well. He asks for his shoes when he wants to go out. I showed him the sign for owl while looking at a particular book, now he puts his hands by his eyes with that book. He can't make the little circles with his fingers, but he's doing pretty good. Yesterday we had a bunch of moms and babies over to the pool, it was so fun. Geoff entertained himself with a strawberry while I got some snacks ready. His head is blocking the lovely painting he made on the wall!
4/26/06: It's been a busy week, and now we have 3 doctors' appointments in the next 26 hours. Geoff is still being followed by GI, tomorrow is Hem/onc, and the soonest Audiology appointment is tomorrow as well. Just 3 weeks of chemo left.
On Monday night we were watching a signing video for our activity. The song we were learning "Teach me to walk in the light" says "teach me" at the beginning of each phrase. Geoff picked that up and started doing the sign with us. The church music DVD is really well done. It's not terribly entertaining, but it is so well laid out that it is very functional for teaching, which is the point. Geoff also learned "frog" and "owl." I am really enjoying him learning signs for words that, all things being normal, he wouldn't have for a while yet.
4/23/06: Our little neighbor Lisa is going back to Germany soon. I realized today that this German family was a complete Godsend for us. They came at a time when we needed some encouragement to let Geoff do more and they provided a "safe" companion for him to be with and learn from. By "safe" I mean that Lisa was always at home with one of her parents, so her "germs" were pretty limited, and her toys were pretty new and only played with by her and Geoffrey. We could never have asked another family to be so isolated for Geoff's sake, but they already were because of their own circumstance. It's amazing how much sign Geoffrey is picking up. I know a lot of it is imitative, but he's doing the motions so precicely. He knows about 15 words now. His new words are "Yes," "Shoes," "Car," and "socks."
"What do you want me to do with this?"
4/20/06: Clinic went well, Geoffrey got his chemo and showed the doctors his very good walking skills. After the clinic we stopped by PKY and visited all the nice ladies we could find (we'll come again to catch the lovely ladies we missed), we also saw some nice men as well. Everyone was so nice and happy to see Geoffrey. Late into the evening, Eliza attended a city meeting to discuss the new Cancer Hospital, leaving the boys to fend for themselves way too long. The new Cancer Hospital is going to be so nice. Unfortunately they don't yet have plans to have pediatric cancer patients treated there. Hopefully we'll be able to convince them of the need and sence of including kids. Doubly hopefully, we'll never need to use the facility.
4/18/06: We had a very action packed weekend with my two sisters and 3 kids visiting. Geoff enjoyed playing with the older children and they were very good with him. Most kids are more interested in his bald head than his hearing aids, which is a great relief. We went to Lake Alice, Devil'd Millhopper and the park on 8th Ave and 34th on Saturday. We also decorated sugar cookies and played countless rounds of "hide the eggs" since we only had 8 plastic eggs. The kids all loved it and Geoff enjoyed watching everyone run around.
4/14/06: Geoff woke up an hour earlier than he needed to for this mornings proceedure, and because he had to fast, it was a long morning. We'd planned to walk to the hospital, then thought it would be too dark. By 7:00 it was light enough, so we did walk. The wait was not bad, in fact when we did get to the pre-op area, the nurse said she'd paged for us 30 minutes prior. So they wisked Geoff fairly fast. We were finished by 10:00am, and have continued to have a great day!
Geoff stands for a puzzle, and to walk his baby dinosaur at the clinic.
4/13/06: Oh my Heck! If this little boy gets any cuter, I'm not going to be able to breath properly for the excessive sighing. Grandma and Great Grandma are both sick! We flew solo at the clinic which went well. Geoff is now allowed to play with the clinic toys and toddle on the floor, so it went much more smoothly than if I'd been holding him the entire time.
4/11/06: Geoff and Eliza walked to Winn Dixie with the Mega Stroller and bought some groceries. Parts of the experience were very strange since we only did that once before Geoff got sick and that was a year ago. He didn't mind being in the stroller so long, even with some groceries at his feet. Near the end of the outing he did pull out one hearing aid and chew on the earmold.... Thankfully these ones are well glued to the hearing aid. We've got a sign language class tomorrow. Thursday is clinic, Friday is Geoff's last TIT spinal, and this weekend Geoff gets to meet some older cousins. Fun!
Geoffrey has enjoyed these blocks at multiple developmental stages. At first it was just the moving parts. Then it was spinning the moving parts. Lately it was pushing the buttons, then stacking them and most recently it's been trying to hold them all at the same time.
4/9/06: Geoffrey is cutting some molars and bed time is beginning to be a challenge. He really loves doing the Gator Chomp and is thinking about riding around on his little wood bike.
4/8/06: Geoff made 4 big developmental leaps yesterday. He can now do a recognizable Gator Chomp(!), turn on and off the dining room dimmer switch, sort block into a sorter, and take independent steps! It's been a neat 2 days. Geoff continues to slowly gain weight despite the fact that he's only awake for 10 hours a day and has to fast for 4 solid hours in the evening. Crazy!
4/7/06: Wow, April is really speeding by. We just have 5 weeks of chemo left. Geoff is adorable. We've been compiling his baby pictures into slide shows with music to put in a DVD of his first year videos. It's a great time to have a baby. Clinic went well, Phillip came with us. Listening to Garth Brooks "The Dance" I realize that if I'd known that my baby would have Leukemia, I probably would have been pretty scared to have him. But he is so cute and we've learned a lot. "I'm glad I didn't know the way it all would end, the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance." Not that our lives are left to chance, but things happen that nobody planned. And that's part of the beauty of living.
4/4/06: Go Gators.
Geoff and Phillip watch the final four game on Saturday.
4/3/06: Phillip is on Spring Break so we've been spending a lot of time with Grandma and Grandpa. Geoff loves exploring their house and Grandma takes such pleasure in being with Geoff. Geoff is all duded up for the Gator Game, which just started, but we're at home, time for bed. Best wishes.
4/1/06: What a great weekend. We've had lots of good company and accomplished a lot. Walks with friends and a new water heater. Geoffrey is having a massive increase in energy. The Freemans (whose daughter just finished the ALL protocal) said that their little girl is like a completely different baby, she's super happy and energetic all the time. Geoff has always been very pleasant, but from what he's showed us this weekend, we're about to have our hands full in a completely different way. Good. He's also found that coconut cookies are an acceptable thing to put in his mouth. Grandma and I were practically crying seeing him eat it, we've been so pressured by his not eating.
3/30/06: Wow, we just have 6 weeks of treatment, that's strange. Here's something even more strange that I notice on the calendar last night. Geoffrey was diagnosed on 05/05/05 which was Ascension day in 2005. His final round of tests will be 05/25/06 which is Ascension day in 2006. Yeah, There's a lot of things about Geoff's life that can be taken as symbolic and beautiful, like his smile and disposition. He's such a great little boy. I love being his mom. Clinic went well today. Geoff got to see "Winkie" the baby gorilla puppet again and played with the clinic toys. We're stepping out more and more into the realm of normal.
3/28/06: We're having a good time staying close to home and getting to know the neighbors. Geoff is taking his chemo really well. I think his hair is starting to come back, hopefully for the last time. Life is pretty great.
3/27/06: Geoff if doing some really neat signing babble. When we sing/sign the alphabet, he scrunches his fingers into various possitions, including "n" "o" and a lot of almost letters. Just 2 months of chemo to go!
3/25/06: It's that time of year again, March Madness. Geoffrey is just getting to be big enough to play with a ball, so of course he is playing with a basketball. Phillip wants to point out that he has played (in the pep band) for both of Florida's Final Four teams, and he played (in the band) for the team this season, so Florida will be going to Final Four again. Geoffrey pushes the basketball all over the house. He really likes the way it tastes, even after Eliza sanitized it.
3/24/06: Philllip and Geoff are getting along better and better. Last night Eliza went to Enrichment at the church and the boys happily waved goodbye and had no problems during the 2.5 hours she was gone. Geoff is really starting to be a little "type A" person. When he sees something left out, or open, like a diaper, or his hearing aid box he points to it until you take him there and put it away. He's always so pleased about it too. His applause is all we need.
3/23/06: A long day at clinic, but good. Geoff got to see a lady with a gorilla puppet. Eliza and Grandma got to see some other families and talk. We had a hearing appointment for 2pm, thinking we'd be done by 12 at the clinic. We didn't get out until 1:45! Fortunately the clinics are pretty close, we made it with 3 minutes to spare. Geoff got new earmolds that are even more gatorrific and don't squeal as much.
3/22/06: Geoffrey is getting really good at signing. He now does : please, thankyou, more, milk, eat, ball with official signs. He knows yes and no, points very efficiently and has special signals for "spin the ceiling fan" and "hearing aids" It's so fun communicating with him. Last night he would stop in the middle of playing and say "eat, more, please" and point to the refrigerator. That's how he say's "chocolate please". Later he sighed "milk, please". Sometimes what he wants is the flavored milk, if it's in the room he'll point to it. Last night it was on the bed stand, he crawled across the bed and got it, then brought it back to me, and said "please." I'm so glad we're signing with him. It's just so darn cute. He's so smart about his hearing aids too. Yesterday I pointed to my ear then signed "yes." He pointed to his ears then to the shelf where the hearing aid box is.
3/21/06: We are so lucky. Geoff is the best little boy ever. Today he did his own laundry! Well as good as you get at 15 months old. As I took the clothes out of the washer, he put them into the dryer! He did more than half the load before the other parts of the dryer became too interesting. I got it on video, it was pretty darn cute. :O)
03/20/06: Another great weekend, in the end. Geoff's proceedure went well, and he was fine on Saturday. Sunday, he wasn't feeling great and by Sunday afternoon he was really not well. He was really nauseous and threw up 6+ times. We were seriously scared. After calling the hospital and being reasured that he was ok, just having a bad headache etc... stay home see how he does. We gave him a warm bath and he calmed down as we took turns pouring warm water over his body. He's been fussy, and he's screamed and cried with all the sticks and pokes, but this is the first time he's been weak and throwing up. It's easy to forget how serious his condition and treatment are in the daily smiles and fun. By Sunday night Geoff was steady again. Dr. D. called to check up today, which was so sweet, and I was happy to report that he was doing much better.
Geoff went straight from anesthesia into his mid-day nap.
3/18/06: What a week. We had a medical appointment everyday this week. That seems to happen every time that Geoff has a spinal. He will have 2-3 appointments related to the spinal. But next time I'm going to block off the whole week and not do any other appointments, just enrichments. Thanks to Gradma's goodness we were able to survive an 8 hour medical day at both the hospital and the clinic on Friday. Geoff is starting to eat food with more willingness and he wears his hearing aids almost every waking hour. We use to aim for 5 hours, and if he'd done that by dinner time, we (mom and dad) would take the evening off. Now we just put them in as soon as he wakes up and take them out before nap and bed time. Geoff is so good at wearing them. It's truely amazing how much less stressful it is, than I'd thought it would be. Today we opened the french doors to the back porch and put out a blanket for Geoff to play on. It was so beautiful and pleasant. Life is great!
3/15/06: Geoff is such a clever little boy. Yes, I've been bitten by the shamelessly proud parent bug. Monday night he found his hearing aid box in the diaper bag. He held them out to me, and pointed to his ear. I pointed to my ear and signed "yes" He signed "yes" back, so I put them in his ears. He now wears them for 5+ hours every day and only occasionaly points to them. Whenever I get the box out, he points to them and will try to take them out, if I'm not quick enough. Yesterday he fed himself some pudding, picture to come. Last night he signed "please" then pointed to the chocolate chips lined up on the dinner table. Amazing! He's so cute. Yesterday I also found out that a family has moved into our mostly single college student complex. They have a little boy that is 15 months old, just like Geoff. Lucky day!
3/13/06: part two... Geoff's counts are GREAT! Yay, we can go on walks again. Double Yay, we don't have to give him shots anymore. Triple Yay, we will hopefully never be down again. We went through a car wash after the clinic visit and Geoff really enjoyed that.
3/13/06: Going to the clinic today, after a great night of sleep! On Sunday morning Geoff wanted to play from 2-4am. He was so cute, but it was just not the time for it. Last night his cuteness reached an all time high as he sat on my lap and played the tuba! Well, it was more playing with the tuba, but he also sat really still, while I practiced.
3/12/06: Having a lovely weekend. It feels like we've been out of the hospital for a lot longer than 3 days. We'll check counts tomorrow at the clinic. At this many days post chemo, in the last cycle, his counts were recovered, we'll see. Geoffrey's at a really cute imitative stage. I gave him a piece of floss the other night and he set right to it, flossing his teeth. It's also easy to get him to clean his own face. I just clean mine first, and let him throw a few swipes at my face in the process. He'll even rub down his head.
3/09/06: Geoff never got another fever, and the cultures never grew anything, so we got to come home today. Strangely, the BMT staff was under the impression that we were being transfered to the Peds wing eventually rather than being discharged to home. So we had to pursue the issue a little to find out why we weren't being sent home. It turns out that they were just a little misinformed, so we are home. I got scared at one point because the nurse and resident were both saying we weren't going home and that I'd have to ask the doctor about it. I thought they were saying that there was some complication that they wanted the doctor to tell me about....! But no, it's all ok.
Geoff really enjoyed playing with these fine dining pieces.
3/08/06: I've gotten use to the fan. The BMT wing is less busy, thankfully, but with the fan running I don't hear any of the things going on in the hall. The door has a time delay close, so I hear the click, minutes after someone has left. Geoff has a bit of a runny nose, and fussiness, but no more fevers and so far, no positive cultures. If nothing grows in the next 12 hours we can go home! I don't know if we'll be on home anti-biotics or not. Probably, but we've never had the no + cultures after fever scenario before. Today I was wiping off the window sill where Geoff likes to play. When I was done, he picked up the towel and started to rub the sill some more. Grandma Colleen has taught Geoff how to sanitize his hands. It's so cute to see him rub his little hands together!
3/07/06: Geoffrey had a fever so we ended up at the hospital around 4am. We are in a different wing because they didn't have any single rooms open and they can't put him in with someone else while his counts are so low. It is different and different is bad. Not always, but we aren't as emotionally comfortable here and they have a big fan running constantly to filter the air which makes it impossible to sit and talk quietly. Hopefully they will be able to get us onto our regular wing and it will be peaceful and quiet and calm.
3/06/06: Clinic went well, Geoff needed plateletts, and he got them with no complications. What a blessing to live in this time. We didn't get home until nearly 3:00pm. I was thinking that Geoff wouldn't get to wear his "ears" for much time, so I put them in when we got home. (I don't take them to the clinc because it's hard enough to keep him happy for 5-7 hours cooped up) He wore them non-stop from 3:30-8:45pm! His ANC is 0 and will not come up for at least another week. We'll go to the clinic on Thursday to check counts. He will likely need more blood products. We're doing well.
03/05/06: Geoffrey is getting more bumps and bruises than we would like, but it's more because of his active lifestyle. He's wearing his ears a lot, at least 4 hours a day. He's using more dipthongs and "ga" sylables lately, though "ah ah ah" is still the favorite when he wants something. We'll go to clinic in the morning and report on how massive he has become.
Phillip and Geoff were racing. The night before the PKY district exhibition Geoff got out the tuba and said "Me TOO, Me TOO!"
Geoff has tails that hold his "ears" on and clip too his shirt.
3/2/06: We're giving Geoff IM shots of Nupogen to boost his white blood cell count. It's pretty amazing that there is a drug that can tell all the blood stem cells to turn into white cells rather than red, or plateletts. He'll probably get a few transfusions during the next 2 weeks. Every time they ask me for his history and say "has he ever had a transfussion..." I have this funny reaction, because I've never had one. I don't know anyone but Geoff who has, yet, he has had so many. It's the same thing if they ask me to list all his surgurys. Sad, but true. He wore his hearing aids for 5 hours yesterday and today. Go Geoff. He also made a mess of a fudge covered graham cracker, and played with a bananna. Leaps and bounds... no just baby steps.
3/1/06: I love being home. I love my home. (repeat ad nosium).... Geoff and I hung out last night while Phillip conducted the bands in their spring concert. We feel so blessed and happy. Life is great. I'll miss seeing people, but I'll call a lot more, and Geoff just woke up. Gotta go.
Summer of 2005; First 4 months of "Geoffrey Updates"