Day 3: Settling into a Routine

As many nights as I have spent in a hospital, and there have been quite a few, I always find it interesting how we seek a routine. I guess we cope better when there's some predictability. So for now, we measure time in 8 hour intervals, IL2 doses are at 6, 2 and 10, preceded an hour earlier by lab work, vitals & a visit with the doctor. We see Dr Theobald during the day, Dr Lambreth at night, and Dr Gilbert & an entourage of students at 8:30 am. Dr Sosman doesn't make rounds, but is being kept informed. Shift change is 7am/7pm. Kerrie is our day nurse, Ronda has the night shift. Abby & Susan have been our Care Partners (used to be nurse tech). The meals come at 7,12, & 5, and the food is standard hospital fare. Bobby's eating fairly well right now.

We read a daily devotion from Bobby's favorite, My Utmost for His Highest, every morning. Today's was really good, coming from Romans 8. Oswald Chambers talks about how the circumstances of our lives are ordained, and there's no such thing as chance. "God by his providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all...He is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the intercession of the Spirit in you may take a particular line." It reminded us that there's a purpose in all this that's bigger than ourselves, and we're not to be so focused on our own needs that we are unaware of those God is putting in our lives through this circumstance.

Overall, the treatment is going very well. We've had 5 doses with relatively mild side-effects, mostly chills and fatigue. All the important indicators (heart rate, blood pressure, pulmonary function, kidney function, blood work) are all good. They say it starts to get rough around dose 7, which will be at 10 tonight, so we'll see.

We had two visitors yesterday, a really pleasant surprise being so far from home. Bev Mahan, a friend of mine from Florida State visited and we barely scratched the surface catching up - it's been almost 20 years since we've seen each other! And Bobby's cousin James who lives here in Nashville also came up to visit. It was fun and sure made the afternoon pass quickly.

It's great to get your comments and emails, and to see our little army of "Followers" grow. To be honest, I'm not sure what being a Follower is, but it's kinda cool to see all the little icons over there.