Week 1 out of 156 (give or take)

I've heard our road to recovery is roughly three years assuming all goes as planned. That's the complete treatment from start to finish. We have now completed week one. So if we're indeed looking at three years, then only 155 more weeks to go. And by then, Levi will have spent half of his life fighting cancer. Wow. It all feels unreal.

For Levi, I want to recap his journey battling cancer. I feel confident one day he will read through these entires and perhaps feel proud of the little fighter he is. I think defeating cancer (because he will) will shape the man he someday becomes. And, for selfish reasons, I hope he can understand - through words - how special he is to us and that we'd do anything for him.

Week One

• Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started - that held true for this week. It was difficult to watch Levi in pain and going through various test/procedures to diagnosis him. He was poked (i.e. blood drawn) more times than I've been poked in my entire life. He was sedated - bone marrow aspiration, lumbar puncture and chemo to his spinal fluid. He had his magic button (i.e. port) inserted. He received Vincristine and Peg chemo treatments. Oh, he had a problem with his port briefly in the hospital. He threw up a couple days (first time in his life). He had tons of meds shoved down his throat. 
• That being said, he still smiled. He cuddled a lot with Mommy and Daddy - we had lots of 1:1 time together, the three of us. He watched 4,374,982 episodes of Mickey Mouse. He got spoiled by family and friends (Christmas will be a disappointment this year!). He came home from the hospital and was very happy to be in his own bed again.
• His numbers (blood counts, ANC, etc.) looked really good week one which gives us hope.
• He still has his hair and hasn't been too challenging from the steroids (Dex).
• He eats okay - some days and some meals better than others.
• His weight is 35 pds which is down a little from when we were in the hospital which is expected from the fluids.
• Family, friends, and even strangers from all over the country PRAYED for Levi and donated money to support his road to recovery. Our fundraiser hit the $20k goal in one week! We are overwhelmed and forever grateful! We hope someday to repay this by giving back in a BIG way. 

Here are a few pictures to recap the week:

Banner, our fav nurse at Levine Children's Hospital :)

Meeting Sir Purr (you kept a good distance!)

At night when we tuck you in, you throw your arm over us -- I think to keep us close.

After a day at the clinic - LP and chemo. Rough day as you can see.