Chance is staying at Johns Hopkins until either Monday or Tuesday because of the swelling of his head. It's better for him to stay here than move him over the KKI and then back here if his head keeps swelling. He went for a cat scan this morning. They told us tonight that this type of swelling is pretty typical for a kid that had as much removed as he did. They explained to us about shunts and the possibility of Chance needing one. This is a permanent tube that is inserted to drain fluid from the brain down to another cavity. It is still too early to really be talking about that in depth or have to make decisions. The swelling usually goes down in a week. We will see. I don't know if you can see the swelling here, but his ear doesn't stick out anymore. It touches his head.
For therapy today, Chance went outside to the playdeck. We took his football along to throw. He walked the whole way from his room and down the steps. For a kid that has been in bed for as long as him, this was a major feat! Him and the therapists tossed the football for awhile and then played bean bag tic tac toe.

He refused to take his pain medicine (even Tylenol) since yesterday evening when he threw up. I finally talked him into taking the Tylenol but it just wasn't enough. So, he got a dose of the powerful stuff this evening and is finally resting.

They have switched just about all of his medicines to pill form because the liquid makes him gag. He hasn't thrown up anything today.

His eating is getting better and better everyday. He even ate 1/3 of a fresh pear today. I'm going to get him some more fresh fruit. He's drinking more too. If he keeps up at this pace, they will take the IV out. That will give him some more freedom.

Daddy was being bad today and Chance was counting to 5 on his fingers just like I do to him. It was the cutest thing.

Uncle Tom, Aunt Tina and Rachel sent him a basket of snacks. He raised his eyebrows when I showed him the cookies and wanted to know if he could have one. I said "Of course!!" Well, he ate 1/2 of the cookie and was done. It's a start.


He also got a bouquet of flowers with a balloon and bear on it from his orthodontist's office - Dr. Apiscella in Mechanicsburg. Right now he is in his bed and has his Steeler's bear, the new bear and his cow all in a row, under the blanket. Usually he picks one to hold onto and the other goes on his other side. Tonight, they are all there under his arm.

Not too much else to report for today except for the fact that Bryan and I just don't know what to do with ourselves. We have magazines, tv, games - plenty of stuff to do, but after awhile, you just can't do it anymore. I can't wait to get to the point where we don't have time to read a magazine or play a game or watch our show on tv because Chance's mouth is running, he wants to play or go somewhere. I know that it will happen, I just have to be patient.