Wednesday Dec 15th (Day +6)

First of all, sorry we didn't post yesterday...we were both just too exhausted.  Brian is increasingly more tired these days and spends most of the day in bed.  It's kind of weird because he's never been a napper, but naps are good for him and he doesn't wake up feeling worse than before (which is how he would normally feel after a nap).  Eating is his biggest hurdle right now - he still doesn't have too many mouth sores, maybe a few little spots, but the sight, smell, and texture of food is appauling to him and makes it very difficult to eat anything.  Drinking is now fine as long as the taste is ok.  Berry flavored Propel water is his drink of choice at the moment!
As far as his "stats" go, we think his creatinine has finally peaked!!!  Today was the first day that it didn't go up, it just stayed about the same...so 6.12 is the new record for him.  He was very close to having a dialysis catheter stuck in him, but hopefully we have avoided that altogether.  They'll draw another level tomorrow morning and we're hoping for a number in the 5 range.  His other counts are abnormal but expected post-chemo.  White blood cell count is 0.1 today.  They started the Neupogen shots again yesterday to start boosting the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the blood so that they will function as baby white blood cells.  Hemoglobin went up again to 7.7, so no further transfusions needed there.  Platelet count dropped to 51 so he will soon be at risk for increased bleeding...so no shaving except with an electric razor, no flossing teeth, and other things like that.  Overall he's doing pretty good, just very tired.  Hopefully in the next 4-5 days he should start perking up a little bit more and hopefully will also start getting his appetite back.  At that point they'll let him come home - just in time for Christmas!
Thanks again for all of your prayers and support - they have helped tremendously so far!