Spring 2011 we had no idea how our world would be turned upside down or how normal activities, like Sport's Days, would no longer be possible.

Fast Forward

May 31, 2014 was Sport's Day at Joshua's school.  The weather was beautiful, so the activities could be held on the school grounds.  Joshua has been feeling much better, and his blood counts effected by the Aplastic Anemia are looking better.

SO...

HE COULD GO!

Cheers at the beginning of the event.

B/C Course activities...

(Joshy's old gait trainer has a new owner!)

Sitting with friends, cheering on the A course students.

Feels good to do something "normal"!

We are going to continue "normal" by going to church as a family today

There is a park located between the 2 universities that Jerry teaches at on the edge of town.  The park is situated between 2 hills with a flat valley, pond & marsh area between.  The hills have hiking trails while the valley has a lovely boardwalk.  We venture forth to this park on a fairly regular basis.   One of my favorite times to go is May because the marsh is beautifully full of these...

Yesterday, Kei, Joshy, & I dropped Jerry off at school and then walked around the park.

We almost missed the iris this year.  I am so glad we didn't!

This past weekend was Kazenojin, a seaside festival with live music, dance performances, food booths, a flea market, etc.   Being outdoors we were able to take Joshy, as long as we followed some safety precautions & kept it short.  Mostly we just checked out the flea market.  We all went for a little while on Saturday, then Joshy & I went back on Sunday.  The flea market was much better on Sunday, but also MUCH more crowded.  Because of health precautions, we just skirted the edges, but nonetheless,  I found a great assortment of things for Joshy, as well as, a couple of things for Kei

Saturday night was the Pizza Out Reach event.  This time instead of being all ECS students we ended up with a good mix which included students from Jerry's university classes & his city sponsored class along with ECS students.  In all we had 24+ our family.

There were also some walks and visits with neighbors.  Friday evening when Kei & I went for a walk we stopped to chat with a neighbor lady and she showed us her garden.

Good Times!

Last week had it's ups and downs.

UP - Joshy actually accomplished a full week of school  A first for this school year which started in April!!

Down - the girls were both under the weather and accomplished almost no school

UP - Joshy has remained healthy even though the girls, and now Jerry, have not been well.

Hoping that this week all 3 kids will actually get a full week of school... we'll see!

UP - I had all the vacation pictures saved & edited on my laptop.  I had also started writing a vacation post in my brain.

Down - I came home from work on Wednesday evening and the laptop was D-E-A-D :/  The hinge, that has been acting temperamental, had a complete hissy fit.  One can now look into the guts of the computer via the gaping hole where the hinge should be.

UP - I was able to convince the old desktop to cooperate.  It is as slow as molasses in January, but it is operational.

Down - I am not sure I want to take the time to save &' edit vacation pictures on this beast.  They are all on facebook... do I really need to blog about it?

Down - well at least according to Bekah, because of the laptops death, we do not have a computer fast enough the play the game Bekah really likes. Personally, I am not so sure this is a down... except that we have a teen going through game withdrawal

UP - Joshy has been full of antics.   He has hummed along with the bread machine.  He has ask to go on the potty and WENT!   He has been venturing all over the house, exploring, playing.   It is lovely to see him feeling better.

Down - Joshy has been into everything and with big sisters being sick the extra hands to help keep him out of things have been missing!!

UP - my step count has been over 10,000/day ALL week

Down - the scale is showing a downward trend

Looking back... it was a crazy week.  Looking forward... only the good LORD knows what this new week holds.

Sunday was the annual Shiokaza Marathon here in Kashiwazaki. The race has 4 parts: full marathon, half marathon, 5k run, 12k walk. This year Jerry & I participated in the walk along with a few of our students.

We ran into several people we know... a former student ran the half, a previous neighbor was doing the 5k, one of my preschool students was walking with his family!   We also saw friends & students along the way cheering or as volunteers.

And we are off...

Along the 1st part of the way there points of entertainment...

Once the walking group parted ways, the walk takes a turn into the mountains - a beautiful, but steep walk, the view was amazing.

At the finish line...

The walk was easier this year... not because it was a different course, but rather because I am in a little better shape.   LORD willing, it will be even easier next year

My brain is F-U-Z-Z-Y!

Vacation - Work - Hospital - Pneumonia - Home - Cancer Center... everything is mixed all together into one big blur.

Recap...

Monday - we had double pneumonia.  (The doctor had started antibiotics as a precaution on Sunday.)

Tuesday - Joshy because more and more playful as the day progressed.

Tuesday night Josh decided to make up for 3+ days on constant sleep by keeping the night nurses entertained - he slept a couple hours and was then up the rest of the night!!  (This go around IO did not stay over night, but rather headed home once Josh had his evening meds and was settled for the night.  I was then back at the hospital in time to give him breakfast.)

Wednesday - lungs were clear!  Still very congested.  Still coughing - a LOT!  But lungs MUCH improved - Thank you LORD!!  Labs were drawn: CRP more elevated, but likely on the way down.  Kidney functions NORMAL!  Blood counts related to Aplastic Anemia so-so.  Doctors decided to send us home - Joshy was playful & Kei was an emotional wreck (a big reason I went home each night.)  Did some class juggling (poor Jerry got to teach 3 of my 5 classes).  Had Kei come chill with Joshy while we switched places.   Then after much waiting to get meds sorted we finally made it home for a late supper

Thursday - I didn't go to or call a hospital... how did that happen

Friday - Rescheduled Cancer Center checkup.

D-R-U-M

R-O-L-L

PLEASE

WBC's were in the normal range!

We have not seen white cells in the normal range for over 2 years & 7 months!!!     A normal person's WBC's will go up when they are ill, but in the case of Aplastic Anemia the WBC's tend to drop because the body cannot keep up with the white cells being killed off in the war against the illness.   Joshy is no exception...  Each and Every time he has gotten sick in these past 2+ years his WBC's have bottomed out.  Then we start the climb out of the basement, getting back to a mediocre number just in time for him to get ill again.   I cannot tell you how seeing a normal WBC count makes me feel!

Other counts are still in the mediocre range, but holding fairly stable considering how ill he has been this week.  And, other than having a nasty cough, Joshy is acting like his normal mischievous self!  He was even using BOTH hands to pop bubbles as we waited for lab results

Now we are back to Saturday.  May is more than 1/2 over.  Was it just 2 weeks ago that we were on vacation?  I still haven't done a vacation blog either, but I did manage to get the pictures sorted... a blog might be forthcoming... IF I can actually have a day or two to stop & regroup!  (Stop laughing!!)

BTW - I do NOT recommend dropping your body temp to 30.6C/87F & contracting double pneumonia as a way to bring kidney functions & WBC counts back into normal range, but obviously my son seems to think differently!!

Joshy has spent most of the last 3 days sleeping and getting his temp back up to a normal range.

Yesterday, our regular doctor was on duty - such a blessing.  Joshy's lungs were clear, but his CRP (infection indicator) was much higher than Saturday so he started an IV antibiotic as a precaution (he knows Josh!).  Cough got worse as the day progressed.   Josh needed a breathing treatment at bed time.  Then he needed suctioning during the night.

This morning, the admitting doctor popped in, accessed the situation, gave lungs a quick listen, and ordered an xray.

Xrays showed double pneumonia.

The admitting doctor has turned Joshy over to his regular doctor.  Have yet to consult with him (Monday is his office hours  day)  BUT this evening Joshy is awake and trying to play.  His balance is terrible.  Seizures are crazy. BUT he IS awake.

VERY thankful the doctor started antibiotics yesterday, I think they are starting to do the trick.  Please pray that this trend continues!!

Lovely vacation.

Home Wednesday with 2 hours to spare before needed to jump into my busiest teaching day of the week.

Crazy Thursday - still trying to adjust to the new schedule.

Friday managed to get the car filled up, since vacation left it thirsty, & a few groceries in the house before classes.  Home to a boy whose unwellness was getting worse - of course it is a Friday night...  Called the ER but after talking to the nurse, who talked to the doctor, we decided to ride it out at home.

Saturday boy more unwell - temp the lowest we have seen 30.6C/87F.  Called the ER again and made an appointment which lead to being admitted, which is where we are at present.

Maybe sitting here, while boy sleeps, I will be able to get pictures from our vacation sorted... maybe

I have been trying to get back into the habit of walking.  It has NOT been easy & I am still struggling to get that habit relearned.  I know walking helps me feel better, but this week I saw this...

Not sure who the "we" are.  Not even sure if this theory is true...

BUT

ECS is on Golden Week Break right now so we don't have our regular classes this week (Jerry still has university classes & I had my "volunteer" play with English preschool class).  On Wednesday, I had about 15 minutes before I needed to pick Jerry up, so I stopped at the park for a quick walk.  It was W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L - the waterfall was running (man made waterfall).  It was so soothing!

Another day recently,  I dropped Jerry off at his school and took the car to the shop to have the breaks checked.  By the time the  car was done, I had enough time to drive home & sit for maybe 10 minutes before going to pick Jerry up OR I could go to the park near his school.  It was raining, but I opted to go to the park for a walk anyway.

Last Friday, I opted to walk to work rather than bike or drive.  I choose the river route.

I do believe there is some truth in the above statement!!

This morning we are leaving for 6 days in Karuizawa.  I am hoping to test the nature sound theory some more