Day +28 

WBC: 1.2 (up)

ANC: 190 (up)

Hemoglobin: 8.2 (down) 

Platelets: 29 (up)

It was was another Platelet transfusion day since they were under 30, but also the start of GCSF.  Since his counts are slower coming up than anticipated, they will be starting GCSF to get them "jump started".

We anticipate his ANC will be much higher tomorrow!

ZiLong got a bit of soccer time in the hall with Caitlin from Child life and Dr Sam from Palliative care.  I feel like Palliative care and child life have the nicest jobs in the hospital! They pretty much both just make sure the kids are comfortable and happy, and doing well. And if that means you need to play soccer with them in the hallway, so be it!

We also had a fun pizza party with another family we have gotten to know.  Ariana had her stem cell transplant a week before ZiLong, so we have been cheering her on and she has been cheering ZiLong on.  Since the only heating method we have at the hospital is a microwave, and the hospital food is not very good, everything we have brought him from trader joes ends up soft in the microwave.  Totally fine if you are talking about steamed buns and terriyaki chicken, not so good if you are talking about pizza! Ariana's parents brought a toaster oven in and makings for Pizza, so we picked up some macaroons and the kids had toaster oven pita bread pizzas!

This week is also Hania and Ahbi's last week at UCSF Benihoff, and since I fly home tomorrow morning, I had to say goodbye to them today.  We are sad to see them leave Benihoff (though our sadness pales in comparison to the nurses and doctors and child life team who have known them for over 10 years!!), but we are excited for their new adventures.  I know they will both do amazing things in their new job pediatric hospice facility! Be sure to check out Ahbi's instagram page @facilitydogahbi to follow along on their new adventures!

And just because I love it so much, sharing a picture of my sunny window.  Most afternoons you can find me stretched out in the sun on my sunny window bed when ZiLong is doing school or sleeping! It's perfect for working on Maddie's quilt, updating the blog, dealing with insurance stuff, or binge watching Lost or The Handmaids Tale