AIDAN'S DIARY - SEPTEMBER 2002

3 September 2002
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM/TRISH
The Masked Earache was showing no signs of letting up it's relentless beating, so another dose of whackawaythepain and a hospital trip were arranged, in that order.
I escorted Aidan to school for a couple of hours before the hospital trek and was first welcomed by the smaller people and then set up with all sorts of questions and pointed observations .... 
Are you Aidan's dad ? 
You're too big to be kid. 
What's this word (during an activity) ? 
What a wonderful frog (during the same activity). 
Can you come tomorrow ?
We departed quietly and made our way back to our favourite place ... hospital.
Dr. Baker shone a light between Aidan's ears and concluded a round of antibiotics was in order. If they help the little man regain some vigour, we'll take 'em.
Given the nature of the day (i.e. a birthday) and a tall order for cheering up unwell people, we detoured via an ice cream parlour for all things sweet.
Interestingly enough, the twins were also with us and managed to eat the better part of a large waffle each. Just keep your hands and feet away from their mouths during a feeding session and all will be fine. It was amusing to note the clearance given to our horde by the other patrons. 
Aidan managed to put away a decent chunk of waffle in his own right.
- Dad

4 September 2002
While Aidan was still under the weather today and did not make it to school during the day, he managed to stash away some energy and enthusiasm for his open night. Caitlin was also rarin' to go.
The class rooms were decked out with art and craft collated over the past several months. There could well be a Picasso (or two) in the wings.
Aidan's teacher(s) compiled a photo book of him and the other students undertaking various activities throughout the year. It was a wonderful contribution and gave us the opportunity to see what our superhero does ... when he actually makes it to school. Despite Aidan's standard response to my question, "What did you do today at school ?" of "Not much" ... we have proof of "Much".
You can see the photo book here.
- Dad

5 September 2002
The blood and CSF tests from today's hospital venture were good ... white and red cells up and no floating cancer cells.
Thus begets the foundation for the next cycle of chemo.
- Dad

6 September 2002
It would appear our superhero is climbing out of his downbound train. His teacher informed me after school assembly that he caused them no end of trouble today. He is affectionately known as the "Room 3 Rascal". 
- Dad

8/9 September 2002
More good signs of normality from our bald adventurer ... bothering Caitlin ... helping in the garden ... ignoring Mum's and Dad's requests.
- Dad

9/10 September 2002
Aidan's health is on the up and up. He not only emerged from his boudoir in the early part of the morning, but was dressed, fed and abluted in time to make class. Olay! 
- Dad

14 September 2002
Aidan returned home from school during the week with a birthday invitation for Adam. Adam ... Aidan ... same thing, right ? Not, really. Trish confirmed with the relevant party boy's mother that it was in fact Adam's invitation, not Aidan. Oops. Aidan wasn't terribly bothered by the mixup, except for the small fact the party was to be hosted at 2MuchFun, an indoor playground. Given our little hero's small recovery this week we opted for a clan outing.
The boys did their thing rolling about in the junior ball pit and cruising the slide, while Cait and Aidan were alternately escorted by myself (at their request) to various sections ... bouncy castle ... miniature race cars ... the smallest cubicle of the tallest tower ... and so on. A good morning made all the more appealing by seeing all the people, especially Aidan, in full flight. 
It's probably worth recounting at this point a trip to Discovery Zone in 1996, while still residing in Denver. He climbed, crawled and ran ... fast ... in no particular order. A few hours later he was staggering about, barely able to stand, but still enthused enough to keep playing. Fatigue ? What's that ? Something for other kids.
The cancer, chemo and surgery have taken their toll on his little body, but his spirit still manages to soar when the wind is just right.
We returned home with three hot little boys. 
- Dad

15 September 2002
Liam was miserably hot in the morning and found himself at the doctor's for a once over and prescription for anti-biotics. During his absence Aidan grew more tired and returned to bed by about 11 am. When Trish returned at noon, he was pushing up Zeds.
He surfaced shortly thereafter, but was still hot and soon found himself back at hospital for another check up and yet another dose of anti-biotics.
Yes, these are the biotic kids.
During our absence, Liam's temperature rocketed to 41.5 degrees Celcius and he came "this" close to convulsing. Muscles don't like that much heat. Fortunately, his temperature stabilised and slid back down. Close, but no cigar. December 2001 doesn't seem that far gone, when he managed an ambulance escort to hospital for a few days layover.
O' for a normal day.
- Dad

20 September 2002
Aidan and Caitlin's school, Walliston Primary, hosted their annual sports carnival. The action was on for young and old. Aidan was too weary to compete, but managed to cheer on Owen, his house faction. Caitlin (also in Owen) pulled up second place in her bean bag race, while Trish stole first place in the mother/children race, with I might add, Liam and Evan attached to her torso. Where Mum goes, boys will follow.
Aidan was hot again come evening. A chat with the resident doctor staved off a trip until the next morning.
- Dad
 

21 September 2002
The hospital beckoned ...
The blood sample(s) revealed that Aidan's haemoglobin (red cell) count was way down, as was the neutrophil (white cell) count. He returned home sporting a drip and splint bandaged to his arm. Very fetching.
Will watch and see what the morrow bringeth.
- Dad

23 September 2002
Aidan had donned his school uniform and had assumed the lotus position before the TV to take in a bit of Bob The Builder and assorted cartoons before school. 
One small problem ... hospital first.
Trish and Aidan returned to school just before closing time. That didn't stop Aidan catching up with his teacher and chums. Hospital it awkward, don't ya know ? It gets in the way of playtime.
The blood results were none too good. Red and white cells were way down, putting him just north of the border for a platelet transfusion. We'll wait and see, see, see. 
Chemo has been cancelled for now.
- Dad

26 September 2002
Despite an ever fluctuating temperature and a predisposition to fall asleep just before or after dinner, the young man has done rather well this week. Preparations are well under way for school assembly tomorrow at which Aidan will not only address the school, but also undertake a karaoke version of Neil Diamond's "I'm a believer", as it appeared in the film Shrek. What's more ... Aidan will be appearing as Shrek. A must see event. Go the greens.
- Dad

27 September 2002
The fairy tale creatures came out to sing "I'm a Believer" at the school assembly. It was quite the rumpus. Aidan was gloriously green as Shrek. Can you tell the difference ?
Mr. Levy kindly scanned Aidan's school photo book that was presented during opening night. You can see it here.
School is now officially "out" for the next 2 weeks.
- Dad
 

Shrek ... portraying himself.	Shrek ... portrayed by Aidan.
Aidan reading the school creed.	Aidan and friends rocking the assembly.

28 September 2002
Aidan and Caitlin beseeched me mid-morning for a trip to the movies. So, it came to pass that we ventured back to New York (where else?) to hang out with Stuart of the Littles. Mirth. 
Stuart was dwarfed (IMHO) by the preview featurette The Chubb Chubbs, in which good triumps over evil (again) and Darth Vader and Yoda make a cameo appearance arm-wrestling in a bar. A must see.
We returned home with a tuckered little man.
Make that hot and tuckered and on his way to hospital.
- Dad
 

Stuart.  Click to enlarge.

The Chubb Chubbs facing Glorf. Click to enlarge.

29 September 2002
Trish and Aidan returned home before noon. The resident doctor could find no reason to detain our little man any further, despite him feeling under the weather.
- Dad

30 September 2002
Aidan's temp was back up. When he joined us in the early hours he was over 40 degrees Celcius, but we managed to bring it down with some paracetamol. Unfortunately, the temp remained high and in conjunction with sore ears and throat the resident doctor found a reason for an intership.
Caitlin (understandably) is none too keen on her mother and brother disappearing, so with (assumedly) a brilliant tactic on her part, she collected a bunch of colourful flowers from the garden and asked if she could take them to "mummy". Opa kindly escorted us on this occassion. Nobody ever claimed Caitlin was silly.
- Dad

Last updated: 12-Jul-2003