Well, we dragged our feet leaving the apartment this morning but eventually got ourselves to the hospital.  We walked in together feeling sadness and hopefulness all at the same time.  After we checked in, the attending physician checked Jacob out and put some of our concerns (nasal congestion, bleeding at the central line site etc.) to rest.  She was anxious to get rolling.  Shortly after 9:00 a.m., Jacob took his first dose of chemotherapy like a champ.  He was awesome about it and the nurses were all very impressed.  This was a real answer to prayer so many thanks to those of you who lifted him up today.

The chemo is so strong that we have to wear gloves to change his diapers.  They've also added anti-seizure meds, anti-nausea meds, anti-gallbladder problem meds, another antibiotic, and another mouth rinse to his already lengthy repertoire of daily pharmacy products.  One thing that we really appreciate about Cincinnati Children's is their proactive approach:  their philosophy is all about preventing problems before they surface.  Still, everyone has told us in one way or another that nobody gets an easy ride through BMT.

One of the things our afternoon nurse said really made sense.  We know that things are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better.  When he starts to get the sores and his counts start to move, she said rather than thinking that Jacob is so sickly and that his organs are really taking a hit, think instead that his body is working very hard, fighting very bravely to become completely healthy.  This was a good word.  So much of this will be about keeping perspective.

There should be no side effects for several days – we’re looking forward to a quiet weekend getting used to hospital life in Room 21.  Today Jacob had school time, craft time, surprise time, reading time, video time, snack time, therapy time, play time, etc.  Jodi has done an excellent job of putting together a schedule for his day so that there’s a sense of rhythm to his life here.  Everyone we’ve talked to has said that establishing this routine is the most important thing to do right from the start.

Justice and Aunt Rebecca had a good day together too.  This evening Jodi joined the two of them for a downtown fireworks display that evidently both thrilled and scared Justice.

So it’s a little strange.  Last night I was so emotional that Jodi had to take over for me during bedtime prayers.  Tonight, it’s begun.  Jacob slumbers a few feet away while piano music plays softly.  I’m getting ready to stretch out too.  It’s actually kind of nice.  Today was a good strong start from the gate.

One more thing:  Jodi has wanted me to write something about Jacob’s middle name for a long while now.  Tonight seems like the right time.  Treebeard is my favorite character in all of literature.  He’s the leader of tree-folk called Ents in the J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.  I started looking for passage or a quote about Treebeard that would fit, and I found one that seems like it was written just for Jacob.  At this point in the book’s story, Treebeard is rapidly approaching a war - the battle of his life:

Treebeard marched on, singing with the others for a while.  But after a time his voice died to a murmur and fell silent again.  Pippin could see that his old brow was wrinkled and knotted.  At last he looked up, and Pippin could see a sad look in his eyes, sad but not unhappy.  There was a light in them, as if the green flame had sunk deeper into the dark wells of his thoughts. 

“Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,” he said slowly, “likely enough that we are going to our doom:  the last march of the Ents.  But if we stayed at home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later.  That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now.  It was not a hasty resolve.  Now at least the last march of the Ents may be worth a song.”

These are sober words, but when he reaches the battlefield Treebeard fights with courage, hope, strength, and grace.  And for those who don’t know the story, the “last march of the Ents” ends in a stunning and overwhelming victory.  Having saved himself and all that he loves, Treebeard goes home.

Jacob Treebeard Brown – it’s a good name for our boy.