Today Oliver received methotrexate via spinal tap, vincristine chemo via his port and his first IV IG transfusion.  He was premedicated with hydrocortisone (as is standard procedure as he had allergic reaction to his first transfusion of blood product).  All went well, no reactions and he recovered quickly from the spinal. 

Unfortunately, Oliver's ANC counts dropped to 320 rendering him severly neutropenic and on isolation restriction, so no tae kwon do this week :)  We also will again hold all of his at home chemo pills (methotrexate and mercapurine).  Oliver will return to the clinic this Friday to get his counts checked again and see if he can attend his first week of kindergarten (starts Monday August 23rd).  We hope the low counts are due to the low IGG and the transfusion boosts the ANC.  He is also on dexamethasone (steroids) this week, so those should also help to boost his counts. 

Kind of nervous about him starting school when his counts have been so low - so we are really going to need to see a high ANC level this Friday.  So far, long term maintenance has not been all it is was promised, but from what we understand for some children it can take time - up to the first year of maintenance.  Oliver was so great when having his port accessed today - he helped the nurses fill the test tubes with blood and removed his own bandage when we left today - leaps and bounds from where we were months ago.  Also, sibling rivalry apparently starts early - baby sister wants to play with everything but her own toys - Oliver affectionately and sometimes not so affectionately refers to her as "nit wit".  While the clinic days are long, Oliver is typically back to himself before we even leave the hospital.  Will keep everyone posted when we learn Friday's counts.