Bowled Over!

Once again today I was completely in awe of the generosity of my community. Our 2nd bowl a thon was held, this time in my hometown. Words will never be enough to thank my friends from Jackson school for their hard work in putting together yet another wonderful event. I stand in amazement at the way God is providing for our every need...

I wanted to share a picture of Brady minus hair! I have to say, he has still maintained his handsome charm:) He continues to be nauseous in the morning, but after his dose of Zofran, it seems to improve. He is certainly moody lately, but we just keep loving him the best we can. No other big news today. I did want to share a bible verse that we have kind of "claimed" to represent Brady and his journey:

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Each step of this journey is a walk of faith. We had no way of seeing this coming in our lives and we have no way to predict what will happen next. We are praying continually that each day will draw us closer to Jesus, each day will bring less reliance on what we think should happen, and more faith in what God wants to happen.

Quiet Time

I think I finally fixed the time/date setting for my posts. It is about 2:30 and Brady is napping in his "crib" next to me. Matt, Brady, and I had lunch together when I arrived, and now Matt is heading home. Those of you who know me, know that I struggle with lonliness from time to time. I just can't wait to have us all under one roof again tomorrow night!!!

Brady has been the most precious boy these last few days. As the steroids wear off, he continues to become more and more like himself. He is giggling, finding ways to be silly, and initiated play (these are things we haven't seen much of since his spine sugery). The plan is to do chemo again later this afternoon (I think) and then discharge tomorrow later in the day after his shot. We are still finalizing plans for the home health nurse and getting the meds and supplies we will need.

As far as how he is feeling, he seems to be great! He is kind of on a normal sleep schedule, just getting to bed later and getting up later. Matt said he slept until 8:45 this morning (only becuase Matt politely told the med student to "get out" when they came to check Brady out at 6:30 am) Go Daddy! He is taking one afternoon nap which is just like at home. He still wants to eat all the time. I have noticed him kind of gagging throughout the day, not sure if he is feeling nauseous, but he sure isn't acting like it. He continues to get Zofran around the clock.

I'm so thankful for these good days. I know it is going to get difficult when his blood counts start dropping, but I just pray for some of these beautiful, good days. I'm eating up his smiles, sweet voice, giggles, requests for cookies, and his gentle spirit. God has truly blessed us with this amazing boy...

Sorry for the Delay

I know it has been a while since my last post. Our new system of splitting time at the hospital has us busier than ever. Matt came home yesterday evening and spent the night and then spent time with the kids in the morning. He arrived at Strong around lunch time so he, Brady, and I could spend an hour or so together. Then I left to come home. This plan gives Eli, Cara, and Allie some time with each of us too. From their perspective half of their family just up and left!! As much as they LOVE our parents, they were starting to act pretty clingy and needed some mommy and daddy snuggles. Unfortunately that means a lot of alone time at the hospital for Matt and I. It's great spending the time 1:1 with Brady, but during those long nights, it is tough to be alone. The quarrintine continues for our unit, so visitors are still not allowed:(

Just to catch everyone up on the day's events: Brady slept wonderfully last night. He truly slept throughout all of chemo. The next morning he woke up quite happy and HUNGRY! He ate a big breakfast and he and I took a ride around the unit is "his car." When we got back to the room all of a sudden he threw up. It was very sudden, and not all that eventful. He just did it and that was it. Ten minutes later he was hungry again. Come to find out, the oncologist's request that the anti nausea med Zofran be given round the clock was somehow translated by some attending to an "as needed" order. How do 21 month olds request anti nausea meds? Well..Brady got the message across in his own sweet way...one throw up and he is now on Zofran around the clock. Matt said he hasn't had another episode yet. He had his second round again tonight, and Matt reports he was already asleep.

We have had some trying times too. Part of caring for the Broviac in his chest involves a daily flush and changing of the dressing a few times a week. Brady IS NOT a fan of either procedure. We also are learning more day by day of what will be involved in his care once he is home (hopefully Saturday night). We will be working with a visiting nurse who will come by several times a week to draw blood, help change dressings, and just keep an eye on him overall. We will learn to do the daily flushes of his port and to give him an injection daily that boosts his white blood cell count. Because chemo suppresses your immune system, it is likely that Brady will have an infection or need a transfusion before his next round of chemo. The nurse today told us to count on a 2 day admission if this happens.

I'm not sure if I have said this enough, but Matt and I are so uplifted by the comments people leave for us. This blog has been such a blessing. Not only is it very theraputic for me to write and reflect on a daily basis, but we need to feel surrounded by the love and support of our friends and family. Even greater than that is the thought that because of Brady's life, we are able to share our faith by telling our day to day story. Through God's amazing plan for him, Brady is touching people in unimaginable ways! So many people comment on our strength...please believe me that I have felt like just laying down and giving up a million times in the last two weeks. I daily say to myself, "How can I watch them operate on him again? How can I bring my sweet boy back to that hospital? How can I sit and watch that poison slowly drip into his body?" I'm constantly bombarded by negative thoughts becuase I'm a scared mom just like anyone else would be. Please believe us when we say, it is God and He alone carrying us through each day!

Okay...off to bed. I have three babes asleep and that is where I need to be. Thank you all again for holding Brady close to your heart in prayer...