Good Morning

It's 6:15 on Friday morning and I just fed our baby boy. He fell asleep in my arms while the bottle was still in his mouth, so I was able to gently put him back into his hospital crib. And of course, in true Ethan fashion, as soon as I get back to my little bed to rest my head... he wakes up.... and cries. He's laying on me now and just fell back asleep. What a sweet thing. And he is certainly entitled to cry. I think if I were him and had to endure all the junk he has to go through, I'd cry all day long. But our sweet boy doesn't. He's such a strong little man (did I tell you that the name "Ethan" actually means "strong"!). He only cries when he's hungry, or there's a pain from his mouth or his bottom - due to the sores. But we find him so many times smiling during the day (mostly at all the cute nurses... no, I'm not kidding... he's known at the 8th floor flirt!). He's just so precious. To look at him, you'd never know he was so critically ill. That brings a smile to MY face, because he still looks just like he always has. But the reality is, he is critically ill and we are still earnestly praying for the Lord's intervention.

As for his surgery last night, thank you so much for your prayers. They were able to put in the dual central line, which will make his chemotherapy and blood transfusions much easier. I am so thankful for that. His eyes also look a lot better. Still red and lightly puffy, but so much better!His spleen has decreased slightly in size, which is a great thing! Removing his spleen may have to be an option down the road... but the more it shrinks, the more he's out of the risk of it rupturing now.

We will get through this one answered prayer at a time.

And finally, we've been told that we are still waiting for a clinic specialist out of state to finish his/her review of Ethan's blood and bone marrow tests. They are not going to move forward with a permanent treatment for our baby until they get these results back. Adam and I were under the impression we would have heard something by now, but the doc just came in as I was typing this, to let me know that they still haven't heard anything and they aren't sure when they will. Please pray that the expert opinion will come back very soon.... within the next few days! So that we can start treating Ethan's disease, and not just try to keep him "stable". They are not going to do any chemo again until they have this particular specialist's diagnosis, unless Ethan were to fall into a danger zone while waiting.

Naturally, we're just really wanting to know all the details that are involved with Ethan's disease and what our next several months of treatment are going to look like. The sooner they know, the sooner they can start treating him. Please pray that the results the doctors here are waiting for, come back in the next couple of days.

Your caring concern is so precious to me and Adam. I save every single email I get on behalf of Ethan and I will one day share each one with him.

My sweet Ethan... one day you will know how special you are to so many people, and how God has chosen you for a great purpose. I am honored to be your mommy.