Small Joys

Thank you for praying about Ethan's "medicine issue". Last night ended up being a successful night of medication. I say, "ended up being", because at first it was a mess.... literally. We tried the syringe thing again (which was the first way we tried to give him the medication on the first night). I have never seen him shoot/spit anything out of his mouth so fast! All of the medicine ended up all over his shirt. We had to call the pharmacy to get another syringe of medicine and try again. The chief nurse then came in and (after adding cherry syrup) gave it to my boy quite easily. She gave him a little at a time, and between her breaks I gave him a bottle nipple full of sugar water. It all worked beautifully. Not one single tear, not one single peep! We were all a lot more relaxed after that. Let's hope the next 7 nights go as smoothly.

Today is going to be a fun day for mommy and son... well, probably more so for mommy. Being at a children's hospital, they have a lot of interactive activities, toys, entertainment for kids who have to stay here. Well, obviously Ethan is a bit too young for basically all of those things... but I was told about some fun things that I can do with Ethan that are actually really special. Today one of the ladies from the Creative Child Dept. (here at the hospital) will be bring some special type of clay so that we can take a mold of Ethan's feet. How cute is that! I'm not quite sure what he will think of it, but I know I will love it!


You don't consider it "normal" (by way of understanding or comprehension) that you child has a life-threatening cancer, but I am so thankful at how "normal" Ethan is in every other way. His personality still shines, his smiles and sounds are absolutely precious, he loves to look at the mobile on his crib and crack himself up, he still eats well with a bottle (and has a healthy appetite!), still likes to be rocked and cuddled, is still meeting all of his other developmental goals for his age, and still likes to cry mad tears when he wants your attention/to burp/to eat.... this disease has not robbed us of continually enjoying our sweet little boy, and has not robbed him of just being himself.

What a special blessing that is... every day.

"He is able for the hardest occasions. He loves the hour of extremity. It is His chosen time of Almighty interposition" (excerpt from Springs in the Valley).