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Today was a great day!

I could just leave it at that but I won't, sweet reader.

Ethan and I had our routinely Monday morning trip to Boston for his outpatient visit. This was going to be an interesting visit because last Thursday they held off giving him a blood transfusion because of certain indicators that implied he might start developing red cells on his own. Therefore, they didn't want to give him blood until they tested their theory for a few days. Well, two things happened when they his blood results came back, that have never happened since we were admitted to Boston for Ethan's transplant back in early August.

Drum Roll, please....

No, seriously, this deserves you tapping your hands on your desk or table right this minute.

Are people looking at you yet? Wondering what you're doing? If you're alone, are you looking at yourself, wondering what you're doing??

Good! Because then you can tell those staring at you AND tell yourself that you are about to witness even more proof of a magnificent miracle that has taken place in a little baby boy's life. Side note, feel free to insert the words "cute" or "most adorable" or "baby model material" in your description, if you so desire.

Okay, okay... I'll tell you now. Like I said, this has never happened in Ethan's body since his transplant. Actually, it's never happened on his own since his diagnosis of cancer back in April, without the help of medications promoting/helping. The first blessing is that his platelet count did not drop in number - it in fact stayed the exact same as it was last Thursday. And don't be tempted to think that is not worth your drum roll, because this is huge (I'll explain in a sec)! And the second blessing is that his red cell count went UP slightly in number - also a very huge deal! See, these two indicators mean that Ethan's body is starting to create platelets and red cells on its own. His marrow is working! Did you read that? His marrow is working!! His bone marrow was at one time, only a few months ago, killing his body. Physically killing his body. And now, his bone marrow is working hard to create all that was lost, and it's doing so on its own. This is simply more tangible proof that God is who He says He is. More tangible proof that our faith should not stand in the facts or even in the most professional of opinions, but only and fully in the power of God.

And trust me, that's worth a drum roll!

You want to do it again don't you?

Heck, you could even stand up and give a standing ovation to the wonder of God's handiwork! Go ahead.... I dare ya. I double-dog dare ya! Why? Because taking a stand for the cause of Christ is the best move you can make. I assure you of this.

Ethan's cancer is in remission. The transplant is considered a success. And I'm excited to see, in the years to come, the rest of the miracle that will come to fruition.

Rest of the miracle?

Yes!

We received a laundry list of long-term side effects and limitations to expect from various areas of Ethan's life as a result of the intense treatments he received before and during his transplant. Cataracts, infertility, significant decrease in his overall height, graft-versus-host-disease, delayed development, and the list goes on. And I sit here tonight, believing and knowing God's miracle is not limited to any one thing or area, because God is not limited by any one thing or area... and I look forward to this gift from Him, that will keep on giving in the years - many years - to come. I look forward to checking off next each area of the list of "limitations" that we've been told to expect, the word MIRACLE. MIRACLE. MIRACLE.

I've witnessed answered prayers many times in my life. And I am soooo thankful for those times. But I have never witnessed a miracle. I've read about them in the Bible. Believed that God was/is always capable of doing the impossible. But, I've never seen with my own eyes, God's power in the form of a miracle.... until I met my son.

And now you have, too.

Is "miracle" too strong of a word? No. Absolutely not. All you have to do is look back in my previous posts from Ethan's initial diagnosis, or 'google' the type of leukemia he had (JMML), and you'll see... the odds were stacked against him from the beginning. Kids do not often survive this rare form of cancer. In fact, it's so rare, that the treatment plan is often a sort of trial and error. Ethan was never expected to do well. And the treatment and transplant was expected to be very difficult for him. But it wasn't. And he has done VERY well! Oh goodness, now I'm crying again.... but you just take my word for it..... this was certainly a miracle. And it's a miracle and gift that will keep on giving in the weeks, months and years to come.

Thank you for praying. You have been here waiting, watching and believing right along with us. I owe you so much. I love you so much.

One last thing before I call it a night...

When we were discharged from the hospital a couple of weeks ago, we were given a set of guidelines from a nutritionist and a physical therapist in which we needed to be working towards with Ethan. Well, since we are constantly shoving a syringe of medicine in his little mouth 9 times a day, he has developed an oral aversion to taking a spoon/jar baby food. If it ain't a bottle, he wants nothin' of it. However, introducing jar foods and other finger foods is necessary for his development, etc. Also, Ethan isn't sitting up by himself. Not a huge problem, but again, an area that we have to work at. Hitting these milestones with his food and physical activity is important to illustrate and help us gauge different things. So... if you could be in prayer for these two areas specifically, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm having fun "practicing" with him, however, I would like to see some progress being made. Rest assured there will be more areas of development that I will need your help in praying for down the road, but right now, these are the focus.

Thanks a bunch.... for everything!

Isaiah 26:4 - Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: