Day 26- THANK YOU

Tomorrow morning we'll get up extra early to pack the car and head to what we are told is an 'extra long day of treatment.' It's chemo treatment #2, and armed with our new treatment plan, we are hoping it's our last chemo round.

The last few days of being home have been incredibly challenging as we are adjusting to nights with even more interruptions than before, and days that revolve around a schedule of giving medications, flushing lines, taking temperatures, nursing, giving feeding tube doses... and then repeating it all over again. Our kitchen has tupperware containers lined up with medicines, syringes, gloves, masks, stethoscopes... all sorts of things that I'm incredibly uncomfortable seeing and operating. As someone who absolutely cannot stand a needle, and avoids the pharmacy at all costs, this is uncharted scary land.

What has made these days easier is first of all our awesome two older boys. If Red so much as wiggles a toe they are both there in an instant, shouting 'MOMMY I CHECK ON BABY WEDDEN!!!!!' They are doing great at remembering to wash hands frequently, and most of the time there are even smiles on their faces. Brian and I are maintaining our sanity both as individuals and as a team. Our family unit feels strong and intact, just pushed and challenged right now. Stretched to the limits, but still hanging on.

The other thing that's made our days much easier is YOU. All of you amazing people that sent packages full of distractions to my kids. That wrote us notes, cards, emails, comments, texts, messages. That sent us items to distract us, to encourage us, to make us laugh. That have helped us financially with all the big stacks of bills that are rapidly piling up. That bring dinner to us and understand that we can't invite you in to thank you. That have worked on the neverending list of to-dos on our home renovation projects. That have come and cleaned our house and never once made us feel bad for the chaos inside our walls. That have scheduled playdates and loved on our kids. That have taken care of our pets in our absence. That have worn RED. That have purchased our Superheroes Wear Red shirts. That think of us, pray for us, and cry for us and with us through good moments and bad. That smile at us when we see you, and ask how we're doing. That take time out of your day to read this blog and keep up with Red's journey.

From the bottom of our unshowered, tired, and pajama-clad hearts, thank you. It's been truly incredible to see people that know us from the various stages of our lives, strangers that we'll never met, and people all over the world united together by kindness and compassion towards our little superhero. Working together to show him LOVE. It's overwhelming and completely humbling to feel it, and has left us in tears many times by the beauty of what we see being showered on us. It makes all the times that are exceptionally hard a little easier. A little more manageable. A little less lonely.

I've been especially touched by the drawings and cards we've received from children. With drawings of superheroes and notes telling him to fight and feel better. The pictures of them wearing something super, with a note from the parents saying the child prays for him every night. There's something really incredible about their little spirits and how they've connected with him and are fighting along with him. 

If we haven't been able to thank you personally yet, please know how grateful we are. Please know we want to give you a giant smelly hug and tell you from the bottom of our soul that we're grateful. There are so many items that have made it to us without a name attached, and many that had a small pair of hands destroying the outer package before I was able to find the 'from' on the label. And even if we are finally able to say a thank you to each person I know that somewhere along the way we'll miss someone. So please, please know that every thing you sent, everything you did, every time you thought of us, we felt it. Your tangible and intangible love carried us even when we didn't know how to carry ourselves.

Your kindness to our family has meant everything. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU.