Well, it has been an emotional day around our house this snowy Saturday. We woke this morning to the realization that Elliot's hair has begun to fall out. :( Even though we were almost positive that this was going to happen, it still tugged at our hearts in a way we didn't expect. You see, up until now, it has been easy to forget about our circumstances. To the naked eye, Elliot has seemed like the same little 2-year-old as always...a wild, sweet, rambunctious, inquisitive, snuggly, happy, bright little boy. We know that while most of these things won't change, as of tomorrow we will have the physical reminder of his cancer. This makes mommy and daddy feel sad. We plan to have a "hair-cutting-party" with Elliot's almost 2-year-old cousin, Arie, tomorrow. My brother, TJ, and his wife, Jodi, decided in the very beginning that they would buzz Arie's head alongside Elliot when and if the time came. Well, the time is here, and my brother and his family are making a last-minute trip from Des Moines so that we can go through this process together. I couldn't ask for a better brother and sister-in-law. He was my best friend through all of my growing-up-years, and he and his family continue to stand along side us through every step of this journey! I'll be sure to attach some adorable pictures next week of Elliot's handsome, buzzed head!
We have also noticed an increasing tiredness in Elliot's legs. By the end of each day, he struggles to be as active as usual. Tonight, his legs appeared to be more stiff, and he has been wanting me to carry him everywhere. So...I do! :)
Please keep both of these challenging hurdles in your prayers...emotional strength for mommy and daddy, and physical strength for Elliot's legs!
Our appointments this week were on Thursday due to scheduling issues with the surgeon. It was a LONG day. From the time we pulled out of the driveway on Thursday to the time we returned back home, 13 hours had passed. Needless to say, we were exhausted. Apparently, I was a bit crabby according to my husband :) Thankfully, Dan's parents were able to be here with Julia that day. What a blessing!
The first appointment was his CT scan. We assumed that they would give Elliot some type of gas to help him relax and lay still during the scan. Much to our surprise, that was not the plan. Nonetheless, the little champ pulled through with a scan...minimal tears, a still body, and proud parents are some ways to describe the moment. We were in shock. Elliot is not known for his ability to lay still and cooperate in seemingly scary situations, but he amazed us all during the scan. The nurses and staff did a great job preparing him for the scan and were clearly very amazed themselves by his performance.
Though the results didn't turn out exactly as I had prayed for, we still received great news. First of all, his tumor is SHRINKING! Unfortunately, it's not small enough to remove sooner than we expected, but it IS getting smaller and appears to be on schedule to remove after another six weeks of chemo. You see, I was hoping and praying for a tiny little tumor that could be removed perhaps the next day! :) I even packed an overnight bag in case that was the situation. I know my hopes were high, but I was not let down. My other prayers were answered: there appears to be no more bleeding; the blood spillage that was there initially seems to be reabsorbing, which is good; and there weren't any other abnormalities in the scan (nothing in the lungs, which was a concern since they couldn't see the lungs in their entirety from the first scan). So, in the end, we are so grateful for the results. Nothing wrong with hoping and praying for small miracles here and there, even if they don't happen, right?
The rest of our day was fantastic. Thanks to so many of you who have sent gift cards for restaurants, we were able to spend some downtime together over a nice lunch and dinner without spending a ton of money. Also, thanks to the many gas cards you all have provided, we have been able to fill up our gas tank time and time again without gouging into our own funds. THANK YOU!
To those of you who have sent cards, gifts, money, and so much more but have not yet heard from us, please know how much you have lifted our spirits day-in and day-out. It seems that every trip to the mailbox turns into feelings of joy and love, and sometimes tears of gratitude. For those who have been anonymously helping us in different ways, THANK YOU! We may NEVER thank you face-to-face, but your love and thoughtfulness has helped get us through this journey with a positive outlook.
Finally, please keep praying! As I mentioned earlier, pray for emotional strength for Dan and I, for physical strength for Elliot, for peace and understanding for Julia, for continued shrinking of the tumor, for no spreading of tumor cells, and finally, for God's peace to continue filling our home!
Passing time as we wait for the scan
Elliot insists on wearing these gloves when the nurses wear them
Crabby and tired :) (Elliot, not daddy)
Practicing some "skipping"...we have a long ways to go!
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