Finding our New Normal

Finding Our New Normal

I realize it's been a while since the last post. We are well into the routine of school for the boys, and all of the activities that go along with that. Chloe is a champ at clinic visits. Since our last post, she has endured 5 spinal taps, weekly port flushings and labs, as well as chemos too numerous to count. She doesn't even cry when she sits in the chair for treatment, she simply lets the nurse know that she likes to count to 3 before they do the "poke", and she wants to place the syringe of blood into the tube to send off to the lab. She's informed us that the clinics treasure chest of prizes needs a few more things for "big girls", we'll see what we can do to remedy that situation.

Grace School has been such a gift to our family. The love and support we have received is humbling and so appreciated. Chloe would have been in Mrs. Johnson's kindergarten class this year, along with 11 girls and no boys! The doctors say she may be able to go back to school in the Spring, but until that time, Mrs. Johnson has provided us with curriculum AND her class calls to Facetime 3 days a week during circle time! She hears a story, sings the Days of the Week song, recites the Pledge, joins in prayer, and hears any exciting news going on in the classroom. She looks forward to those calls!

This latest phase of treatment calls for increased chemo with each clinic, and clinic is every 10 days. The treatment on Thursday included a lumbar puncture with 1 chemo, and 2 other chemo's through her port. It wiped our girl out. She was pretty sick for 24 hours until we saw our little warrior begin to surface. Not much of an appetite yet, and not a lot of strength, but her smile is back and she's on the mend. 

Our new normal is anything but normal, but there's laughter in every day. God's grace and mercy are new every morning and we are sustained. 

We have friends, family and even some people that have never met us - that care, pray, contribute & feed. We are overwhelmed by all the love and support and we don't have the words to express our sincere appreciation. 

Albert Einstein once said "Play is the highest form of research" -
Maybe this team will find the cure!