Almost Saturday night...

Hi everyone,


Levi and I had a good day. Actually, like I wondered in my post last night, he did perk up later in the evening, and we spent some time talking and reading books, and even video-chatted with the Whitesell gang down at my parents' house. It was cute to see him light up when he talked to Caylee and his cousin Xavier. He was awake and alert for most of the day today - I think it may be partly due to the doctor decreasing his morphine and partly because he just feels better. We had another video chat this morning, read some books, watched videos on the computer, and played with his play laptop. The doctor also wants him to get on his feet and start building his leg muscles back up, but I think that may take awhile. He hasn't really been on his feet much, let alone walked, for the past couple months, and has lost quite a bit of muscle mass. He'll get there, though, and we brought a bouncy seat into the room to see if that will help.


It really was a good day. Not only did he officially finish his first round of chemo at 4am this morning, but it was good for him to be so active and playful, and good for daddy to be able to hang out one-on-one with my little guy. Don't get me wrong, though, we both missed mommy and Caylee. It sounds like they had a pretty good time making flower arrangements and dress shopping with my sister and the bridal party; I can't wait to see my little Caylee Grace dressed up in her big poofy princess dress for the wedding.

Levi and I enjoyed a very nice surprise visit from the Albertsons - it was great to talk with them; the encouragement we get from our brothers and sisters in Christ is invaluable. We had a lazy afternoon, and my goal tonight is to get Levi to eat something. They also decreased his TPN (nutrition) today, so hopefully that will spark his appetite a little. Steph will be arriving here at the hospital in a little while, so I am looking forward to spending the evening with her.

Levi and I read quite a few Psalms earlier today (really I was reading, he mainly just wanted to turn pages). I have so many of them highlighted, but two passages stuck out again today. I know I have referenced them before, but they are worth referencing again.

Psalm 34:17-22
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.


Psalm 86:6-7

6 Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.

The thing that sticks out is that we are not promised a life without trouble; we are, though, promised that God will hear us when we cry out to Him in our times of trouble. I am thankful that this is true, and am taking comfort in the fact that He is true to His word.

I wish you all a blessed weekend; enjoy the summer sunshine, and love on your families!
Michael, Stephanie, Caylee, and little Levi