Preparations for Round IV...

Hi everyone,

Time to give you all an update on our family time here at home. As I’ve written about these little respites before, we are loving it. Levi and Caylee are all over the place, spending their time together running breathlessly throughout the house, hanging out in their tent fort in Caylee’s room, and arguing over every toy in sight. Our children are making up for lost time and are wearing us out; but we love it. Levi is eating well, sleeping well (for the most part), and loves being home in his own domain.

The home healthcare nurse came out yesterday to draw Levi’s labs. We got a call from the doctor’s office after lunch, and all of his counts are looking good. His ANC is up over 1000, so we can breathe a little easier about having him play in the yard or head out on our trips escaping from the house. He has enjoyed hanging out with mommy in the mornings carting Caylee back and forth to preschool, small trips to the fabric store for supplies to fuel Steph’s craft project fury, playing outside on the swingset in the evenings, and gorging on popcorn while watching VeggieTales at night. We’ve been blessed the past two weeks with incredible weather; it’s hard to believe it’s in the mid-seventies and sunny in October, but we’ll take it!

Since all his labs came back looking good, it sounds like everything’s a go for this Friday. I am going to take the day off work to head down to the hospital to move him and Steph back into their apartment. It will be hard to take him back and hook him up, but we have to keep telling ourselves that we are over halfway now, and the finish line continues to creep closer on the horizon. It seems much easier to take a child to the hospital that is feeling bad and acting sick then it is to take your little one in when he’s feeling great and acting normal. But, we know it is all part of a proven protocol, so we’ll keep our eyes on the prize and press on.

Please keep us in your prayers. We believe that God is in control and that He continues to walk with Levi and our family through all of this, but your prayers firm up this belief and strengthen our resolve. Levi’s next round of chemo will be shorter, but it will also include some very high doses of medicine as well as a new medicine that he hasn’t had yet. Along with these changes come some unknowns, and with the unknowns come those familiar enemies - worry and doubt. But our weapon is prayer, our shield is faith, and our confidence is in the One who continues to answer our prayers for our little one.

In closing, I wanted to share a poem I wrote about prayer. Again, I am not a poet by a long shot, but it was just a way for me to put into words what we feel as parents who continue to pour our hearts out to God.

Whispered Prayers

Whispered prayers are often the loudest
Because whispered prayers are never uttered alone
Only with your eyes closed tightly
Are the true visions of your guardian shown

Whispered prayers are often most desperate
Because whispered prayers are screamed from the ledge
Not knowing if one step forward or backwards
Will save you or plummet you over the edge

Whispered prayers are often revealing
Because whispered prayers are always sincere
Praying for only that which matters
Words offered silently where no one can hear

Whispered prayers are a parent's weapon
Because whispered prayers are always kept near
Transformed by each prayer into a soldier
Diligently fighting the things that they fear

Whispered prayers are a fragrant offering
Because whispered prayers come from the soul
A sacrifice placed delicately upon the altar
A plea for shattered pieces to be made whole

Whispered prayers are always answered
Because whispered prayers come with a promise
Desperate cries for help will be heard
And the chaos of life will dissolve into focus

We love you all,
Michael, Stephanie, Caylee, and little Levi