Right on track and speeding forward.....

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We left for Denver yesterday....all of us.
The big boys are on spring break, and the rest of us five feel grateful for the added company.....


always a good view from the passenger seat when this is your driver :)
Sitting in the passenger seat felt better than I can describe.....
its been a while since I have been in that position......
Its been a long time since my eyes could search the horizon.....noticing the small things along the route.......having both hands free to soothe a baby, hand a snack......relax....

We took our time.....
big time.
Added a couple hours onto the already long ride,
making stops and disregarding the hustle........

In the hospital today,
we waited for the slow flow of the immune boosting drug to complete its journey.....through the long tubing and into Parklen's chest port....
a long hospital day.
We spoke with nurses and doctors....
catching up on the people we've missed.


Exam looked good,
Labs looked even better.
Numbers that need to be are on the rise.....
counts are good.
Doctor is pleased.

and so,
as has been the pattern during this entire process,
Parklen is exceeding expectations.

There were a couple down falls during his visit today.....
nothing big.....
a mishap with his central line....
and some trouble with his physical therapy,
but overall things were good.

Our clinic visits had been planned for every two weeks.....
We were told to expect that for months to come.

but today as the doctor completed his exam,
after reviewing his blood results,
upon wrapping up with his concerns.....
he posed an option......
Come in two weeks or come in four......
"Your son is doing great, I am pleased......I am comfortable waiting a month to see him if you are comfortable with that......  I trust you and your judgment to decide if he will need to come sooner."

The decision seems clear....
especially if you are on the outside looking in.
Of course we would choose to wait a month.....no thinking it over required.....
no brainer, right?
Wrong.

Do you know what it feels like to carry the weight of responsibility for a sick child?  It is like nothing else on earth.....  The load is heavy.......
Knowing deep down that any consequences of this decision would fall upon your shoulders....my shoulders.
Weighing the observations that I have made of Parklen....weighing the gut instincts.....
knowing all too well the risks and the benefits......

So,
allowing the happiness to seep through the cracks of the worry....
Letting the pure thankfulness of things gone right, trample over the the what ifs......
We choose to smile....

Parklen's next appointment is in April.
not in two weeks.....
not even in three....
but in four weeks,
one month....
thirty days.
Something we were prepared to happen sometime this summer.....
and yet,

His progress continues to surprise even the deepest of skeptics.
His speed of recovery refuses to slow itself.

Parklen's future is unknown.....
there is no data to say if his disease is gone for good....
we just know that it is gone now.
There isn't a case to compare his to....
He is in remission.
and he feels good.
There is still chances of his body fighting the bone marrow cells.....
graft versus host disease is still a possibility.
There is still months upon years worth of careful living....
isolation.
but each and every day that passes puts us one step closer to where we need to be.
and thank God for that.

We had some good visits with our Brent's Place friends this afternoon.....Phinlynn showed off her walking skills and the boys filled their time with much needed rough housing and giggles.....even soaking in some sun on the safe clean playground......have I mentioned how much I love these people? Really they are all amazing......

Back home we go in the morning.....
and we are going to enjoy this week together......
Devan's school is out of control busy.....and we miss him.  Having a few days of break will be good for us all......especially with the knowledge that Parklen is right on track....and speeding forward!!!

Here's to time together.....
time well spent.




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