Waiting for those results .....

MRI is clear - (just got the word as I was finishing this up) - thank you Jesus ....
Ryan's counts are still very low - we will check again on Wed. - please pray that they come on up so he can go to at least one of his "phase in" days of kindergarten this week - this is where just a few children come and they just get an idea of what a day will be like.

We should find out Ryan's MRI results today .... he did great on Thursday, never complained a single time about not being able to eat - actually enjoyed the idea of jello and popsicles for lunch I think. A sweet friend brought him by a tank of sweet tea - so that helped to keep him happy as well - when it was getting close to his cut off time (no more drink, etc.) - I gave him the warning and he slurped down almost an entire glass of sweet tea - so cute. Those MRI days are just not alot of fun - no matter how you do them. Rob and I always relive every single moment of the day Ryan was diagnosed - we even saw the dr who delivered that awful news to us walking through the cafeteria - you never forget that face. I hate the sound of the MRI machine - it just gives me the creeps and Ryan and his sleepy medicine is just hard - he always does this final yawn/gasp and then he's out .... that last sound he makes just always breaks my heart and I always find myself sorta just in shock that we are really even having to do this. God was faithful to have our favorite nurse there and the sister of a good friend of mine helped with his MRI - that always helps knowing I am leaving him with people who love him and take really good care of him. All of the nurses in the radiology department are really wonderful and always so kind and funny - you need funny when you are dealing with stuff like this. I always find myself wondering why the other children are there having these - always praying that they don't get the kind of news we did.

Waiting all weekend hasn't been all that bad (at least for me) .... my mind has be preoccupied with Ryan starting kindergarten this week (if his counts are up today, he will go tomorrow). I haven't really had the thoughts of, "oh, my baby is going to kindergarten ..." - my thoughts are more, " oh my - my baby who is having chemotherapy is going to be in the midst of every germ known to man ... my baby whose balance is off, my baby whose vision is off, my baby who cannot smile ...... is off to kindergarten ...." - gee, as you can see, I am completely relaxed about this kindergarten thing -ha! Honestly, this has definitely been one of those moments I have felt as if a very special moment in our life has been taken from us ..... before cancer (Rob and I call that BC), I was really excited about Ryan starting school - I new it would be an entirely different experience with him than it has been with Addie. I have loved it with Addie - but I was looking forward to a "different" time with Ryan. Addie comes home and you just don't get much out of her because she just can't verbally communicate all that has happened during her day. Now Ryan, on the other hand, can give you every detail of it all. The positive side of all of this is - that Ryan, my baby who is so very brave and has an undefeatable spirit (because of Jesus) is going to do great in kindergarten - I really believe he will! Please pray specifically that he will continue to have an umbrella of protection covering him and keeping him safe from all the germs and bugs floating around at school, pray for his safety on the playground, etc. (with his balance and vision issues), pray that he will be able to eat okay and not worry that it takes him longer than the other kids-that he will eat well and maintain his calorie intake, pray for very sweet children that will be kind to him, and pray that he will enjoy this time in his life - I really want him to have a great time!! We have a wonderful teacher, Ms. Shannon - we already know that Howard school will go above and beyond in helping this be a great year for Ryan. Ms. Shannon will come to the house on the days he misses to keep him caught up - she volunteered that all on her own!

Addie had a good first week - very tired, and she had a stomach virus already - bless her heart. It is an adjustment for her since she had Ms. Anderson for two years - every morning she has this conversation with herself, "I go see Anderson - no Addie you can't - you go Mrs. Kunce class." She will get used to the change in a few weeks and I know she and Mrs. Kunce are going to do really well - Mrs. Kunce has praise music playing every morning and they sing alot - Addie will be doing just fine!!

We had a good w/end even though Ryan's counts were low and we were stuck at home. Rob had to do patrol (he has to do that once a month) - he was oh so thrilled to put that bullet proof vest on and go out and sweat bullets (literally!!) - I encouraged him by telling him the high was only going to be 98 degrees as opposed to the over 100 degree days we had just recently sweated through :). Actually - we just stay inside - my poor husband has had no AC in his office, so he honest to goodness has been sweating through these days! The kids and I had movie night that night - that is their favorite thing to do I think - it's all about the popcorn and candy I think. We watched Heffalump 0r "luffahump" as Addie calls it - when she tells people she watched that movie - people always get that look of " ... and exactly what movies are you showing in your home ...." Ryan has been giving Addie speech therapy lately - this is what I overheard recently:

Ryan: It's not Donald's Addie - it's McDonald's (emphasis on the Mc!) - now you say it.
Addie: Donald's
Ryan: No Addie (very frustrated) - say it after me, say Mc
Addie: Mc
Ryan: Donald's
Addie: Donald's
Ryan: Okay - now, McDonald's
Addie: Donald's

I just had to laugh - needless to say, Ryan was exasperated and just gave it up!!

Oh well - better get moving - laundry is to the ceiling and Ryan has been calling every 5 seconds (selfishly - I do look forward to a few days of some peace and quiet when they are both in school - then I always feel guilty about wanting that - I know all of you moms relate to that!)
Pray that I can get everybody moving in the mornings ( I'm the main one that needs your prayers as far as that goes - I am not a morning person!) - it will take Ryan foreeeever to eat (and he has to eat to keep his weight up there), then it takes Addie foreeeever to get dressed - it is just not pretty at our house in the mornings.