Thumbs-up!

It seems as if we have indeed been in a long waiting place and I am now emerging to write. I was halfway "waiting" for different news, "waiting" to gather my thoughts, the facts and other info to share in a constructive manner...just waiting! Well, I decided I just might be waiting for a long time unless I attempted to write about all the recent happenings.

It is often difficult to explain the nature of this disease. We have decided to continue to find hope in the uncertainty that will for certain be a part of our lives for a long time. The very nature of the beast of the unknown can wear on anyone. We talk of how to cope with such a beast and have come to the conclusion that it's okay to take a moment here and there to grieve the life as we once knew it, and daily choose to see the hope that uncertainty can offer. We painfully know where we have been and hope to learn and grow from such adventuresome experiences.

People are constantly asking me if Davis has always shown such strength and optimism.  He has an unwavering belief in the good.  I have looked back over the years quite intently the past four months and have noticed the answer exhibited throughout his life. Always saving the last bite of anything good for dad, providing both examples of peacemaker and troublemaker..always knowing when it had gone too far and offering a sincere apology and of course setting the tone of gentle goodness for the other boys to follow...AND More often than not a TWO-THUMBS-UP attitude! Even shown as young as two and a half when yet another challenge with a virus settled in his brain stem and caused balance and other health issues, for five intense and tender months.

Ryan found this photo of Davis and has it by his beside
"for the times Davis is in the hospital and not here."

In the current trials, Davis often adds a little color to this favorite response as he expresses this attitude with one thumb-up and one side-ways!
Over the holiday weekend, we had several medication changes, with mixed reviews. The hope for the immunity to hold it's own without the aid of medication was not to be right now. His levels dropped after only a few days and they had to put him back on the medication. We are going to try the weaning option now instead of just stopping all together. A good plan. The great news within that adventure is that without the extra effects of this medication, he was able to have a reprieve from some of the stomach pain. This, combined with the energy from the last transfusion hanging on, allowed Davis to go swimming in a private pool where he "cautiously" unleashed some of that brotherly teasing he is famous for providing. It was priceless to see him enjoying and as we would exchange mother-son glances and almost wishfully "forgetting" for a moment or two!

He was so energized with the success of the taunting and he continued it today by taping Ryan and Ben closed in a box. This was followed by one of those sincere apologies previously mentioned due to the exhibited freakish phobia of dark tight spaces! The exhaustion of the weekend activities set in, as well as, the added medication stomach aches and tonight has been a bit more mellow.

Labs are holding and still pending for this week. Every day that we can spend doing resumes for college, preparing for school, laundry, summer food and family fun together at home is a Two-thumbs-up day!