A Different Shade of Blue...

Periwinkle Blue!!!  We just got back yesterday from Camp Periwinkle and a special time of bonding, reflecting, accepting, and rejuvenating, just in time for Caleb's harshest round of chemo to begin. 

C-A-M-P

The Periwinkle Foundation is named after a chemo agent called Vincristine, which is derived from beautiful and powerful periwinkle blue flowers.  This particular chemo usually doesn't cause many side effects, so it's considered a more "peaceful drug".  :)  The organization strives to enrich the lives of families whose children are being treated at Texas Children's Hospital.  They sure enriched ours.

Big brother Zach was out of school for President's Day today & David took the afternoon off from work to be at the hospital with us.  

Our rallying family & a silly game of cards seemed to help our tiny patient.

 Cal's spinal tap went a little better than last time, & he underwent three different types of chemo today. Luckily, he was sedated and slept through them all.

As many patients call it, "The Red Devil" protocol began today.  As I held him close and witnessed the first drops of it rushing into his body, I begin to pray to God to protect him from its ill-effects and for it to heal him, rather than hurt him.  Peace came over me.

Caleb undergoing Doxorubicin (red chemo)

From this day on, I decided that this bright red medicine is more like a life-blood for him.  This red liquid made me think of the blood that Jesus shed for us.  That thought alone made me never want to describe his chemo as the Red Devil again.  Zach thinks we should call it "Red Angels", but we don't want Cal experiencing something that hurts called an "angel", so perhaps it will just be "chemo".  :)

Valentine's Day this year was more about the love of our family, than romance, and it was incredibly special.  It began with this outrageously awesome card from Caleb's school. 

Zach's class presented it to me, and when Zach & I presented it to Caleb, along with many hand-written Valentine's Day cards, the look on his face was priceless. I'll remember it forever.

Check out this one, from a dear family friend.  Thanks Connie.

  Valentine's Day was the perfect day for Camp Periwinkle to begin, with so much love in the air.

We enjoyed smores and fun camp songs.

Zach blew us away, by overcoming his fear of heights.

I didn't overcome mine, so I urged David to push me off.  Didn't have to ask twice.  tee hee.  :)

We all LOVED the zip line.  Such a rush.

David, the real-life Spiderman, scaled the wall.

We pushed ourselves with everything from the ropes course to rock walls, rowing, & horseback riding. 

We met amazing Camp Counselors, from teens to adults, who are all survivors of childhood cancer.  It was touching and reassuring to see how strong they are today and how cancer has positively impacted their lives.  Our fun-loving counselor, Bucky, is about to begin Med School, all because of his experiences in the Texas Medical Center as a young patient. 

Bucky dove into the bean bags, before we put them in our canoes.  :)

He rode his bike all the way to Alaska last year to raise awareness about childhood cancer, & now his team plans to ride this year in honor of Caleb.  We are humbled by this amazing gesture.

When we got home from camp, we felt a bit deflated.  It was hard to drive away from that powerful place.  However, there was an unexpected surprise on our porch, filled with goodies to make Caleb's new regimen easier.  It was labeled with encouraging words & signed "From your brothers and sisters in Christ".  The thought still brings tears to my eyes! 

Whoever is responsible for this thoughtful & generous gesture - I hope you're reading this, so we can say, "Thank you and you made a difference!"  We enjoyed lying in bed today and reading the new special book, "God's Wisdom for Little Boys".  

Cal said the book "made him feel wise and stronger."  Out of the mouths of babes.  :)

Caleb begins swallowing pills again tonight, as the steroids have to make a comeback.  Can't wait to see what interesting food combos he'll come up with this time. I'm temporarily working a different shift and get up at 2:30 am, so this time - he won't have to wake me up to cook!  I'll be raring & ready to go, though I do hope he has forgotten about his past cravings for fish & pancakes.  :)

He'll be back in the hospital on Thursday for yet a different type of chemo.  This requires doctors to closely monitor him with an Epi-pen in hand, as patients are at risk of suffering a life-threatening allergy from it.  We're already praying he sails right through it, like the strong little boy he is.  

I wish I could say he's resting comfortably tonight, but he's quite sick to his stomach.  To wrap up our long day, the loving chaplain from the boy's school called and prayed with us.  He encouraged us to pray like the servant Elisha, to open our eyes to see God, so that our hearts can feel Him.  We do!  Whatever trials or tribulations you may be going through, we pray the same for you.