You Can't Keep a Good Man Down...

.... including a lil' man!  We were hoping Caleb would make it to the ball fields within the next few months.  We never imagined it would happen over the weekend! 

He woke up Saturday morning & asked if his team was playing.  The next thing you know, we're in the stands & praying for him to safely make it through the game.  He got to put on his Orioles uniform.  WOW.  We still can't believe it.

Let's play ball.

Caleb has barely made it out of the house the past six months, yet he managed to make three points for his team!  Yes, I was the crazy mom in the stands cheering him on, laughing & crying... all at the same time!  We just know the ONLY reason he was out there, on this picture-perfect day... where he's supposed to be... just being a kid... is because of the uplifting prayers from our family, friends, colleagues, and even special prayer warriors we've never met.  Thank you soooo much for that! 

We raced to him after the game and asked him what he thought about it, and he said with the biggest smile you've ever seen, "LEGS SO TIRED!  Where's the hand sanitizer?"  I squeezed his little body so tight, while he insisted we race to the car to get him clean... (This from a child who used to resemble "Linus" from Charlie Brown, with a trail of dirt behind him & carefree about germs)   :)   He's learned a lot about his own care, & we're very proud of him for that!

It really was surreal watching him play. So fun to do something "normal".

Caleb has been able to keep a great sense of humor through it all!  My darling college friend from BU sent a box full of wigs to let the crazy times roll... and they have!  THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS, SHAWNIE!!! 

Wooly caveman.

Blondie!

Chemo at home has gone fairly well.  We learned how to administer it ourselves through the port in his chest. Nurse David (AKA Cal's daddy) takes it very seriously!

It has been hard for Caleb to understand why he has to get chemo at home everyday - he thinks that should be reserved only for the hospital.

 Clinic started out all smiles today, with a visit from a furry friend.

This is the last time Caleb will receive this type of chemo in the hospital, (he's happy we're starting to hit "lasts"), but we'll  administer it at home the rest of the week.

 

The smiles disappeared immediately AFTER chemo though, and it was very difficult to get Cal to the car.  He was nauseous and felt weak.  

Cancer does stink - but side effects from chemo are much easier when sleeping.   Caleb's shirt is a gift from a wonderful organization called "Made With Love and Care".

All-in-all, I'd say the past week has been much easier than we anticipated.  Caleb coped by asking us to remain "very quiet".  He didn't want the TV on, no radio playing in the car, and he preferred us to whisper.  For some reason, as long as it was super quiet, he could cope. We were happy to meet his requests.  That was a first - but we never know what to expect each week.

As for specific prayer requests, we are praying for Caleb to remain strong.  His levels are incredibly low, and again, he's at an extremely high risk for infections.  His brother has had a fever & virus, so we're doing our very best to keep them separated.  It's hard because they want to be together.  Caleb asked for my cell phone, so that he can call Zach on our home phone - to find out what he's doing in the other room.  Pretty cute!  He wants to be doing the exact same thing as his big bro, so it's great that he feels well enough to even think about that!

For all of you who have cried with us on the hard days and rejoiced with us on the good ones, this is what I have to say to you, from Ruth 2:12:
"May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done."

So many of you have done so very much for our family.  There's not a day that goes by that you're not also in our prayers.  Our prayers are ones of thankfulness.  God bless.