Today is Monday May 15, 2023. Joshua and Alex left the house around 8AM to head back to the hospital for round 2 of Joshua’s chemo treatments. He had lab work first and it showed his levels met the requirements to admit him for, Lord willing, 8 days. As they were leaving I came back in the house and Rejoice was playing. Thank you Father for this reminder. Alex did a 6ish minute video once they got up to a room, click here (Joshua Update - May 15) if you'd like to view it. If you don't have facebook, you can still view it. When it asks if you'd like to log into facebook, just select cancel and it should still take you to the video. In all of this craziness, this is the first day of a planned admittance. Sometimes knowing the plan is helpful, sometimes it’s not. I have to admit knowing this has been coming has been challenging, while all the while trusting it is what is needed. The past two weeks have been a sea of emotions. When he came home we knew there was a chanced he’d need to go back in for something before the planned time to go back. He did get admitted overnight due to a pretty bad nose bleed that first week home. We’ve spent the last few days wondering if he’d need to go back early due to a random virus Caleb had the end of last week, praise the Lord Joshua kept his distance and never showed signs of getting what Caleb had. Living in a state of constantly asking, “Are you ok?” Gets old for us all. We’ve learned a few things though, so that helps.
When he gets tired his face gets flushed, it doesn’t always mean he has a fever.
We’ve learned that baths/showers are for the night before clinic visits, just in case we pull up edges of dressing tape while removing the Press-n-seal and famous blue tape from protecting it from getting wet.
We’ve learned he likes to be social, but doesn’t really like to have to talk to people.
We knew, and are thankful, he really doesn’t mind wearing a mask, and is not bothered if he’s the only one doing so.
We are learning to let him talk about things he remembers as they come up, there is so much he doesn’t remember from his long stay.
We also knew, but are continuing to learn just how strong and steady Joshua is.
Over the past months so many of you have showed love and support to us in such amazing ways. Please know that your emails and texts are always so encouraging. The meals and doordash gifts have supplied so many needs when we’ve been too tired to think about it food, or just simply want a treat to cheer us in a down moment. Friends who have helped clean the house or watch Caleb, are so truly encouraging. This past week I was blessed so much by a visit from an amazing friend. She drove hours and spent precious days helping me. We moved boxes in the garage, she cooked meals to put in the freezer, and she cleaned…really cleaned the bathroom :) (To be fair, others have done that too, and it is always a blessing!) Thank you for that practical gift. I was a bit concerned about saying goodbye on Friday morning, well I ended up having to run out at the last minute to take Caleb for a doctors appointment so I didn’t have a long drawn out goodbye, a much quicker…see you later…which was much more preferable! Due to Caleb’s fever and needing to keep a closer eye on Joshua, our overnight anniversary plan had to be altered. It was pretty disappointing, I struggled a lot. There was a good bit of Truth speaking that had to be done. There is such tension in “I deserve this” and “can’t we catch a break?” We were able to grab dinner out Friday night and go to Chick-fil-A for second breakfast Saturday, which is what we did the morning of our wedding (even the same location!). The day was nice, we will get away another night at some point. Sunday we went to church with my Mom, that was nice, it was such a blessing to see many of you who have been praying for us as well. On Saturday Joshua commented that sometimes it gets old to hear people are praying for him, we talked through that and that we should never grow weary of hearing those words. They are strength to our weary hearts, as a 10 year old it is hard for him to grasp, we pray he will have a renewed joy in hearing those faithful words, as we do! At some point over the weekend a friend posted Romans 8 on Facebook, I was so thankful for this reminder of the hope and confidence we have in the Lord. Walking this road continues to be challenging, but what great confidence we have in our Great Creator and Loving Father! Take a few minutes (6:10) and read/listen and reflect on that chapter!
A few specific requests for the next 8ish days
Pray for no hiccups with treatments and for good health for the rest of us
Pray for Caleb’s emotions as he processes Joshua being back at the hospital and Alex and I trading out
Pray for good sleep for me as I don’t sleep well when they are gone
Pray for social energy and wisdom to know what to say yes to and what to say, lets reschedule
Pray for Alex as he begins studying for preaching opportunities coming soon, juggling studying and hospital stays is challenging, but good as well
Pray for Truth centered conversations with those that come in and out of Joshua’s room during this stay
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