Spilled Macaroni and Low Immunity

     Today was a pretty good day. Ethen was much more alert and hungry, which was a boost for our morale after several days of half-mast eyes and no appetite. We got to visit with Hudson and Mikayla, which involved a fun exploration of Sugar Creek. The kids spotted a snake slithering across the water and lots of fish swarming beneath the bubbles of the stream. Our visit was also revealing of their struggle with the family situation over the past couple weeks. At the beginning of our visit Hudson was snacking on some Mac and Cheese. He accidentally knocked the bowl off of his seat and spilled a few noodles—thankfully the bowl landed upright. In spite of the fortuitous landing, Hudson broke down in sobs, which brought us to tears. Although he might shed a tear at such a thing in what used to be normal circumstances, we knew that his reaction was indicative of his struggling little heart. Ugh. Later on, as the kids were about to leave and I was trying to put Mikayla in her carseat she clung tight to my neck and kicked the car door shut. When I finally got her into her seat we both began to cry. We are so ready to be back together with them and figure out what our new normal entails.
     Ethen is in the extremely vulnerable stage of the first round of therapy, aptly named the "nadir period." His white blood cell count is near zero. Because of his vulnerability Ethen has picked up a virus known as the metapneumovirus, and he has run a fever most of today. Please pray he can break the fever and beat this virus. Pray also that his neupogen shots will fulfill their purpose and boost his white blood cells to help fight the virus.