August 13, 2014

As is usually the case when we don't update this blog for months at a time, things have been super here!

To catch up: At clinic in June SD was scheduled for a spinal tap. There was some doubt about whether he could safely be sedated because of heavy congestion and wheezing, but after giving him a breathing treatment the doctor decided to go ahead with it. He did just fine, and has been doing fine ever since!

He enjoyed traveling to Wisconsin for a cousin's wedding in July, where we had the opportunity to meet up with many extended family members we rarely get to see.

Shortly after that trip, he suddenly started opening up to people in a way we haven't seen before. Normally he refuses to talk to people even if he knows them, unless he is very comfortable with them. The week following the wedding, he had a special interview with a couple ladies he had never seen before and talked away! The next day at clinic, he chatted with his new nurse and the Child Life worker. He even agreed to 2 or 3 high-fives from different hospital staff! Until that day, high-fives from SD were unheard of. He has been saying 'please' and 'thank-you' and 'you're welcome', which have also been a struggle for him. It has been amazing and exciting to see him blossom in this way!

We have noticed in the past that he has these periods of blooming shortly preceding an increase in his chemo dosages. Based off of his *excellent* counts at clinic last week, we expect that when his height and weight are recalculated at clinic next month that his dosages will be nudged up then. We are hoping that the advancement in SD's social development we've seen in the past month will survive that increase.

P.S. SD wants to tell everyone he meets that he is 5 now! I'm sure he'd love to share that message with all of you who are praying for him as well. :)