Coming up for air...

This past week has been so glorious! Cooper had a week off from drugs and his body has had time to recover and regain some strength. Little by little everyday he is able to walk a little easier, get up the stairs a little quicker and has a little more energy.

We have been fighting the blood sugars still but as of the last two days they have been AMAZING!!! I am hoping by the end of the weekend he is off of his insulin fully. THANK YOU JESUS!!!

I think my favorite part about this week was that Cooper's personality is coming back. The doctors had warned us that the steroids will make us wonder where our sweet boy had gone. There were definitely times I saw the "roid rage" come out and quickly he would apologize as if he just surprised himself as well. Now that his personality is coming back I am realizing how much it was actually gone!

He smiles, like for real.

He cracks jokes at just the perfect timing.

He makes fun of his sisters (in a sweet way of course, ha!)

He has actual conversations with me.

He threw a ball for the first time in over a month with his dad.

He gets himself dressed.

He sits at the dinner table WITH us.

He actually gets excited about things.

He laughs...

Oh the laugh, I missed that. There you are my sweet boy!!! I've MISSED you!!!

Tomorrow starts phase 2... during the next month he will have to get put under with anesthesia every Friday and get a lumbar puncture with chemo to his spinal fluid. He will also get another type of chemo through his port tomorrow and then take a different pill (not steroids, whew!) at home.

The doctors tell us a lot of kids go back to school during this phase so as long as he is feeling strong enough, our hope is he will get back to school some next week!!! I'm so excited for him to do that (and a bit anxious at the same time). I can't keep him in a bubble for the next two years, that boy needs to LIVE!

His motivation is to get strong enough to play football this Spring. I have no idea what even tomorrow looks like but the fact that he is able to look forward to something and dream warms my mama heart in a pretty special way. Life has taught me that things can change so drastically in a moment, we can choose to live in fear but that allows even more to be stolen from us. I am NOT here for that. Fear, you won't control us!!

Only God knows the number of days we have here on earth. All I have is the present, today, this moment. I choose to live and to love on those around me. I choose to encourage my son to live, like really live. Wrapped in all the grace possible.

Please be praying that Cooper's body continues to strengthen and rebuild itself. Pray protection against outside illness as he steps back into the wild open world. Pray that our family can experience a little laughter, joy and "lightness" in this next phase. Pray that Cooper's body can handle the chemo without too many side effects. Pray that our hearts stay soft and we experience Jesus in such an intimate way. Pray that we all get a front row seat to A MIRACLE.

Thank you for being our people. Also, GO BILLS!!!