Sweet, sweet NORMALCY!! It has never felt so good to be back into the swing of things. Jackson - who is just utterly amazing, I must add - is back in preschool. His teachers all tell me that he didn't miss a beat and fit right back in with his old friends and routines. He does yoga with the class, walks to the library to pick out books, and sings us songs he learns like, "S is a consamant, in the alphabet" (we tell him it's "consonant" but he prefers "consamant" ). We went to Sky Zone and I watched him PLAY and explore. He jumped backwards into the foam pit and used his body in ways I wasn't sure would ever be possible again.

 

AND I registered him for kindergarten yesterday. Talk about happy tears. This kid has come so far. I do want to make sure that he gets the best support possible during school. He still has some balance issues (he can get around just fine - run, jump, climb - but will stumble now and then). If kids weren't accepting of him at school or made him feel unwelcome it would just break my heart. But to Jackson's credit, the kid is FUNNY, social and all-around wants to be a friend. My gut tells me that he'll win people over just by being himself. The other issue is that his handwriting (fine motor skills in general on the right side) is a little impaired because of the tumor and surgery. There will be some conversations with his teachers about the year he's been through and how to best help him succeed. I've already seen such improvement with physical therapy that I'm hoping it all becomes a non-issue as the months go on.

 

He's doing a great job at phyiscal therapy - he goes twice per week - and I love reading updates from his therapist about how much stronger he is getting. We keep making the sessions longer because his stamina is increasing and he's having too much fun to stop. They really do a great job there at Building Bridges in Plymouth. Getting a four-year-old to do anything is a challenge and they make everything into a game. He was launching stuffed animals by stomping on a catapult - does it get any more fun than that??

 

And as for me. Wow. I've never been so happy to have childcare back in my life. It's been a special time being quarantined with all my kiddos while on maternity leave, but also a LOT of togetherness. Being able to actually focus on work again, think through challenges outside of my domestic bubble and reconnect with all my favorites at GM has been indescribably amazing. Sipping my coffee and reading emails...seriously people...is such a great feeling and part of my day.

 

Scans are coming up on the 14th. I am trying to put all of that anxiety out of my mind - admittedly it's tough - and keep focusing on how GOOD right now feels. In my heart and soul I have this feeling that Jackson is going to be just fine. He's going to keep beating this thing. And after we get good news that he's still in remission we'll get to take out his internal port (his last accessory from treatment!). I said to myself over and over again during the last year that "we can do hard things" (my cousin who is a doctor game me the mantra the night Jackson was diagnosed while telling me that he was going to come out of this okay). And (with all the support and love from our friends) WE DID hard things.

 

I'd love it if everyone could take a moment to send positive thoughts and prayers to all our pediatric cancer warrior friends who are STILL doing hard things every day at Mott and across the country. We've met so many amazing families - some of whom beat cancer either by finishing treatment or gaining their angel wings, and some of whom still fight today. We think about them everyday.