Running my hand over Declan’s head… I feel it. Finally… you know that feeling a day or two after a fresh shave… soft but rough stubble starting to emerge. Typically, it would be a nuisance if you are trying to keep it away… but this was a pleasant surprise. Declan’s hair is growing back. I can’t tell what color it will be, but by his scar in the back of his head… the hair is white. He’s naturally a strawberry blonde… all 4 of my kids are. However, it’s not just the hair on his head… it’s his eyebrows and eyelashes coming in too. Those are black. It’s kinda crazy. Finally, something to catch his tears…

He still cries a lot. He gets super emotional and upset throughout the day about the oddest stuff. Today… it was slime. He was obsessed with the idea of making slime and couldn’t stop talking about it. He’d cry over and over. It was so sad. We tried to explain we didn’t have any… or that we would get some… but he was OBSESSED over it and hysterically cried. I mean we even did an amazon order and he couldn’t understand the concept of waiting for the delivery. He wanted it RIGHT away. I get toddlers are demanding… but this was a level of just not comprehending things out of our control. The poor thing… these steroids are definitely having an impact on his emotions… or is it the way the chemo interacted with his brain. I don’t know.

The steroids are increasing his appetite as I’ve mentioned and his ability to be so mobile. After his afternoon dose of medication… he was ready to get outside and walk. He was unhooked and took his firetruck around the neighborhood… walking so fast! He’s still a little unbalanced, no doubt. He did however walk a few steps without holding onto his firetruck and that was encouraging. His feet did tend to push outward a bit which we learned in PT is to gain his balance… but he was still pushing through… and he loved it! He also is making strides on getting on and off the couch his self. (Yes, these are the simple things he struggles with now.)

The one thing Bobby and I did notice today was his shakiness. Despite being more active… today more so than other days… his tremulous hands came back. The shakes seemed so odd. I really don’t know what to make of it and the internet responses make my mind go into a whirlwind… so I’ll stop that. I’ll ask the doctors tomorrow.

Declan returns to the Jimmy Fund clinic for more blood work. It will be good to see how he is progressing after the weekend. We also have a meeting scheduled with the team in Rhode Island for Thursday which is awesome. I’m excited to get this next stage started. Declan needs it. We all need it and figure out how to adjust our life around it.

I mean… I guess that we are continuing to do that every day. Adjusting everything and everyone around a child with cancer. I don’t know why Declan was chosen to be the brave one… but he is… and today when Bobby was walking with him… he noticed something on his hat and snapped a picture. A single ladybug. He sent it to me immediately and it brought a smile to my face. Ladybugs are a symbol of resilience, protection and adaptability. To some they can also mean good fortune or a change in the near future. To one of my dear late friends, it meant someone is watching over you… protecting you and guiding you to good fortune.

I felt that today… and so… we carry on to tomorrow.

#ThumbsUpForDec
#DeclanStrong 

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