General Update - May 8

Well, it’s been a MONTH!! 

And we’re all okay. We have cried and mourned and changed a lot since Hyrum’s diagnosis. This week, however? Felt surprisingly uneventful. Hyrum is settling into his new self. Fewer angry outbursts and more comfort in new routines (drawing, weeding, radiation, puzzles, shows, walks, hide and seek). Caleb is learning how to play quiet games with Hyrum. He speaks for himself more often and has matured immensely. Emily is spunky and strong and tender. She still wrestles with Hyrum every night.

I think it's really sunk in for Michael and me. We've had SO much support from friends, family, and unseen angels. Our souls have stretched beyond the point of recognition, but we're starting to see little flickers of familiarity. Winco shopping. Walks to Bumpass Park. Marco Polos with friends. Cleaning, vacuuming, laundry. Porch sits. Watching the rain. I can feel myself slowly pulling back together. 

There are still plenty of reasons to laugh (i.e. Caleb pretending to be a crab when he doesn't want to be seen). There are also plenty of things to look forward to! Hyrum was approved for Make a Wish, and it's exciting to think about possibilities. There's another big doctor appointment on Wednesday where we'll learn more about the Utah clinical trial. 

Our other unexpected but equally miraculous news... we're getting a dog!! You may or may not know that I've never been much of an animal-lover... but something unexplainable happened to me a month before Hyrum's diagnosis (*insert shrug emoji here*), and suddenly I actually wanted a dog?! We've been thinking about it ever since. One of my OK angels has been training/adjusting to two puppies at once, and asked if we'd like to take one of them. I think the heavens actually parted when we heard the news! We probably seem insane for doing this right now... but it'll be a perfect, healthy adventure for all of us. Therapy dog, here we come! 

We love you all dearly. Thank you for being part of our team. We hope you have been as beautifully sustained in your grief as we have been in ours. It's quite the ride!