Wishes, a Relay and Whole Lotta Blue!

"May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground....carry on, carry on." I know it has been awhile since I have updated. It has been intentional and unintential really. Time is flying by so quickly so our blog seemed to get put on the back burner but also there really has not been any changes as far as Tucker's health to update about. I also needed time away from the blog to not think about what we have been through or talk about the details of how cancer has affected our lives. Although still very painful everyday seems to heal just a little bit more than the last. They are few and far between but some days I am able to go through an entire day without even thinking about cancer, scans or the uncertainty of our future. That is progress. I hope as the days go on that those single days will turn into multiple days, weeks or even maybe months. I hope eventually cancer will be somewhat like a book that I take off the shelf from time to time instead of one that stays open on my desk for the words to be vividly read at any moment. Everyday the book gets a little closer to the bookshelf. I know God will continue to heal us and Tucker. Tucker was granted a wish by the Make-A-Wish foundation of South Carolina. He chose to visit "Mickey's House." So on our spring break we packed up and headed to FL to enjoy a week of letting him have fun and be a kid. We stayed at an amazing place called Give Kids the World. It is a place that families of children with life threatening illnesses can go and escape. It is truly a magical place and they do such a wonderful job creating a week full of special memories for the children and their families. Tucker now has a miracle star in their planetarium that will be there forever. He was able to eat ice cream any time of the day at their parlor and we let him. :) For that week we let him enjoy every single moment of whatever he wanted to do. They had a train, water park, mini golf, candyland playground and so much more. He really could have happily spent everyday there and not even gone to Disney! It is an amazing place that is mainly run by volunteers. We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to get away for a week with Tucker and make special memories that will forever be dear to our heart. About a month ago Tucker participated in his 2nd Relay for Life event as a survivor! Last year Tyler put him on his shoulders as he made his survivor lap. This year Tucker said he wanted to RUN his lap. And he did! He ran and ran and ran and I was so proud of him. He was so proud as people cheered for him and celebrated. I still tear up thinking about it. His zest for life and accomplishing his goals already at 4 teach Tyler and I how we should strive to live. Early October Tucker will be a big brother to baby boy Wyatt! I am way outnumbered now :) but I love it. We are so excited that Tucker will have a sibling. Tucker wants to call Wyatt, "mater." He loves the Cars movies so I am guessing that is where that came from. He is getting so excited as we start to buy things and prepare. He will be a great helper and so loving to Wyatt. Update on Tucker's Health: Tucker saw his radiologist in Florida back in December and they were so pleased. He said if he was going to have severe effects from radiation as far as paralysis ect he would have shown symptoms by now so he feels he is out of the woods in that aspect which was wonderful! As with any radiation things may come up down the road but he feels he was spared the major concerns we discussed in the beginning. He said Tucker's vertebrae where radiated will be a lot more susceptible to fracture so contact sports are probably not in his future but he said water is very healing for Tucker's bones, muscles and ligaments so maybe he will be a swimmer. :) The most concerning thing we need help praying about is secondary cancers caused by the radiation. Please help us pray that he will not have to endure that. He said those typically start to show up 3+ years after treatment. We are praying and trusting that God will heal Tucker long term without any ill effects from his treatment. Please help us pray that prayer. He saw his oncologist yesterday and they are so pleased with Tucker's progress they feel that after his August scan (as long as everything looks good) they can start doing scans every 6 months instead of every 3. His port removal surgery is scheduled for Sept. 16th. We are so incredibly blessed and beyond grateful that we have reached this point. We give God all of the glory and honor. July 24th will be 2 years since his diagnosis. We are looking forward to all of the amazing things God has in store for our family. Thank you for your continued prayers and support they mean the world to us. Wishes Granted on PhotoPeach