He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
- Isaiah 40:29-31

Monday, September 1, 2008

Happy National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Don't quite think it's a happy thing but what else can you say. It sucks that there has to be a childhood cancer awareness month. Or even better that most people in the world have no idea that it's childhood cancer awareness month. Last year I wrote a letter to our local paper asking them to do an article on the topic. I explained that my child was fighting the fight of his life and that there were at least two other children, and I am sure a few more that I didn't know, fighting the same fight in their reading area. I wanted them to just make the public aware. I had to write to them twice to get a response. What did I get? Well, about a month later I got a call from a reporter that said he wanted to write a story about Joshua. That wasn't quite exactly what I was going for so I told him to no thank you and that I was completely disgraced at the fact that they wouldn't shed light on the topic of childhood cancer. All they wanted to do was write about our story. We aren't a charity case and that's what it seemed like they thought we were looking for. So, the story never got written and another year went by with most of the world unaware that September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Get used to that statement. I'm going to remind you a lot this month so that you can spread the word!

Okay, so for the scoop on the Czorapinski family. We've had a busy weekend. The boys got to do a little fishing with Pappy on Sunday. Joshua was thrilled to catch fish. Every time the kid put his line in the water, he would hook two fish. I said it's the twin gene he's got but in reality I am hoping that he just has that kind of luck. He could use it. It was really nice as Jeff's parents were able to join us for the trip and the boys got to fish with both Pappy, Bud and Bebe. What an afternoon.

And for the biggest news. Adam is a big boy now! He has been in "big boy pants" all week and has finally gotten the pee pee thing all worked out. We haven't had a pee pee accident in two days. WHOO HOO! Two kids down and one to go. Can you tell that Mommy is excited. Now for the poopy thing. DISCLAIMER: if you do not like bathroom stories do not read any more! You have been warned. Okay, so tonight Adam and Joshua are in the bathtub. I have scrubbed both boys and am in the process of gathering pjs. All of a sudden, Adam gets out of the tub and stands at the potty. I am so excited because he needed to go and for one thing he didn't go in the tub. For the other, he didn't need me to tell him to go to the potty. Well, he's standing there and I notice he is kind of grunting. I say "Adam, do you need to go poopy?" He says yes and I tell him he needs to sit down to go. We're still working on that part. So I go to put him on the potty and Joshua stands up in the tub and says so matter of factly, "oh look Adam, you dropped one." When I looked down, sure enough there was poop on the floor. Can I just say that Joshua's comment had me rolling. Ah, this is one story that I can't wait to tell when they get older.

And so, it's the beginning of another week. Noah starts his first day of pre-K tomorrow. He has grown so much over the summer and I can not wait to see how much he will learn over this next year. Joshua also goes in for the nasty yellow chemo tomorrow. At least four days in the hospital and hopefully he handles it as well as he did this last time. I plan to keep him eating and drinking so that he can clear it in record time again. The faster he clears it, the less chance of side effects being so bad and the sooner we can come home. Here's to my little warrior and fighting through yet one more week of treatment. We are on week 14 out of 104. It will be a crazy week but I am looking forward to getting another one behind us. We are so blessed that he has handled this rough stuff as well as he has. It is only by God's hands that he is so strong.

3 comments:

The 2 Cannons said...

I absolutely died laughing at the poopy story. Thanks so much for sharing.

Adam, congrats on being a Big Boy! Keep up the good work!

Josh, I'll being thinking about you a lot this week and saying an extra prayer that you come out of this week with flying colors.

Ami and Jeff, hang in there. I'll be praying for you too. Keep us posted!

Anissa Mayhew said...

Oh you killed me with the "you dropped one!" I'm still sitting her giggling over that one. LOOOVE you.

You need to let them do the story on you, if that's the only way you can get the info out in your area, suck it up and be a charity case! Any word is better than no word, you know? Plus it puts a face with a random idea...who know, you might really touch someone's heart with those boys...not like they're cute or anything.

I vote you call that reporter back and say yet.

Always loving you all
Anissa
www.hope4peyton.org

Anonymous said...

Thank you for telling me about all the "joys" I have ahead of me with a little boy. Unfortunately, I can totally see Ryan doing something like Adam's poppy experience.

We continue to prayer for Joshua. He is so strong, probably stronger than we could ever be if we had to fight the battle he is.

Out thoughts are still with you and Jeff as I can't imagine how this has affected your lives. Stay strong and believe!

I dream of a day when any and all cancer is preventable.