Under Construction...
The gold and black mystery that lures inquisitive little boys everywhere. There is something about a hard hat and a digger that immediately peaks the curiosity of those mischievous little people who are always covered in dirt and are filled with infectious belly laughs.
The obsession seems to be innately wired into the interests of many little boys.
(As a side note-I was looking for some descriptive words/phrases referring to little boys. I typed in "Little Boy" and the first thing that came up was that it was an actual code name for an atomic bomb. Boy moms, that pretty much sums it up! It's always easy to see where our little tasmanian devils have been. Ha!)
I have been anxiously awaiting a time when I could chat with you all and tell you that our remodel is FINALLY finished. Unfortunately, the padlock is still on the door and we are desperately waiting for a few little things to be completed. Longest remodel ever!! James keeps referring to it as "The Money Pit" with Tom Hanks, because of its never-ending nature.
I had a conversation with a friend recently about our contractors, as I had recommended them to her back in March. I admittedly confessed that things have taken much, much longer than we could have ever anticipated, and while we are very happy with the overall results, we are just ready for them to be finished.
That conversation made me think about construction, the anticipation, the monotony, and the eventual finished product. Construction always seems to take longer than promised and inevitably hiccups come up along the way, but the finished product is what keeps construction bearable.
June is scoliosis awareness month and the last few weeks have been a bittersweet time of reflection for me. I am determined to use Hunter's experience to teach others and have recently started a pursuit with two childhood friends who are forging a similar journey with their nuggets.
We are so blessed to have been able to find the appropriate treatment and a community of support for our Hunterman. He's been "under construction" of sorts for the last 16 months. We've had great progress and success, but we have also recently had some moments where we seem to be at a stand still. May was one of those months. Hunter has had two casts now with no improvement and seems to be stagnant at 18 degrees. The months that were marked by little to no progress, seem to be directly correlated with weight loss spurred by colds, allergies, and ear infections. My family and my sweet husband continually remind me how far he has come on his venture to grow straight, but as his momma, I keep looking at the next step and what that means.
His doctor has decided that since he has had little progress recently, that he wants to take him out of the cast. This will allow Hunter to have some summertime water fun and will enable the progression of growth of his chest cavity. His cast off date is set for July 13th, which will be followed by an x-ray and the development of a health plan. We don't know if this is permanent or temporary, or whether he will need a brace or future surgeries at this point. I am excitedly cautious...Excited for Hunter to be a kid splashing in the water, but cautious in hopes that he won't have regression. Hunter is only 2.5, but I feel like I can relate to the emotions of some of you who have college age kids as you excitedly await the unknown. When his cast comes off in July, he will have been in cast for 17 months. His first cast was ironically placed at 17 months old. He will have had half of his life out of cast and half of his life in cast at that point.
2 Corinthians 4:7-9But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Right now I am trying to daily remind myself of his infectious laugh and how much fun he will have splashing with his friends in the water. I am encouraged by 2 Corinthians 4:7-9. His spine is bent, not broken. The curve he sports, is a curve marked by character and strength. While he is still "under construction, I am excited to see the finished product and how God will use our little man in the lives of others.
Cousin Time! Boys will be boys.
Tupperware makes the best hats :)
Thanks for reading. Please continue to pray for our little man and share his story with others. Scoliosis awareness for littles is essential and sharing just may save another life and help another little spine to grow straight.
As always, God bless from our little part of the world to yours. Stay Tuned!
