{Mac and Cheese}

You may be thinking to yourself "Why on earth is Heidee writing a post about Macaroni and Cheese?"

Well, I have grown to be extremely grateful for Mac and Cheese and everything that it has done for my family. 

I know that it may seem like I am an open book with everything on this blog, but there is actually a lot of things that I leave out. I felt that it was time for me to share what has been going on in my family and what I have learned from the whole experience. 

Many of you know that I have such amazing and adorable nephews! I love everything about them and wish that I could see them more. Unfortunately as long as Blake, Graham, and Ian have lived, they have lived in a different state than me. So at most I am able to see them twice a year. But those times that I do see them I grow to love them more and more and so unconditionally. 

A few weeks ago me and my family received some devastating news. It was the day after election day and I was returning home from work. My dad was already home and I asked him what was up. His response was "Nothing Good." 

Assuming that he was talking about the election, like everyone on social media (Remember, I'm a social worker, so I have hundreds of liberals on my social feed that had a lot to say about the president elect) I said "I know, the country is ending."

That is when I found out. That is when my whole life turned upside down. That is when I found out that my 2 year old nephew, Graham, had been diagnosed with Leukemia and was in the hospital. 

I mean. Just look at this face.. Can you even imagine something this wholesome and pure being given such a heavy burden and trial to try and sustain at such a young age?

I was devastated that Graham had to go through this. And I was so heartbroken for my sister, Kadee. 

I cannot even imagine how she feels everyday and if I could take this away from both of them, I would do it in an instant. 

Without divulging on too much information, Graham spent a significant amount of time in and out of the hospital. He was found to have a mass of cells that were occupying nearly 80% of Graham's lungs. He was immediately started on Chemotherapy and steroids.

After about a week He was able to go home for a few days before he got a fever and needed to go back to the hospital.
It was during this second trip to the hospital that Graham began to crave.. You guessed it.... Mac and Cheese.

For over a week Graham ate Mac and Cheese for every meal and every snack. The doctors say that he is going to crave certain things and that it is likely that he won't like these things for the rest of his life. I guess that there are worse things that he could hate, but for now I am really grateful that he is interested in eating at all.

Me and my family were able to go to Seattle to see them at Thanksgiving. It was a really full house between my family and my two aunts that came as well. But it was really nice for all of us to be together to support one another. Graham even felt up to eating at the dinner table with all of us. He even ate.. Mac & Cheese :)

It shouldn't come as a surprise to any of you, but I am surrounded by amazingly wise, caring, and loving family. I am ever impressed every day and hope that I can grow up to be as Christ-like as all of my family members.
My brother-in-law, Jim, Is really cheesy when it comes to family gatherings. He always likes to have everyone share what they are grateful for, or what they appreciate in the other family members.  This is one of the many things that I love about Jim, he is so simple in his conversations but they always turn so deep that you grow so much from any interaction!

So, of course, Thanksgiving is the best time and place for another one of these moments. And it is one of the interactions that I am never going to forget. Jim actually was the one that said it perfectly. "I'm grateful for mac and cheese.. and for the little victories.."

I think that we all are too quick to rush through this life that we are given. We don't stop to smell the roses. We push through one day just so that we can get to the next.

But, with this happening to Graham, I find that I embrace those little victories more and more every day.

Because Graham is on steroids, he isn't himself and isn't in much of the mood to talk to anyone or every play with his own brothers. But that made the small smiles of "Look! Matter is driving backwards!" all the more enjoyable.

It is such a shame that something so horrible had to happen to Graham before I would realize how sweet the little things of life are. But I am so grateful for how sweet this little boy is and for everything that he teaches me. I am grateful for his parents that were so in tune with the needs of their little boy!

For now, he is fighting this battle and I pray everyday that he will succeed, and so far he is making such tremendous progress that it even makes his oncology doctors emotional!

And knowing his spirit and that he has a Heavenly Father that is on his side, I await everyday to see more of the little victories and I think that they will happen everyday. 

This whole topic that Jim brought up on that lovely Thanksgiving day reminded me of this song by one of my Favorite Singers, Matt Nathanson.

Today, Graham is still at home and is doing as well as he can. He did finally get a shave to help prevent his hair from falling in his food. But he is still the cutest Three year old that I ever did see! 

I pray everyday for Graham and I hope that any of you that feel that you might want to as well will. This little boy could use all the help he can get. He is a fighter and will fight every step of the way. His resilience will bless him in the long run!

Until Next Time..

Learn to Get By on the Little Victories. 

Peace & Blessings! :)

#prayersforgrahamboy