Giggles

Jace started giggling yesterday, and he couldn’t stop. We all looked at each other in disbelief. Was it possible our old Jace broke free for a few days from this body fighting for its life? We were told we would have a good week, but we didn’t know how much we would love it. Not only did Jace giggle, he happily did homework all day, and he rose to help himself when he needed his latest favorites: crushed ice and root beer. It’s amazing how much I loved to hear him laugh. I will never take that for granted again.

Aside from the infection scare at the beginning of the week, we have had an amazing few days. Not only did Jace giggle last night, he awoke this morning actually wanting to “get out of the house.” Normally we have to talk him into it, but today, he was set on going to Dayton’s last flag football game. This afternoon Jace went outside with Hayden for a while, and for a few minutes he even sat in the saddle of Grandpa’s horse while the guys led him around the pasture—almost life as usual.

Although Jace feels pretty well, he thinks he’s stronger than he is. Yesterday he heard Hayden’s bus pull up in front of the house. Jace bolted for the door, and his brain was ahead of his legs. He quickly buckled to the ground, and giggled that he “fell right in the middle of the floor!” In the last three days he has fallen right to the ground eight times. He always picks himself up (with a little help from mom or dad) and cracks a joke about it, but it is hard on a mother’s heart. Wow, am I learning some lessons about “getting up” even when it’s difficult.

As Matt was putting him to sleep, Jace started the giggles again. I could hear him from my room, and in my prayers I thanked Heavenly Father for this special giggling spirit in our home. We’ll take Jace back for more intense chemo on the 20th, and I hate thinking we will be driving him into more pain. Over and over I tell myself, “Embrace chemo, embrace chemo,” but it’s still a challenge to do so. Many of you have said, “I don’t know how you do it,” but the truth is we just “do it”-- and the giggles we hear are definitely helping to push us through.