Hugs and AML

Hugging is such a wonderful part of life. Tonight Erin (2 year old with Acute Myeloid Leukemia) was sitting on John's lap when the cooking staff brought in her dinner. The staff member said, "hi Erin!" and then Erin jumped off John's lap and ran to the staff member and gave her a huge hug. The staff person told John that Erin's hug had just made her day. Only an hour later Erin's night shift nurse, Bree, poked her head in her room. She said, "hi Erin!" Erin immediately ran to Bree and gave her a huge hug. Bree told John that Erin's was the cutest kid ever. Isn't it amazing how hugs can help us feel so good?

Today John's parents brought Cecily and Caleb back up here from Mesquite, Nevada. The kids had the time of their lives playing with their cousins in Mesquite. As I drove the kids back to Logan I couldn't help but feel a little sad. I had just seen John for a few hours and then we were separated again since he is taking the weekend shift at the hospital. I also felt sad that I had just missed an entire week in the lives of my oldest children. I know they were in good hands and that they hardly missed me, but I feel like I've missed out on so much. Nothing can replace being a mother to your children. And nothing can replace being together as an entire family.

I drove the kids home. Caleb asked me if he was going to sleep in a sleeping bag again. I told him that he would get to sleep in his very own bed. What a novelty! I gave them a shower and then tucked them into bed. Cecily had given me some grief when it came time to brush her teeth. She kept saying, "I want dad to brush my teeth." She knew dad wasn't home. This is one of her tactics to getting out of doing something. I told her that she had no option other than to have me brush her teeth. Later, as I tucked her into bed, I told her that I was sorry that we hadn't gotten along during her teeth brushing. She then gave me the strongest most loving hug around my neck. It brought tears to my eyes. I told Cecily that she gave the best hugs in the whole world and I asked her if she'd give me one more. I love how forgiving and loving children can be. The strength in her hug melted my heart and helped me feel her love for me and Heavenly Father's love for me. It sometimes surprises me what I learn from my kids.

Tags: "Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia" "AML" "Leukemia" "M7" "Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia"