Quick update

It's not a ton of news, but it's something to update y'all on. 

Casey had some new labs done yesterday, and many of the results just came in as the doctor called this evening.  Also, we have an amazing doctor-- and tonight we were again grateful that he went out of his way after hours to call & update us with the new information right as it came in.  Everything was negative so far--- his second tick panel came back negative & an antigen for another possible illness was negative.  And his blood panel was all in the normal range.  Yay!  The last test that hasn't come in yet is the West Nile antigen -- so we are waiting to hear back on that to confirm his diagnosis.  We also still have another week or two until the state lab finishes their testing as well.

After resting a lot yesterday as he struggled with a migraine again, Case had a much better day today. He paced himself with activity-- came out & talked to the kiddos for a couple of minutes while he made his oatmeal, and then took it with him back to his bedroom.  He spent a lot of time laying in bed composing today & resting, and then was able to spend some time with family tonight for awhile as the kids all had fun decorating the Christmas tree.  Tonight we finished up the Christmas decorating-- we owe a HUGE thanks to my Aunt Sharon for that.  Between today & last week she made it all possible by helping wich so much around the house & by even helping get the decor outside going -- we are grateful!

We are starting to settle in for our new season, however long this may be.  The healing process has been very slow, but it is happening.  And for that we are so grateful.  We have concentrated a lot on the kids & just helping life start to get in a more normal rhythm again, and the kids continue to do better as they adjust to this new normal.  They each take turns as they get home from school to run in & spend some time with their dad.  Henry loves to bring all of his drawings & latest Lego creations in & talk over the day with Case.  Merian loves to crawl onto the bed & cuddle into her daddy, and tonight she wrote another song with him -- I think it's one of the sweetest things they do together.  Emmett seems to need Case more than any of them, and loves to pop in the most often--- and is always trying to see if he can get his dad to wrestle even the littlest bit with him.  Lincoln is all toddler-- he loves to be loud & hop on the bed when he visits his daddy.

So here we are, and life is going okay.  Not perfect, it definitely is often hard-- but it is good & we are grateful.  Every Christmas tradition is so much more meaningful this year, because we are still so fresh from being jolted from our normal.  And so we celebrate each little milestone, because they are each so very big.  Casey hasn't forgotten a word, stuttered in an attempt to remember it, & still not been able to think of it (kinda like a stroke patient)--- since last Saturday-- so we are excited about that!  He's learning to try and stay ahead of his extreme fatigue & listen to his body more--- and as he does that he is able to pace himself & spend a bit more time with family.  He can handle 15-20 minutes out of his room with family a couple times a day, compared to 5-10 minutes at a time last week.  The kids are so excited when they get to be with him-- he's definitely a very popular person in our home!

To be alive and do this Christmas season together this year, this is suddenly an amazing gift.