An amazing first ...

When Zoey goes down for a nap during the day, I create a cocoon type thing for her to try and shield her from the very busy and very bright lights of the hospital.She never naps for very long but I find if I shield her a bit from the goings on around her,I can stretch her sleep to about an hour.Yeah,whoo hoo,an hour.Anyway,today Miss Zoey was all cocooned up and she had been asleep for about the max of an hour,when I lifted a corner of her make shift tent to check on her and this is what I found.To most .... not a big deal,a child sitting up in her bed.But to us,those who know Zoey and know her journey, would absolutely realize that Zoey just began sitting independently when placed in a sitting position,during her first round of chemo and this picture would then mean .... that Zoey took herself from sleeping on her back and all by her lonesome ... pulled to sitting!Huge news on the developmental front.And she does it with one,only one, of her little arms.Zoey,you will remember,suffered a stroke inutero and although movement of her left arm and leg is equal to that of her right,purposeful movement is not.So Miss Zoey has learned a new trick.Since accomplishing this new feat, I watch in awe as she crunches her tummy and with willful determination push,push,pushes her arm ever forward and sits.Quite proudly at that.The one picture captures the love she has for the dad of our darling roommate Jayden.I was able to share this milestone with Antonio,Jadens dad and he rejoiced along with me.I was so glad to have someone to share in my excitement.Zoey so loves our new roommate and her family,as witnessed by the darling smile she flashed when spotted sporting her new trick.And we love them.They are the neatest family and it has been just a blessing to share the last almost three weeks,along side them all.So that is the Zoey news of the day.We are so proud of her.Such courage in such a tiny soul.As for her numbers .... playing tricks on us.Nothing bad just her ANC fluctuating.But her platelets are up to 74,000 and a few of her other numbers are on the up swing as well.So we are going in the right direction and with any luck,home will be on the horizon by the end of next week.Aren't these two faces beautiful?.They are two of our 4th floor loves.Roommate Jayden is on the left and the other is a most incredible young thing by the name of Ricca.I love this child.Full of wit and wisdom far beyond her almost 10 years.In fact her birthday is on Zoey's birthday,March the 2nd.The grace by which these two little girls go about their days would amaze you all.They bring light and laughter to my day.They bring such pure joy into my days as I watch them soak in and soak up their surrounding, when everyone knows they would much rather be in a far different place.These two girls represent what it is all about on 4E and W.Strength amidst adversity and the gentle nudge to live in our moments.I just so wish that the reminder didn't come in the form of such sweet innocence.Love to you all and keep those prayers coming.For all the little warriors.