This week we started our appointments on Tuesday in honor of Memorial Day. To our surprise, there were no parades or special events, but that didn't stop us from celebrating at the Ronald McDonald House. My guys were dressed in their red, white & blue to show our appreciation for the soldiers who fought for our country where we can receive healthcare from a facility like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Nick has completed 12 days of radiation! Our schedule is pretty consistent now. Nick usually has a 10:15 am start time, so we try to squeeze in any important thinking visits like school, music, or physical therapy before then because even after he wakes from anesthesia, it takes him until 2:30 or 3:00 to feel like eating and be sort of himself again. So usually we have to call it a day at the hospital once his radiation is done, unless it is Tuesday. Tuesdays are long days for us with check ups and lab work.

I have to share, that ALL of Nick's doctors and teachers are very impressed with him, physically and mentally! He is always asking great questions, and he still has great strength and strong motor skills. Although he is doing fantastic in those areas, his weekly blood work has shown his counts have started to drop. He is not close to a dangerous level yet... but the numbers are expected to continue to fall. There will come a time when he will need blood transfusions and platelet transfusions, which will most likely not happen until the chemotherapy part of his treatment. He will start an antibiotic next week to protect him from pneumonia. We are also beginning to see some side effects of radiation. His skin is very red down his back, we have a cream that is helping with that. Nick is also starting to loose his hair. He is in good spirits about this.

Since he was feeling good last weekend, we checked out the Memphis Zoo! It is only about 20 minutes from St. Jude's. We had a great time, it was wonderful to hear Nick laugh so hard! Somedays, it just takes a gorilla to get a smile!

Yesterday, Nick's Poppi returned home to CT, and his Papa and Grammie joined us here in TN. They will help care for Joey and Julia while we are at appointments. We are so thankful that our parents are able to coordinate their time here with us. I am not sure if I explained this earlier, but St. Jude only houses families of four, so Joey and Julia both cannot stay with us at St. Jude. We usually say goodnight about 7:30, and they head to a hotel close by.

So while I am waiting for my wristbands to arrive, I love seeing your photos of you all wearing yours!!! It is so awesome to read all your posts about how eager you are to get them yourselves! If you would like to wear a band for Brain Cancer Awareness, contact my sister Carrie Corso on Facebook. (Carrie Scalise Corso). The bracelets are $5 each and come in several sizes.

Please remember to pray for us daily as well as for all the kids here at St. Jude. Nick is starting to make some friends here and at times is struggling to understand why all this happens, but is encouraged through their positive attitudes and most of all through God's Word. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.