On the road again...

On Saturday we started a family journey to Oregon. It is our first since our epic 2021 trip and I definitely had some trepidation before we started. Last time, Lochlan was in a really terrible place in almost every way, and this time we started with him in a pretty amazing place in every way.  Some mornings when I wake up, I am amazed at the hope I have in my heart and the excitement I feel about what the day may hold because Lochlan is doing well in so many ways. 

I prayed that our dear old truck would be as reliable as it has always been, that we would repel all accidents, that we would avoid all flying deer in the headlights (I didn't specifically pray about that wild burros, foxes, jackrabbits, coyotes, wild horses and wild sheep that we saw along the way, but they also stayed out from in front of us), and I prayed that Lochlan would travel without incident. All of the boys were absolutely incredible and we made the estimated 16 hour trip in less than 20 hours, not including a stop for sleep at about the half way point. We made more potty stops than probably necessary, but none of us were complaining. :-) 

In the past couple of months, I have become increasingly more concerned about Lochlan's health. He is painfully thin and I think his growth is being affected. He has a voracious appetite, drinks plenty of water, and we feed him almost completely healthy food. I try to give him copious amounts of healthy fats, dark greens and vitamin rich vegetables. Yet, his body seems to be unable to absorb nutrients. My inability to identify what ails Lochlan (in every way) is the hardest part of parenthood for me. I continue, as always, to hunt for answers, but so often it seems I hit only brick walls. My heart aches for what I cannot change, but my hope rests in what I do not know and whom I do not fully understand. 

So, as we journey on, I am trying to set aside the things I cannot change. I want to savor the adventure, to observe and treasure the sweetest fleeting moments, to live in the gratitude of what I have been given. It's a broken, beautiful world and I'm thankful I get to live life together with this bunch of great men. 

Onward...