Thomas's 7th Birthday!

 Happy 7th Birthday to our sweet Thomas Vincent!

He has continued recuperating in the two days since discharging from the hospital, including his various symptoms returning and with him eating virtually nothing. We just weren't sure how he'd be doing for his special day, but he felt fantastic today and he even started eating!

For my local folks: If you need keto cupcakes, may I recommend The Southern Olive in Indianland? We discovered these at a birthday party where we were guests and they were the first beautiful bakery-created cupcakes that Thomas could tolerate. They certainly cost a pretty penny, but the cost and 30-minute drive are well worth it for a special occasion like a birthday. (Seriously, my precious boy who can't handle sugar or carbs ate half a cupcake and his glucose rose only 110 to 121!)

Picking up keto cupcakes

Pop-Pops arrived from Atlanta and we headed off to spend the afternoon at Discovery Place Science Museum.

We started by watching an IMAX movie. I realized as soon as we sat down and the rumbling began to shake my heart that I had not considered the volume. Thomas has upper level hearing loss from chemotherapy, so we are charged with protecting his hearing from getting worse more rapidly than need be. Chris came to the rescue by stepping outside to ask staff for help and it turns out that they keep headphones on hand for sensitive kids.

The children enjoyed noodling around the science museum for the next couple of hours. Thomas was absolutely a man about town, full of energy we haven't seen in two weeks.

He found a preserved octopus and squid!!!

Microscope

Ball python

I watched Thomas on this device and thought to myself that we should all remember the motto, "I can do hard things!"

Thomas is oh-so familiar with the vein finder used by hospitals!

Vein finder

Tug of war

Back at home, we enjoyed Thomas's request of Jet's Pizza (which sells a pretty delicious cauliflower crust pizza) before opening gifts.

Georgia peaches

A 7-year-old boy and his first little knife!

Seven dollars shaped like birthday candles from his sibling

Joseph (9) made the coolest gift! He created an entire fleet of different types of airplanes out of clothespins. His birthday card was a sign pulled by one of the airplanes. He also made an aircraft carrier and a hangar out of a cardboard box. It was so perfectly creative and boyish.

Gift bag from Cancer Children's Partners

Using the letter opener on his knife to open a card

"I've wanted a harmonica my whole life!"

A harmonica instruction book

Thomas's life looks bright heading into his eighth year. He will be starting second grade and will be participating in a homeschool co-op with other kids (!). I expect he will experience his First Confession (his having already had First Holy Communion and Confirmation). I hazard to guess that this boy will also continue to grow taller and gain pounds! Go, Thomas, go!