I couldn’t wait to get home from work today. When JT first saw me he said, “Daddy, look!” and pulled up his shirt for me to see…no more central line! No more catheters hanging down past his waist, no more mesh tank top to keep the lines safe and contained, no more clamps and caps to worry about – awesome. We all celebrated by tackling each other on his bed, jumping off the couch onto pillows, and turning up the music loud for a dance party. JT modeled his dragon Halloween costume for us and he and Justy took turns roaring like dragons. Good times.
Then we had a quick cereal dinner and headed down to McConnell’s Mill for a hike. The boys are growing up fast. Gone are the days when we needed to bring backpacks or strollers: they’re both turning into tough little hikers, scaling rocks and climbing over downed trees without missing a beat, always saying they want to do it “by myself.” It was a beautiful evening – the leaves are just beginning to change and the temperature is just right.
Thank you for your prayers. It sounds as though the surgery yesterday went as well as possible and he’s certainly recovered quickly. He’s got three dressings on his chest from the surgery and we’re hopeful he heals right up from the incisions. Our next big goal will be making some progress in the eating/swallowing realm. And after that, we’ll move into the "denture adventure" – I’ve finally reconciled myself to the idea that this is a journey without an end, and that’s okay. The moments along the way, like the ones tonight, are the stuff of life in its most distilled form.