Our First Week Back At Home...

This last week at home has been wonderful. So many people have wondered if I have cabin-fever or if Bear is tired of being inside so much. The answer to both questions surprisingly is, "no." He has not felt like it nor has he asked to go a lot of places. As long as he gets to eat his queso, chips, and quesadilla he is very happy. For those of you who don't know, Bear could live on Mexican food alone. We are still watching him closely to see if his blood count is going to come up on it's own or if he will need iron. He is very pale and doesn't run around all day but he is doing amazingly well. The biggest change that we've seen with the increased level of oxygen to his brain is his temperament. By nature he is a true first born but in the last few years we had seen behavior and actions that we knew didn't make sense. Now on this side of things and being told how deprived his brain and body had been of oxygen it makes much more sense. He has been calm, pleasant, and kind. 

His body is in constant motion and he is taking cues from his body for the first time on sleep. All week he has told us he needs a nap and he can tell how much better he is with sleep. It really is amazing. On Monday his tape came off his incision and he was sad that it is bigger than his other "zipper." I told him how good it looked at only 3 weeks and every week it would look even better. He also asked me if his heart would every sound the same. He said, "It's too quiet...I don't hear my washing machine anymore." 

I don't think we will ever begin to understand that he heard his heart beating constantly and that it affected everything he did and competed with and for his thoughts. To an adult that would be maddening but to a child I can't even imagine. It's good that we didn't know all this and God is HIS perfection took care of Bear as he waited and got old enough to have this surgery. Every step has had God's hands on it and it makes Alfred and I so grateful that we are not in charge and that Bear is HIS child. 

Brock has been his usual funny and charming self. Barrett has been patiently teaching him how to play the PS3 which is hilarious. He is going to VBS this week and to our amazement Bear hasn't complained about not going. He says, "I have to protect my heart from my friends right now." I've had to limit the video games at home or else all THREE of my boys would be on it 24/7! It has been nice having my monkeys love on each other and enjoy being brothers. 

My Mom went home yesterday after 23 days with us. She was an amazing help and is my best friend. The boys were so sad to see her go and all day they've asked when they could go to NeeNay and Poppa's house in Tennessee. This has been a wonderful week to see the light at the end of this five-year tunnel. We are looking forward to having many years of NO surgeries, NO heart caths, and LOTS of happy heart-health! 

HOME...

As I write this, Bear is tucked snug in his bed and I am sitting so blissful that we are HOME! It has been a very LONG 16 days yet it seems we left for Houston only yesterday. We had our final visit to Texas Children's this morning and it was VERY eventful. Alfred and I told Bear that his "strings" would be untied and he would have a chest x-ray. That seemed to sit well with him until the nurse told him she was ready. Then the fear of the last two weeks and ALL that had taken place at the hospital set in. That sweet baby cried and begged to go home. We stifled a laugh as he said, "One...just one more minute. I NEED a minute!" The nurse removed the first chest tube suture and it hurt. The next three, unfortunately, had to be removed by force but after he kept saying, "It's ALL over...it's really ALL over." He has been such a trooper and as difficult as it is to process all of this he has done so beautifully. He has a perfectly functioning bovine valve and his body and brain are receiving more oxygenated blood than EVER in his life. He is a bit jittery getting used to all the good blood in his brain but he will become accustomed to it soon enough. 

So...now, we are at home and the next few weeks we will try to remind him to not flip off the furniture or run up the stairs. We will say so often to not wrestle with Brock or jump off his bed. This is very normal 5 year old behavior, however, not so good for a healing sternum! We continue to thank Jesus for Bear's special heart and the team at TCH in Houston that performed such an incredible job. One of the things we have been talking about with Bear is why SO many people have been praying for him and why this was such a special time in the life of our family. At times he has asked us why this was happening to him and why he would not be able to swim and run for awhile. This has and continues to be an incredible way for us to share God's unique formation of each of us to Barrett. 

Think about this...God made Barrett's heart. Then he made an animal that HE knew would have a perfectly compatible valve and gave man the knowledge and wisdom to perform HIS medical miracle! It is truly incredible to serve and worship a God that thinks that much of HIS creation!

Catching Up...

It has been several days since I blogged. We do not have Internet access and this is from my phone. Crazy how we can use technology. The last 3 days have been very special and so different from what we invisioned. Bear is progressing beautifully. His chest looks so good and his chest tube sites are healing well. He needs only a little pain medication along with the 2 other medications he's taking. He is in such a good mood and is happy; even when he is hurting a little or itching from the rash that the pain medication gives him.

Brock wants to "see" Barrett's chest each day when I "paint" it. He had asked several times why Bear has a broken heart and he doesn't. That has made for some interesting conversations about God's plan and how we each have a purpose in his plan. Brock loves his brother so much. He is happy to see Barrett is okay and he is working very hard to be gentle. He pats Barrett's arm and Bear quickly tells him "You can't hug me- don't forget." Brock has been our comic relief and we continue to laugh at his precious daily antics!

I am so grateful my Mom is here. Her teacher mode is on full gear and even as I write this she is working on sight words with Bear. She is cherishing this time and is making the most of being with them and helping me. We have been so encouraged by your prayers, comments, and phone calls. The path for Bear is so exciting for Alfred and I to see unfolding. We are humbled God chose us to be his parents and what an honor it is to be his Mommy!