Plus 10

Love the blaster!!!

My entries over the past few weeks have been full of heartache, pain, tears, frustration and hope. But today we have reason to rejoice and celebrate because Christian officially engrafted. I know many people read the blog and wonder how on earth we function though all of the heartache and sorrow. How do you watch your child suffer? And the answer is because we knew today would come. We knew that one day soon Christian would be delivered to a place of hope and the healing would begin. God has truly led us on a journey of self discovery that has buoyed our faith, developed our trust in God and our trust in each other as a married couple. Chris has been sick since last Tuesday, which means he is not allowed to come into the unit or stay with Christian. So I have been living at the hospital since then. 24/7 (with the exclusion of a lunch at Boston Pizza I barely remember!) I have been here trying to help Christian through one of the most painful experiences of his life. He doesn’t sleep at night, which means I don’t sleep at night. For five nights straight I have gotten a total of about 3 hours of sleep a night, total. Mostly broken 30 minute sessions of fragile sleep interrupted by Christian’s screams of pain or call for “mommy”. There is no earthly explanation for how I can walk or talk after the physical and mental toll this week as brought me. The heavenly explanation is that we can do all things though Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13) Just as Christian has been hoisted and carried by God – so have I.

The 'spitting' bucket because it is too painful to swallow

Nanny reading to me even though I am asleep!

So exhausted

Last night was another sleepless night (I think we are officially at five) and I was curled up on the bottom of Christian’s bed trying to catch a few winks in-between suctioning Christian’s mouth and pressing his pain pump. At 530 am our nurse, Nicole, gently tapped me on the shoulder to show me Christian’s counts for the morning – 1600!!!!!! I believe I actually swore in disbelief. I was so exhausted I immediately put my head back down and went to sleep.  So here we are. So close to the end of his treatment I can barely believe it. All that is left now is for Christian’s poor little mouth and throat to heal, for him to learn how to swallow and eat again. For him to be weaned of his medications.  As soon as he is completely off his pain and sedation medications we will walk out those unit 1 room doors, and I pray, never walk back in, unless it is to say hello and reintroduce our nurses to a strong, vibrant and hairy Christian.

Resting with Grammy

Trying to keep the oxygen flowing

Engraftment day will always be special, February 23, 2012, and made more memorable by some amazing visitors. Darth Vader and his Storm Trooper made their way into Christian’s room and into all of our hearts. It was so great to see the life sized characters bring a smile to so many kids at the hospital and some outsiders as well. I think one of the most excited persons was a middle aged man chasing the pair down the hallway so he could get a photo too! I can honestly say it was one of the coolest things I have ever seen and I am so thankful these wonderful people took time out of their weekend to make Christian’s day a little brighter. After a crazy week it was so great to have a little family reunion in the hospital cafeteria. It was fantastic to see my kids, and great friend, Kirsten, the rest of my family and part of Chris’, and of course the Star Wars boys. What a great day.

"I wonder what is really under that helmet?"

Holding up our favorite nurses

So perhaps we will live here for another two weeks and then the road to glory (that is the highway 2 back to Airdrie!) and our home that has long awaited Christian’s return. Once again I am humbled and honored by the words of encouragement we have received over the past few weeks. The comments left on the blog have inspired me to keep pushing forward and encouraged me to stay strong for Christian. I am so grateful for all the meals and snacks that made their way to our home and the hospital. I am so grateful we have family and friends who support us and a God that loves us beyond comprehension.  Thanks for your continued prayers.

Waiting for Better days

Today I am thankful for:

1.     Darth Vader and Storm Troopers who like to hang at the hospital on Saturday’s!

2.     Getting to talk to Chris tonight (with a good cough barrier!) about where we want to go on vacation

3.     Nurses who care and love Christian, who cry with our pains and rejoice with our victories. They have made these past two weeks bearable. 

Nurse Orli and Nicole - taking such good care of me

Miss my cousins so much - they had to come and say hello through my room window