Project 365, Week 42

This week features Aiden. Even though he's tough and such an easy patient, surgery and recovery is still a big deal. But our family knows how to do hard things and he was absolutely showered with love and care.

 

October 16

We arrived at the surgery center at 5 AM and waited just a short time before we were called back. I have been called "back" hundreds and hundreds of times for blood work, scan, surgery, procedure, treatment. It was a whole different experience entirely to be there accompanying my child. 

At one point earlier in the week Aiden had commented, Mom, I'm thankful we are a medical family. He counted it a blessing that we are familiar with that whole scene, he found comfort in the fact that I could talk him through the process with great accuracy and that he wouldn't face a whole lot that we couldn't handle. Or maybe he meant, in essence:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. 

When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

My sweet boy put on a brave face.

It's hard to be the one "in back" and its a different kind of hard to be the one not "in back". Neither is fun.

His surgery lasted 3.5 hours and when we arrived home early afternoon, we were both happy to get settled into our side-by-side recliners and take a nap.

October 17

He tried sleeping in his bed with lots of pillows, but couldn't get comfortable and didn't sleep well. So early in the morning we moved him to the recliner downstairs and he took a good long nap and then spent the rest of the week sleeping in the chair.

Avery's a good company girl. She'll sit and do homework with whoever is laid up and just be present.

Amanda's soccer team came for a pasta party. She did a great job engaging them and as a result, they didn't have their phones out. Instead there was much giggling and squealing and silliness.

Makes me so happy to have a pile of kids shoes in the front entry. Our house was made to be full of people and it makes my heart full.

October 18

My walks this week were an absolute delight.

Amanda's team played against our old hometown and four of the girls from the opposing team were former teammates from age 3 to 13. Shaun coached them for many years and we have such great memories from those times. 

These two were classmates and friends from 1st to 6th grade at St. Mary's. They played basketball, soccer, did sleepovers, birthday parties. And now they are women soon to graduate from high school.

Some of our local family came out to watch the game and the kids even played their own mini game.

October 19

Still laying low.

October 20

My hydrangeas are the happiest they've been all year.

October 21

We have a little landscaping project in progress and this day we worked around the raindrops.

October 22

I won't share details here but we had an answer to prayer, a miracle really. Dakota's mom called me earlier in the week and we arranged to spend the day with Dakota after not having him at our house for a full year. I was rejoicing all day as we played with him, brought him to church, played some more and then returned him. It was so great to spend time with him.