I am thankful

I am thankful that Matthew's surgery allowed him to be in patient for 10 days so we could learn about some potentially dangerous complications due to his high blood pressure. I knew high blood pressure over the long term was bad, but no one expected it to get so bad so quickly. Matthew's heart is damaged, but not irreversibly. With new meds, (and a new kidney, minus TWO crappy kidneys) Matthew's heart will be repair itself and be just fine. But they will monitor it now. If things go from bad to worse, we get listed...no more waiting. Without being in-patient -they would not have caught the fluid in his heart, in his lungs and the thickening of his ventricles. But we caught it...we caught it...it will be ok. I am thankful!



I am thankful we got a larger catheter...which makes for a smoother dialysis. With smoother dialysis...you get less alarms. Alarms cause the machine to stop...when the machines stop, the blood isn't getting clean. Matthew's blood is the cleanest it has been for a while! The day of surgery - his creatinine was 7.8, now it is 2.7. :) This mommy is thankful AND happy! And so is Matthew. :)



I am thankful that Matthew smiles the brightest smile for me when I need it. I took the hospitalization a lot harder than he did! Everyday to be told "you'll go home tomorrow", only to be re-told "well, one more night". To be given discharge papers THREE times and only for one of those to actually hold true! VERY frustrating. But that smile...made it worth it. Bad food, no sleep, 5am labs and REALLY having to relieve your bladder right as the doctor, intern and resident ALL walk in to do each of their separate spills. I'm thankful Matthew is so happy...he makes me happy.



I am thankful William is strong and healthy. I am thankful that I don't take his health for granted anymore...I just realize how blessed I am to be a mom to a "normal" extraordinary kid. He still surprises me with his intelligence and sense of humor. His athletic abilities are gaining too. Hmmm - dare we say track star? This boy rocks my world everyday. I'm thankful to be his mother...and that he tells me he misses me when I'm gone (even if it ends up making me cry afterwards).



I am thankful for unexpected detours that lead to wonderful family memories. I am thankful I can't plan it all, but can enjoy every second. I'm thankful for my family that God game me. For a supportive husband that lets me cry on his shoulder or come home from the hospital so I can spend some time with our other son. I'm thankful for my parents that came up to the hospital EVERY evening so that I was able to get a "break" to take a shower, take a nap, take a breath. I'm thankful for my "family" friends that lifted us up in prayer and my special "big sis" Robin that even drove down to visit us. Yeah, my family is kind of...wonderful and for that...I'm thankful.