We passed!

After 24 hours in Payson's hospital room and a long, tiring, uneventful night we passed our "care observation test". We are officially "competent" enough to take care of Payson, (but not competent enough to ride in the ambulance with Payson, but a nurse who has never met him is...gotta love that policy thing). So, God willing Payson will be home on 2/3. The hospital floor is buzzing with the news and a countdown has begun! Since Payson is well loved and people fight to have him as a patient I am beginning to think the countdown is for "us/parents" to be outta there! (: Even though we have been called "aggressive" in our advocacy for Payson I think they will miss our laid back nature and humor.

As our excitement builds in anticipation for his return home we have been warned about the chaos that will follow him home. Apparently, when you are leaving the hospital it is crazy with final preparation for his discharge and everyone is running around without their heads! When we arrive home we will have all of our home care nurses (5-6 total), the pediatric manager, the owner of the nursing care, a respiratory therapist, a couple of people from our medical supply company and many others! They have said the first couple of hours at home are crazy! Despite this fact and the hardship that we will go through with his medical condition I can't wait for him to be home! I can't wait to wake up in my bed walk into his room and be able to kiss his sweet face in the morning without having to get in my car and drive half an hour. He will be home with us, finally the family is complete.

The last couple of days, Payson, has been getting back to himself! He is smiling a lot more and flirting with all the nurses! They did decide to switch him back to an uncuffed trach. This allows Payson to make some noise and what sweet noise it is! Thay also moved his rate down, so instead of the respirator breathing for him 25 breaths a minute it is taking 20 breaths a min. Of course Payson doesn't take those 20 breaths lying down, he is breathing over the machine up to 20 additional breaths. He cracks me up! His activity level is back and moves his limbs non-stop. Once he figures out how to really use them he'll be outta here! (: My imagination often wonders to a mobile Payson pulling his vent right behind him! Nothing is going to stop this kid! The nurses have said that once hospitalized babies go home they make up for lost time developmentally and cross their hurdles quicker. Speaking of hurdles, Payson does have major oral aversion, but there is a ray of hope! He isn't fond of the nipples that they have been using so they tried a spoon and he loved it! So, it looks like we are going to have to by-pass the bottles and jump right into solids! Told you he was gonna do it his way! So, now we just sit and wait for this course of antibiotics to finish so we can head home! 7 days and counting....Woohoo!

In the meantime this house is gonna be on the move. I leave Friday for my uncle's funeral in Fla. If it were anyone else I wouldn't push myself to go, but because it is Uncle Stephan nothing could keep me away! Despite the sad circumstances it will be fun! My sister will meet me in Atlanta on Friday where we will travel down together and pal around while down there! It will be nice to escape with her and hang with family! I do feel guilty for leaving Payson for two days, but have asked others to fill in for me! So, if any of you locals have some time Friday or Saturday and want to fill in for me down at the hospital, let me know so I can arrange it. The more visitors the better! I hate that he sits there alone and it will be hard for Todd to get down there with me not here! Thankfully, I can rest assured that Payson will never know I wasn't there. Meanwhile, Todd has several photo shoots, three to be exact, then will come home to assist our sweet community group men in building our basement and on top of all that be a dad to all the kids. He will be stretched thin and is a saint for allowing me to go!

As you can imagine my posts are going to be a big goose egg over the next few days, but I am sure you faithful readers will understand.

I do want to mention some blessings that God has bestowed upon us:

As mentioned earlier, two of our community group members have taken it upon themselves to finish our basement. They are providing their expertise, labor and materials free of charge to us! Blessed and humbled lacks how touched and honored we feel that these men would sacrifice time away from their loved ones, work and other things to do this for us! Todd will help as much as he can, but they have told him to help when he can, but just make sure the door is open for them! Isn't that sweet? God has blessed us so much with a wonderful Community Group that cares for it's members as if we are all family! It leaves us in awe often and demonstrates a love of Christ that isn't very common anymore! Thank you guys for all your willingness, help and prayers! There is no way to thank you, but may God give you extra treasures in heaven!!!!

A few days ago we got a phone call from Todd's mom. Todd has a distant relative who has muscular dystrophy and started his own foundation. Upon hearing about Payson they felt that some of the money in the foundation should go to helping us acquire things needed for Payson home coming. We were flabbergasted and amazed. Thank you Parker for having a heart that goes to others in the midst of your own battle!

God has challenged us more than we could ever imagine, but he has blessed us twice as much! Thank you Father for being faithful, surprising and loving!