Mom

Dear Nintendo DS, thank you for playing with my son this past week. He really enjoys your company and asks to be with you quite often. You have been a faithful distraction when things got rough. He likes you so much he barely hears me speaking to him. And I like you because you're pink. Love, MOM.

"MOM, I'm going to hide me in these balloons!!"
Feeling pretty good this afternoon when his brother and sister and cousins came for a visit.
Back to his silly self!!
Playing on the wagon. I was impressed how he was climbing around,
despite the pain and inconvenience of his non-working hip.
Children are so resilient, if it doesn't work this way....then try it another way.

I wanted to take a picture of the two of us and right as I took it, I was attacked by love!

security.

PICC line

Showing me how a whale jumps out of the water!!

Mr. Independent.

All his cards. xoxo

My forever friend Angie brought me this lovely bit of spring today!

The foot of Tyler's bed.

His friend across the hall left today. He gave Tyler one of his teddy bears.

I do not have a name when I am on the pediatric floor. I am "MOM". Everyone calls me that; the nurses, the Docs, the housekeeping lady, the food delivery guy and of course my little man. It sort of cracks me up because each person that sees me: "how you doing Mom?", "need anything Mom?", "what would you like for dinner Mom?" At first it really annoyed me, but now it's sort of endearing. sort of.

Five things I'm thankful for today:

1.) That I decided to add a texting plan to my Verizon bundle last week. Um, perfect timing?

2.) Javontay, the little boy across the hall, went home today, I'm happy for him. He gave Tyler one of his balloons and a teddy bear.

3.) Tyler pooped today, first time in 6 days, man, I bet that felt good.

4.) While enjoying my coffee with Tyler this morning in the lobby the player piano started playing "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Love that song! Did you know I met Billy? He ordered a gazebo from my brothers gazebo business and I was able to go along to "help set it up." All I really did was try to look in Billy's windows at his grand piano room, breathe in the ocean air and dream of living in the Hamptons someday. And did you know he bites his fingernails down to the skin? Crusty blood on the tips and all. I couldn't believe it, even when it was right before my eyes. PIANO MAN??? WHAT?? I think he was having a bad week 'cause his shirt was all jacked up and buttoned wrong, he smelled like beer and he had lots of facial hair and that was at 10 am. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. He was nice though and very friendly. Walked out to us and signed all our cd's and took pics. That was 15 years ago. Can I post them yet or does that paper I signed apply for my entire life?

5.) I haven't had to make any meals for one whole week. This is practically a vacation.

Tyler is doing world's better today. He hasn't have a fever for the past 24 hours. Great news!Still having hip pain, but cutting back on Motrin quite significantly. The blood cultures from his picc line are still showing negative at this point, but they like to give them another 24 hours to ensure there is no growth. After 4 days of negative growth they are thrown out. Until they 100% certain there is no infection they will continue to draw blood from his non-picc arm each morning. Not the favorite part of the day to say the least.

We will be staying until at least Monday. They want to see his limp improve and the blood cultures come back negative. Once this happens we will come home and administer 6 weeks, of antibiotics via his picc line, given every 8 hours. This will be a whole new world for us, but visiting nurses will come out and show us how. They will check up on us once a week and change the dressing, check for infection, etc. I am nervous.

"Hope is the word which
God has written
on the brow of every man."
~Victor Hugo

p.s. tomorrow is FREE ICE CREAM DAY @ RITA'S!! Can't beat free!!!