Our family's journey through life

Two weeks ago we  left the hospital  with a  our sweet little  boy.Six days after he endured his fourth  and longest (8hrs) surgery.On bed rest for the first three days post  op, a not so comfortable chest tube for three days an epidural,morphine, Tylenol round the clock.Bed rest. A Jack Pratt drain. Sleepless nights,watching animated show after another, ice cream,wagon rides,bubbles,coloring. We were saying good bye to the hospital. Again.Days before we anticipated.  We were stepping foot off hospital grounds with our sweet (stronger than most adults I know) warrior child wearing a lovely hospital gown courtesy of Dorenbecker Children's hospital. His left arm still in a sling. Holding his daddy's hand with his wright Owain not so gracefully jumped out of the elevator JP and all. Yes! He jumped!

 Blessed, we are.

 At home Owain continues to amaze us.After only being home for two days spending his day watching our own animated cartoon shows with Slinky and Nemo in the comfort of our living room.

We spoke with Dr.L (plastic surgeon). Great Doc. He was pleased with how little of an out put his new friend JP was putting out. He told us to come into the office that very day!It was time to say goodbye to good old JP. A week earlier than we anticipated .Owain wasn't to happy about the quick yet unpleasant process of saying goodbye to JP.He recovered quickly with some Mickey Mouse stickers.

Our boy continues to amaze us!
Blessed,We are!

Having JP out of the picture Owain continued to recover remarkably well. He spent less time in front of the t.v. Having the energy to play he helped daddy build a tent out of his old tapestry from his college days.They hid from mommy snacking on some tasty pepporin and cheese.

Blessed,We are!

By the sixth day of being home Owain no longer needed his stink'in sling.A week earlier than we anticipated.  He was back to feeling like his young energetic self.Running,jumping doing tricks (twirling while jumping) Flying like a bird. He no longer needed pain medication.He was feeling pretty darn good. Better than I did after my C-section. Truly amazing.

Amazing.That's our boy!

Ten days after leaving the hospital Owain was well enough to play at a neighborhood park. With Friends.

Our boy continues to amaze us!
Blessed, We are!

Thankfully for days like these.

If you asked me Wednesday or Thursday of last week  "how long do your think O will have to be in the hospital?" I probably would have  replied with a sigh "  I would be shocked if we were home by  Easter"I was prepared to stay in the honeymoon sweet (sea horse room 22) for  two weeks.

After all my sweet baby boy was  miserable. Recovering from an eight hour surgery. Hooked up to monitors an I.V in his right arm and left foot. One chest tube,a Jackson Pratt drain,an epidural, morphine every two hours.tylenol every four, unable to have the full use of his left arm. Sleepless nights. Terrified of white coats and scrubs.He was  not my happy go lucky boy. He was miserable, demanding, hurting,just plain miserable. Hubs and I were feeling exhausted,helpless. We hated seeing our boy in pain. Ripped of being an active energetic two year to being confined to an hospital crib for  days. In and out of a drugged state.

Drugged,scared,confused.
Not my happy go lucky boy.
Just plain miserable.

Well tonight  I am sitting here in the comfort of  my home shocked. Home sweet home,we are! Boy! Oh boy! it feels good to be home! Little man is sleeping peacefully with his Slinky kitty curled up at the foot of his bed. Hubs is sleeping next to him on the plum colored couch. We moved O's bed in the living room for the time being so we could keep a close eye on him. With him having the Jackson Pratt drain( which has to be drained every 4-6 hours) and a sling on his left arm for at least the next two weeks. He needs to be closely monitored. We don't want to risk   his left arm wiggling it's way out of the sling. It is important with the healing of loosing his Lattissimus Dorsi (which is now his diaphragm) to avoid reaching up with his left arm. Two weeks or less he will no longer need the sling. At first I was concerned how Owain would handle only having full function of his right arm. He has handled it remarkably well. My boy is a wonder boy! We are so blessed!With everything he has been through he continues to amaze me. Amaze us.
 So small yet so strong.

In a matter of twenty four hours (three days post op)
 Our happy go lucky boy is back. Full of life. Happy.
having the desire to play, play,play and play. Being silly, Calling the nurses "wacky "
 with a devilish grin. My boy is back! Our boy is back! We are so blessed! OUR BOY! IS BACK!