Happy Thanksgiving

We had a busy day yesterday, so I apologize for not updating.  Gage was really close to going upstairs, but they decided to take somebody else instead, which was a bummer.  He is first on the list to go up today, hoping to head up there around 11.  His !@#$ chest tubes keep draining way to much to be taken out.  Yesterday they drained even more than the day before.  VERY FRUSTRATING! His chest tube from his heart surgery in August seemed to do the same thing, drained a lot longer than normal.  It was the only thing that kept us from leaving the hospital.  They dried him out and it finally stopped so he could get it taken out.  This time, they tried to dry him out, but his LVAD didn't respond well and they had to give him extra fluid.  Yesterday, they did ultrasounds of all his major vessels around his body to see if there was possibly a clot somewhere that was causing the tubes to drain more.  They didn't show anything, though I was impressed that they were trying to find causes as well. The conclusion this morning is he just needs more time to heal.  Everything else about him is more and more stable.  He only needs pain medicine for his chest tubes.  He has a stage 2 pressure sore on his bottom that hurts when he sits for too long.  The problem with having no flesh and a very bony bottom.

Jason and the kids made it here last night.  Through a snow storm and flat tire they forged their way here.  I am so glad! It is so nice to all be back together and "complete." My heart is so full of gratitude today.  I am grateful for (just to name a few):

• Gage is able to be on the HeartWare and will be out of the hospital. Rather than the Berlin.
• For the caring doctors and nurses that do so much to brighten Gage's day and take such good care of him.
• The RMH that even though it is tight quarters, provides us with a place to be all together and wonderful meals.  There is no way we could afford a place to live here.  I don't know what we would do without this place.
• The fact that we can all be together.  Our biggest priority is being together as a family.  That is what helps us the most, so we can support each other and lift each other up.
• Modern medicine that continues to awe me and blesses us with the privilege to still raise 5 kids.
• Lastly and probably most important, a spouse and best friend who I couldn't make it through without.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!