I keep meaning to do a post but I was waiting for something positive to write about. I don’t have much! I can’t seem to shake this cold, and neither can Brendan. All week it was just runny noses and suctioning with him, but Saturday his O2 sats bottomed out and he is needing a lot more oxygen. Keeping him connected all day is a challenge when he is used to the freedom of running around wireless. Bedtime tonight seems to finally be better.
He saw the doctor last week and both boys got a flu shot. Brendan tells me every day now that he doesn’t like shots and that “that lady at the doctor’s office hurt my leg”. (the nurse) He will really not be happy when we go for their 4yr wellness exam and they get four more immunizations.
Somehow I managed to sprain my ankle in my sleep the other night. It must have been scrambling for the suction machine. I have been hobbling around for a few days.
Bill’s truck was rear-ended. The damage to the truck was relatively minor (especially compared to the other car), and nobody was hurt. It made that quick run to Lowes a multi-hour ordeal because they had to wait for the tow truck to come extract the car from the back of the truck. And then today Bill learned that the other guy’s insurance was either lapsed or cancelled – either way, not valid.
Brendan’s preschool teacher has not been coming these last few weeks. Her husband had a heart attack and was in the ICU, and this Wednesday he passed away. This Friday, we have his big IEP meeting instead of his school time, so we probably won’t see her for another week. Trevor is on fall break this week. He cries now when I drop him off at school. It isn’t that he doesn’t want to be there, he just doesn’t want me to leave.
I try to stay away from reading the news of the world right now. When I do catch up, my problems feel very small, but it never makes me feel better.
So on to some happy things… we harvested pomegranates from our tree today.
The tree has legs!
These things are hard to pick
The tree is much more perky with all that heavy fruit removed
This year’s harvest
The boys picked them, and washed them
And peeled them
I have still not yet determined if we have a pale/white variety of pomegranate (which do exist!) or if we are just not doing something right with our tree which makes the arils never get red. They get pretty sweet and juicy, so we think it is the former.
They boys just love the juicer
Taking apart pomegranates is a lot of work and it took 5 of them to make about 12oz of juice. It was pretty tasty, but most of these pomegranates are going to be chicken feed. We will never eat so many!
I am hoping October will be a better month for us. We had such high hopes for this summer and Brendan’s trach coming out, I don’t think I have really quite adjusted to the reality yet. The waiting and wondering is always the hardest.
I’ve been trying to think of what I could say or do to make everything better for you. I would give anything to be able to make Brendan’s path to good health easier. I would give you stress-free days and restful nights. Don’t ever feel that your problems are small in comparison to anyone else’s. Since the moment you learned of Brendan’s heart defect, your lives were thrown into a new dimension and reality. You, Bill, and those amazing little boys have endured more than anyone else could have. You have done it with a strength, commitment, devotion, and mostly with love. You have cared for your babies and your family, many times at your own expense. And through it all, we all see smiles on those precious faces, and giggles on the videos, and you bring everyone who follows your blog the joy of sharing in your lives. Yes, there’s a lot of bad things to talk about, there’s a lot of worry and disappointment, and yet, through it all, I firmly believe that you will get through it.
Someday, there will be more good and happy things to write. Someday, you will sleep at night and watch your boys go off to school, and grow up, get married, and have children of their own! Then you can be the proud grandmother that I am now.
It is beyond hard right now. It will get better. And if loving you, Bill and the boys helps, you have so many people who love you, and hope, pray, and wish for everything to get better.
I can’t wait to see you all soon! 3 more weeks! I love you so very much.
Gramma xoxo
It can be so discouraging when everywhere you turn is bad news – whether it is your own or someone else’s. As Mom said, times will get better, and hopefully very soon! I cannot believe the boys are almost 4 already! We miss all of you and wish there was a way we could all come visit. K misses his cousins too (and continues to love his Paw Patrols toys from B!). We may not get to talk much, but we do think about all of you often.
First look at the picture of the “tree’s legs”, prompted the reaction ” You have a Pomegranate “ENT” !! 🙂 🙂
Hoping you and the boys “healthy-up” quickly.
Good morning from the East Coast!! When it rains, it pours!! You have a monsoon over your home! 🙁 Man the life boats!!!! With that said….I must ditto Gramma!! As a Mom and a Grandmother (myself), all we want for our children/grandchildren, is to love, be loved, be happy and be shielded from life’s stresses. We so wish we could wave that magic wand and take your stresses away!! You, Bill and the boys are incredible. I agree with Gramma that you will one day look back and smile, saying “we did it!!” Prayers…always, big hugs and lots of love!! 🙂