Home visits

Anna's first trip home today was a success!  In fact, it was enough of a success that we asked for, and were granted, another day pass for Sunday.  Hip, hip, hooray!

Before Anna and I left the hospital this morning, our goal was only to make it home and back.  Luckily, the charge nurse told me that if things were going well, we should stay away as long as we could.  Anna was not due for any more medication until 6 p.m., and we got back at about 5:30 :)

We made it into the van and all the way home without incident.  Anna vegged on the couch (with a big smile on her face) for awhile while Kate was giddily bouncing all over the house.  Then Anna joined us, in her wheelchair, for lunch, before taking a nap about the same time as Ethan.  After she woke up, I asked her if she wanted to run into a store to spend some of a gift certificate she received.  She sounded up for the excursion, so we got to have a Mommy-Anna date during which she picked out a new stuffed animal for herself, one for Kate, and one for Ethan ... as if we don't already have enough stuffed animals.  We made it back home so she could give her gifts and take another nap.

The hardest part about being home for her was having to leave again, but she is a smart enough kid to realize that we don't yet have all of the necessary training and equipment to fully take care of her needs here at home.

On the way back to the hospital I asked Anna if she would have enough energy to make the trip home again on Sunday and she said yes.  So we asked as soon as we got back, and everyone gave us the okay.  We plan on picking her up after church tomorrow for another afternoon at home!

When all of the kids were home, Matt and I felt as if a great burden were lifted from our shoulders.  We knew that we missed having all of our family together at home, but we didn't realize just how much we missed it.  I think we may even have forgotten just how good it feels to be at home with all of our family.

And now the radiation portion of Anna's treatment has an end in sight!  I feel like we can take a big breath and say to ourselves ... with God's help, we can do this!

Only two things to pray about tonight ... Please thank God for a happy day at home for our family.  Please ask God to give each member of our family restful sleep tonight so that we can enjoy another happy day tomorrow as well.

Thank you!