Today we are all smiling because Connor got his PICC Line put in this morning without any complications and we got the green light for our transport to the Children's Hospital of Denver tomorrow morning :)
Connor and I will be picked up between 7:30 and 7:45 AM to be moved via Ambulance to the airport. From there we will fly on a King Air 200 with two nurses and one Cardiologist to Denver. ETA will be 11:50 AM give or take.
Ron and Alexander are set up on an AA flight leaving at 11:50 AM from ORD to DEN.
There will be more up-dates tonight so please check back in.
Okay, here I will try my best to get all of today typed out before I pass out for the night :)
It is 9:50 PM and I tried my best to pack everything into the one carry-on we were told we could bring on the flight. I can tell you now it did not all fit so hope they will make an exception to add one smaller bag :)
As mentioned above the PICC Line went in beautifully this morning and Connor did extremely well before he went under anesthesia and after he came out of recovery.
Alexander had a heavenly day with Miss Marsha and his 'old' friends, Kate & Alex. They went to the Chicago Aquarium and spend several hours there playing. I tell you my heart went out for Marsha since I was not sure if she knew how much pent up energy Alexander had. So THANK YOU Marsha for being an Angel and giving Alexander an outlet today. The best part about seeing Marsha, Kate & Alex was the fact that even thought we have not seen each other in over 2 years it felt like it was just a week ago when we last talked. :)
Connor, I think felt like a celebrity today. He had so many visitors from the hospital who wanted to say 'Goodbye' all day that it felt our room had a revolving door. In the afternoon he made rounds handing out balloons on the 4th and 9th floor he had collected from friends and his former room mate Grant. One of his biggest highlight was getting a visit from Henry and his family who where our first bright light when we moved to the 4th floor and then he got to see Hope and her family. It was so precious for him to go into her room and see her and it was important for him to say his goodbyes but also to tell her and her family that he is thinking of them as we all are.
What is really amazing is the fact that when you move somewhere new it usually takes about one year to settle in and make new friends and to really feel at home. Here at 4 West (4th floor), which is the Oncology and Rheumatology Ward, we all connected so fast and started feeling like family after knowing each other for just one week. I am thinking that the fact we are faced here with our kids mortality that you start appreciating every day and every hour so much more. It is sad in a way that it takes this much pain to realize how important human connections really are!
Connor also smiled from one ear to the next when his lovely Dr. Curran came by to say goodbye to him, I know for a fact that he will miss her a lot :), plus Erin and Pete stopped by who as mentioned before have been a huge highlight in Connor and Alexander's life here at CMH.
And then to finish the day Connor got a visit from his favorite Play Station buddy and the one person who might have gotten almost as many colored pictures then me (not quiet... I still have a big stack :) Grant :) Kim, her Mom and Evan came to visit, have some Pizza with us and leave with two more bags I needed to get shipped. It is a long story so I won't type all of it but when Kim was here at the hospital with Grant the nurses kept asking if we were sisters do to us dressing a like and having long blond hair. Well I can tell you all I feel like I do have another sister now, only that she is living in Chicago :)
Oh, and speaking of family,our 'Colorado' Family, Shelly, Clare, Ann, the Gallup and Simpson Family, has been busy working on getting our house ready for Ron and Alexander's arrival, going Grocery Shopping, making yummy Chili as I was told for us and so on. It really makes me stop and wonder how I came here 16 years ago from Germany not knowing anyone to having 'family' now all over the USA. This country and especially the people that live in it are truly hands down the greatest.
Now I am writing something not related to Connor but something that has been a part of our day today.
Niki's Baby, Harlow Olivia, was readmitted to the Hospital due to Jaundice but she is doing better was getting released again. I so feel for Niki and the trials you have when you are a new Mom. She is doing amazing as we knew she would and we are so proud of her!
And then wonderful friends (family) of our in Texas just got the news of a Resident/PhD Position at OSU... We are so proud of you Aaron, Jaja & Girls :), and you will see us in Oklahoma :)
Hugs,
R A C A
WaHOO!! So happy for you all...getting so much closer to home. :-)
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