We are home!

Brady had another great night last night.  He even learned how to sleep through receiving oral medicines.  Now that is tricky to do!  The doctors determined during rounds that he was fit to head home.  This made Brady very happy along with the rest of us.  The last IV was removed, instructions given, room packed up and we were heading to the car.  When we got the wheel chair to the car I expected Brady to slowly move from the chair into the car.  Oh no.  I really wish I could have caught it on video.  He practically jump up from the chair and into the car.  He said after he got into the car, "If I am in the car they can't take me back!"  

The drive home was uneventful, but sitting upright for that long did bring on some additional pain.  A stop at In-N-Out Burger drive thru helped him forget his pain for awhile.  Finally a decent meal.  I am not sure he has stopped eating since being home.  He ate a bowl of popcorn right before dinner and still ate a plate of pasta.  He lost 3 precious pounds in the hospital so we really need to get that back and more.  

We were pleasantly surprise upon arriving home to find our yard completely decorated welcoming Brady home.  Thank you to those who helped Brady feel loved yet again.  Katie and Addison had arrived home shortly before we did and apparently Addison said over and over again, "This is awesome!"  

Brady has continued to improve throughout the day.  We have both done plenty of resting, which has been so needed.  I am pretty sure I could sleep for the next 24 hours and maybe then start to feel somewhat normal.  Luckily rest is what Brady needs right now so I should be able to catch naps here and there and will return to normal in no time.

The discharge orders were to keep Brady home from school at least till his post op appointment, which happens at the beginning of February.  If he checks out okay he may be allowed to start back at school attending only part days to start.  His sternum is more fragile than most kids after heart surgery because of all the complications from his first surgery.  The surgeon said that his sternum is rib head to rib head.  Because of this he will be put on no strenuous activities for 3 months instead of the normal 6 week recommendation.  Brady is a 9 year old boy and really wants to get back to playing.  He pushes himself to sit up and color only to feel additional pain on his sternum.  He has shown such improvement in the last 48 hours that in 48 hours from now he will be that much better.  Hopefully we can help him see that so he doesn't keep getting so frustrated.  

As promised, here are a few pictures from the week.  

 Scott and Brady passing the time before surgery

 The Ronald McDonald family room in Primary Children's Hospital.  We spent the day in there during Brady's surgery.  We received updates via a pager.  This is a much nicer place than the surgery waiting room!

 Post surgery

 Anesthesia hadn't quite worn off.

Morning of Day 2.

Addison sure missed her playmate this week.

 End of Day 2.  We had made two attempts during the day to sit up, the second one being a bad experience because of the excruciating pain he felt.  That evening though he told his nurse he was ready to sit in a chair and he practically got himself there.  He is so determined!

 Because of all the IV's and arterial line Brady didn't have the use of one of his hands.  He really wanted to build the Legos the child life specialist brought him.  He built these with his one good hand.  

 Visit from his friend Dani. (Day 3)

 Just chill'n in the hospital chest tube free. (Day 4)

Brady's second walk Thursday out to see Spiderman.

 Visit from his friend Mirae.

 A field trip Thursday night around the hospital.

This week has been kind of a blur as I look back at these pictures.  Brady truly did amazing and we know as a family that this miraculous week was directly because of the fasting and praying that was done on his behalf.  There really weren't any hiccups to his surgery and recovery.  This morning I was sure something would go wrong preventing him from coming home.  Based on his last heart surgery experience where everything seemed to go wrong how could this one not have anything that went wrong.  Well so far so good.  Thanks to God for his bounteous blessing.  Brady is truly an inspiration in our lives and I am so glad to continue to have him here with us.