A Much Different Summer

Well....we are STILL playing baseball. Caed's team lost by 2 runs in the championship game to become the Tri-County Runner Ups. They did such a great job! Amazingly, Caed was then chosen to be apart of the All-Star team, who are still in tournament play as we speak. So, our summer thus far has been filled with LOTS of baseball....AND swimming! Two things Caed loves most. We are so grateful for the healing that has ((finally)) taken place in his life.

Surreal...

 ....that's the feeling I had 2 days ago as I drove through the streets of Celina.  Reagan was going to Pre-Teen Camp with our former church, so she and I drove the 300 miles on Saturday.  It would be a very quick trip.  Literally in and out.  I dropped her off with our across the street neighbors, visited awhile, and got back on the road.  However, something quite unexpected occurred in those few short minutes.

The new family that bought our home had found a box up in the attic (which they thought was ours....it wasn't.)  It was nice finally being able to put faces with the 100's of signatures we had seen as we went through the selling process.  Such a SWEET family!  We stood outside visiting in the driveway, when the wife unexpectedly asked Reagan if she wanted to come in and see her old bedroom.  They have 3 little boys, so her pink/yellow/green/purple room was altered "just a bit."  ;)  As we walked up the sidewalk to the front door....a very strange....surreal feeling came over me.  I had made that exact walk a million times prior.  Only this time, it wasn't MY HOUSE.  I'm not sure if you have ever had the privilege of doing this, but I will say....it was such a generous offer, but also ((SUPER TOUGH!))  Obviously, you have endless memories attached to every square inch of a former home.    But, this home?  Very hard memories.  The last 2 years we lived there (2008-2010) was Caleb's birth/Caed's volvulus.  And during 1 of those years, Todd was living there alone.  I tried desperately to block out those painful pictures flashing one right after another with each step I took.  It was surreal, and I honestly had to keep reminding myself where I was....and that this was NOT my home anymore.

In our married life, Todd and I have lived in 5 different homes.  Each one just as unique as the stage of life we were living.  To visualize each of those homes, I can also recall thousands of memories associated along with them.  Good AND bad.  But....there is something distinctly different about our house on Doloris Ct.  Absolutely....SO MANY wonderful memories were made there, and friendships that will without a doubt last a lifetime!  But, the trauma.....the overwhelming pain that we were forced to bear those 2 final years unfortunately have left their mark a little deeper in our hearts when we think of our time in Celina.

I am so grateful for that (very rare) opportunity to walk back into "my house"....probably for the last time.  There definitely was a sense of closure this weekend, meeting this wonderful family and being able to visualize their new life on Doloris Ct.  I truly pray for sweet memories and years of tremendous favor and blessing on the 6 lives who call this special house....their new home.

Our Strong & Mighty Healer

3 1/2 years.

 6 trips to Nebraska.

1 Make-A-Wish trip.

3 E.R. visits.

4 more surgeries.

1 less organ. 

Endless x-rays, procedures, medical supplies, shots, blood draws, IV's, medications, and dr. visits.

......have come and gone since these 2 photographs were taken.  I truly am speechless.

"For You came and touched me with Your healing rod.  Your unmerited favors overshadow me.  You are Faithful and True.  Strong and Mighty.  My Healer."

Summer

Baseball is officially winding down.  What a great year!  Even though Caed had to sit out 3/4 of the season, I wouldn't change a thing.  It has truly been a blessing that he has been able to step in like he has and at least finish out the remaining 8-9 games with his teammates.  He is doing WONDERFUL and the incision is still closed!  When you look at him, it's as though this entire year of surgeries never happened.  We are continuing to push supplemental nutrition and eagerly watching the scale inch higher and higher.  It's pretty amazing to remember back to what he was like on Opening Day.  So frail.  Literally skin and bones.  Don't get me wrong.....the boy still needs some meat on him, but he is definitely MUCH stronger.  And happier!

Last June he had signed up for Baseball Camp, but instead was forced to say good-bye to summer, and travel over 900 miles to have an unexpected hospital admission and surgery.  This year....he is BEYOND excited.  Not only will he be able to finally attend that Baseball Camp (with some of his teammates), but also add in Basketball Camp too.  Both are right up his alley.  We also have already been swimming 4-5 times.  I know these things seem so routine.  So normal for summer.  But, for Caed....the last 2 weeks have literally been LONG-AWAITED answered prayers.

As I was putting the boys to bed last night, Caed asked if he could pray first.  I always love to listen to him pray.  He amazes me....the things.....the people.....the other sbs/transplant kids (he has never met) that he always remembers.  It's the little things.  The things I take for granted or quite frankly, don't think of until I hear Caed voice them.

Last night's was simple, yet it caused my heart to sink.

"Dear God.........thank you for finally closing my tummy up....and for letting me play baseball.....and swim....and take baths."

He very quickly moved on to other requests, but I stood there staring at the floor.  YES!  THANK YOU GOD for doing each of those mundane, ordinary, easily taken-for-granted things.   This year was ((tough)).  I still don't understand WHY it all happened the way it did, but am SO INCREDIBLY grateful for the timing in Caed's latest healing. 

Summer.

Here's to many more lazy days at home....with friends....with a glove on our hand.....or goggles on our sun-burned face.