the sweet sound of homecoming

During the past 31 days my focus has been to get Tyler better in order to bring him home. Well today was the day that my wish was granted.

Of course there was the usual 'hurry up and wait' scenario when trying to get Tyler's posse of doctors together in order to write discharge orders, decide on home supplies, amount of medications to continue with and how much care he would require at home.

Blah, blah, blah. Just send the kid home for goodness sake -- I know what to do. I've been doing this for nearly 23-years and I think I can continue on.

So Craig arrived just after 1 p.m. this afternoon for the final push to get everything out of Tyler's room. The only item that was missing was the portable oxygen needed to supply Tyler during the drive. Of course there is a portable tank sitting in Tyler's closet. Craig brings it with him for the drive home.

In true Craig fashion -- as he's lifting Tyler into his wheelchair -- the tank of oxygen falls off the back of the chair. I immediately hear a loud hissing sound coming from neck of the tank. Oops. The tank is now broken. Craig quickly places his thumb over the hissing sound in order to not allow anyone else in the room to hear it. If there is no oxygen to drive home with Tyler -- he doesn't come home with us.

We very quickly head for the elevator to load Tyler into the van for the quick five minute drive home. We're not going to let a little broken oxygen tank stop us from bringing him home finally.

We arrived without incident. He's home. He's safe and he's happy.

good news from the doctor

Tyler can really sleep through almost anything.

This afternoon the pulmonary doctor arrived with good news. Tyler's large sized trach is being replaced with a smaller trach. This is the next step toward going home.

Tyler must get get used to breathing with an adult sized trach. He's had a pediatric size for years now.

As the doctor was talking to us about Tyler and the past five weeks of hospitalization -- he said "Your son has been the most challenging asthmatic I've ever experienced. He has pushed me to my professional limit."

I'm not exactly sure if this is good news or bad news.

Nonetheless -- I'm just very happy that Tyler has done as well as he has given the circumstances.

Tyler got his speaking valve put back on today and he has really enjoyed talking to everyone. "Hi mom" were the first words out of his mouth. Closely followed by "ga-ga."

So as the doctor is giving us the good news about a possible discharge date -- Tyler seemed immune to everything. As long as he has grandpa in the room with him - that's all he needs.

Well, grandpa and a good nap.

we're counting down to homecoming

Before Tyler can come home from the hospital there are a few criteria that must be bet to satisfy his doctors.

One is that he must be off all ventilator support for at least 72-hours.

Second is that he must have a smaller trach placed into his neck and be able to breathe easily for 48 hours.

And third, he must have enough stamina to remain in a sitting position for a short period of time.

We're working toward all those goals with the help of everyone here.

Craig and I are sharing the hours at his bedside along with sister Christi and gramma and grampa.

Christi is good at keeping him entertained with Sesame Street videos on the computer. Grampa is always for some story books.