Thursday, October 17, 2013

Home! We are HOME!

It is taking me some time to process the giant life change I am in the middle of right now.  On Tuesday afternoon, one day shy of three weeks after his heart transplant, we got to bring Caleb home.  And it was one of the happiest, and most surreal, days of my life.  We finished packing up our apartment at the Ronald McDonald House, where we've lived for an entire year, and our van looked like the Beverly Hillbillies.  We squeezed our two boys in the back and drove off like four goofballs, singing and laughing and clapping and SO excited to go home together.  We stopped at a Starbucks drive through and bought cake pops to celebrate.  I was too happy to even care about the mess that accumulated in the back seat!  

There was a "welcome-home" parade of people lining the streets leading to our house, people holding signs and waving and cheering and crying and we did the same in our car.  We even opened the doors of our van so people could see Caleb and he could see them.  It was cold and raining and there were horns honking and kids jumping up and down and SO many pictures being taken... and I felt like our community, our friends and family, were giving us huge hugs as we returned.  The newspaper was there and the tv people were there and it was another of those moments where I thought, I never would have chosen to go through all this, but look at the experiences I have because of it.  

When Caleb walked into our house, HIS house, for the first time, he was in awe.  He walked from room to room with excitement, constantly exclaiming, "Look, Mommy!  Over here, Mommy!  Let's go in this room, Mommy!"  I have a couple videos to post of his reactions and I will put them on this blog soon, when I can go somewhere with faster internet connection. :)  My favorite moment was when he went up the stairs for the first time... when he got to the top, which took a little bit, he stood up and said, "Ta-da!"  He knew it was a big deal.  And it was.

The first night home was so sweet and the first couple days since have been busy, but not chaotic.  It feels SO good to be here that my joy and relief FAR outweigh the new schedule of medications I have to maintain.  I know it will get easier and easier, and it honestly feels like such a small price to pay to have Caleb alive and strong and healthy.  This is what it looks like when we set out the meds each night to draw up all the syringes for the next day:


And here's why I don't mind it one bit:



I look forward to posting more pictures of Caleb exploring and enjoying his new life... As his mother, it brings me happiness I can't even describe to watch him delight in his new environment.  Every little thing is a joy to him.  Taking a bath, walking in the grass, rolling around on the floor wrestling with Jonah, and climbing up the stairs by himself... he takes it all in with so much enthusiasm that it motivates me to enjoy these small moments in life, moments that would seem mundane to most people but feel like Christmas morning to us.  We are having the time of our lives, just being together in our house.  And I just can't get used to the fact that I really am here, for good!  I don't have to pack my dirty clothes in a bag to take back to Indy because I'm going to be here tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.  And my son is healthy, and happy, and going to have a good life.  This is a reality I just didn't know would ever happen and now that it's here, I refuse to have a "this feels too good to be true" attitude.  This IS true, we ARE home, Caleb IS going to grow up and live his life and so are the rest of us.  There will be no cautious waiting for the bottom to fall out.  I have a new reality now and I thank God all day long for what He has done and the way He has sustained all four of us.  Any other kind of thinking is disrespectful to the goodness of God.  He has given us a gift and wants us to enjoy the gift, not question how long it will last.  I know our future is still unknown and I understand very well that problems could develop at any time.  But I won't waste my life and my blessings by allowing a disclaimer to my happiness that says, "Well, things are really good now, but..."  None of us know what tomorrow will look like, but I know that today was freaking great and that's enough for me.  






17 comments:

  1. You guys have so many friends that you've never even met. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. My family is blessed through you guys, through your joy, your faith, and all that you've been through that has allowed so many to experience God in unfathomable and countless ways.

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  2. You know what is so cool....we all feel the same way! Our God is BIG! Singing praises along with you all and can't wait for video!! :) Meantime I keep watching the best prayer I have ever heard, for "this day, and pickles and fooooood and for my new heart! Amen" Love you, Miss Pam

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  3. This is so great & I'm so happy for the blessing you've received, God is good! I'm not familiar with sites like this & I'm not sure how to respond; I accepted you as a friend, but realize this is different than my other friends that I know & have accepted. Please explain what this site consists of: You want to share your story? You need our prayers? I'm sure it's both of these, but feel there is something I'm missing. Would you fill me (an apparently naive lady) in on what I'm missing, if anything. Thank you so much & I will remember you in my prayers. I'm so happy for your family. I know your life has to have been very difficult & thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm also wondering how you picked the people you chose to be your friends.

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  4. I think this has to be the neatest, sweetest, most beautiful thing I have 'experienced', next to God's presence. I am so happy for you all!

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  5. My heart is filled with praises to our God for allowing this terrific event in your family. When we're one in Christ, we can praise and pray for fellow Christians and enjoy their joy even though we'll never meet until we're in heaven. Thank you so much for sharing your trials and triumphs which encourages our own hearts as we go through this life.with its ups and downs. I pray for Caleb and your family as you get to enjoy life at home with Caleb.

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  6. Your joy is such a beautiful expression of our God's mercy and love! To top it off Lucy will arrive soon and you'll have just another unbelievable blessing.

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  7. All I can say is wow God is sooooo good and I am sooo happy for your family....Praise God!!!!!...Donna Richardson

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  8. Praise God and congratulations! Very happy for you all!

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  9. So so so happy for you!!! Congratulations!
    xo rachel

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  10. Katie and Daniel, we are so blessed to share your joy. Katie, you are choosing wisely to live fully in the moment, praising the Lord for what you have today. I look forward with anticipation to upcoming posts, but this one has been one of the best ever....not only for me to read, but for you to write! May God continue to use you in our lives and bless your socks off while He's at it.... =^) Rick Knox

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  11. i get such a blessing from you and your family. thank you for keeping us all up on how things are going. it is so good to know that the faith of this age is in the hands of young folks like you guys. god bless you.

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  12. I have been following your story for quite some time and it is so inspiring. Your faith and love for God is very uplifting. I have prayed for Caleb and I am still praying for him and your family as I know that you are just beginning your journey and will soon have little Lucy to care for as well. God has truly blessed you all in many ways. Thank you for sharing your story and inspiring me and probably lots of others as well. I was not able to make it to New Castle to welcome you home, but just know that 120 miles North of you, I was in my home reading the updates and praising God that you all were able to come home. Enjoy every day and live life to the fullest, Caleb is special and God definitely has a plan for that precious boy. You will forever be in my prayers and my heart.

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  13. I know of your story through a friend and have been following with the progress. It brings tears to my eyes to read this, tears of happiness for you. Enjoy each and every day and God bless your sweet little Caleb and your family.

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  14. As I read this through tears of joy, I continue to pray for Caleb's heart to beat strong and for you to be rested for the new bundle of joy coming!

    God is good, ALL the time! Blessings flow:)

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  15. From one heart transplant Mama to another, congratulations!! Our daughter Eleanor came home one day shy of three weeks after her transplant too! So happy for you all <3 www.facebook.com/ihearteleanorvivian

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