"Normal" life

Tonight I took Jonah out on a date, just the two of us, to spend a little quality time together.  Tomorrow is his 5th birthday and we needed some time together anyway.  He was SO excited and said he wanted to wear "something handsome, not something John Deere, but something nice".  I don't know why he made that comment and believe me, it is NOT a reflection of how much he enjoys dressing like a farmer, because he tries to wear his Carhartt overalls most days of the week.  But I guess tonight was special and he informed me that I should really think about what I was going to wear, especially my shoes.  This was a bit problematic since I am at the point in my pregnancy where I have exactly 3 shirts that fit and I exclusively wear leggings or sweat pants.  Apparently I passed the test because he said I looked beautiful and opened the door for me.  He chose Bob Evans for the restaurant, both because pancakes are his favorite food and because, according to him, "it's the only place to go for a date in New Castle."  When we got there, he informed the hostess, unprompted, that he was on a date and that his birthday was tomorrow and when we were seated he asked me to sit on the same side of the table.  We sat on the same side of the booth at Bob Evans at 5:00 on a Wednesday like some elderly couple.  We both got pancakes and played tic-tac-toe until our food came.  It was a pretty great way to spend an evening.

Our home is louder than it's ever been and I keep waiting for the boys to get used to being home together but they haven't settled down since the day we first got here.  They wrestle and run and scream and laugh and throw pillows at each other all day long.  They now get up at about 6:00 every morning, Caleb first and then I hear him waking up Jonah and they go straight to their play room.  I pray this is a combination of Caleb being on steroids, which makes it hard to sleep, and the newness of being home.  I have asked God for a lot in the last year, but I still feel ok about asking him to make my kids sleep until at least 7:00.  At least for a couple days before their little sister comes into the world and takes what little sleep time I have left.  

Lucy is coming so soon... I had a doctor appointment yesterday and actually scheduled a c-section for next Friday, November 1.  Yep, she is going to be born exactly one year to the day after Caleb got admitted to the hospital.  I couldn't make this stuff up, people, this is the craziness of my life!  What a way to bookend this past year.  If someone would have told me all that was going to happen from November 1, 2012 to November 1, 2013, I'm sure I wouldn't believe it.  In just 9 days, it will truly feel like we have concluded this season of our life with a giant exclamation point.  Sometimes it feels like I am living in some overly dramatic Lifetime movie.  I think I'm just ready for some peace and quiet now.  Maybe we can burn through some months with no major events to speak of.

Caleb is doing great.  We have been going to Riley once a week and so far, so good. His first biopsy went well, and so far there has been zero rejection.  His next biopsy is in mid-November and we just continue to pray!  He starts physical therapy next week and already he has made huge strides just since we've been home.  He can go up and down the stairs with ease by himself and he can now climb onto any piece of furniture in our house.  He is THIS close to being able to run.  He sure tries!  He is happy all day long, thrilled to be in our house.  I wondered if it would bother him to have to go back to the hospital each week, but it really doesn't.  Although he does ask frequently throughout his appointment if we're "almost done" and if it's "time to go home".  He doesn't mind visiting, but he sure as heck doesn't want to stay.  Our team is thrilled with his progress, thrilled that he has an awesome appetite and energy level.  His only issue has been high blood pressure at times, which is a side effect of some of his meds.  We've been tweaking some things to control it and the doctor doesn't expect it to last for long.  If someone peeked in our window and saw Caleb playing, they would never believe he just had a heart transplant 4 weeks ago.  He is a totally normal 2-year-old.  And he is so much fun and full of life.

I think about our donor family a lot.  I think about how all this amazing stuff that has happened to Caleb and to our family is all because of them and their decision, during the worst experience of their lives, to selflessly donate their child's organs.  I hope that someday we can know each other.  Until then, I pray for them and think about them and wish I could let them see the miracle that they have given us.