Home Sweet Home

Grace came home Wednesday night. The decision was made Wednesday afternoon and we were home within a few hours. I think everyone is happy to be home.

Grace has lots of healing to do - internally in her lungs and from all of the IV's, central lines and assorted other holes! However, her spirit is fully restored and she is our happy, funny little girl returned to us. The sweet sound of her giggles is a balm to our spirits.

Grace seems to have put on a bit of weight since this illness started. She was not allowed to eat for a few days while she was in the ICU. Since she has been cleared for whole foods, she is ravenous! We figure that as long as we keep the ratios the same, she can eat as many calories as she wants. And she has been. It is really runny to watch her eat two breakfasts and two lunches and so on! The upside is that she is now at 26 pounds! We were so worried that after her days in ICU should would be about 23 pounds. We never hit that low. She was so full of fluids from all of the fluid they pushed into her that she didn't show losing too much weight. As the excess fluid has come off, she is eating like mad so she is putting on some weight. The ketogenic nurse coordeinator cautioned Tom not to let her eat too many extra meals - she might put on too much weight! I thought we wanted her to do that - well at least Tom and I want her to do that!!

Rita is now pushing for her share of attention. She has been great through all of this. This was Grace's third hospitalization in four months. Rita has been very understanding and patient. She is in kindergarten and her school events are important to her. We missed Dr. Seuss' birthday party. I forgot to pack her musical toy for her sharing day. She is behind on her homework. Fortunately, her teachers have been wonderful. When I commended Rita on her patience and understanding, she told me that she has been understanding for a very long time now. She is far wiser about some things than a five year old should have to be.

Before Grace started this diet, we went out to eat a lot. It just seemed so much easier with both of us working. We know that restaurants are too hard for Grace. The most we have done that was is take-out or eat at Aunt Helen's or Mom-Mom's house - we can count on some degree of control there. Anyhow, Rita loves going out to eat and this is something she would miss so we promised her that one day a week either Tom or I would take her out to eat. Rita said she wanted it to be Wednesday nights for dinner.

This week, Rita would not eat dinner for my sister because she kept saying that I was coming to take her out to dinner. It took a lot to get her to eat at home! We had our dinner out last night (Friday). It was our 16th wedding anniversary and I took Rita our for soup (and french fries) while Tom took Gracie out for a new Barney movie!!

Thanks for the support and the prayers!!