HOME

So much has happened since I last posted!  We have now been HOME for 11 days with our boys.  We couldn't help but grab our sleepy twins out of bed when we got back back even though it was 11:30 at night.  After 118 long days apart, it was pure joy to see their little faces in person again.  I thought my heart might burst from happiness!

Clayton and Caleb aren't quite sure why they're awake at this hour!

Let me back up a little bit to update.  We enjoyed every second of Benton's visit to Houston.  We celebrated Hunter's 100 day, went swimming at the park's pool, made a quick trip to Galveston, and had a lot of fun in the R.V.  His four days with us went by way too fast.  It was awful to watch him drive away.

Cheesin' it up at our favorite pizza place

beach day

Some of our friends sent "Big Game Hunter" for X-Box.  It was a big hit with all the boys!

Benton, Mark, and Jana went home Wednesday around lunch and we headed up to our clinic visit.  All Hunter's bloodwork checked out really well and we were in and out really quickly.  He dropped his steroids a little more to 25 mg, and increased the dosage of his blood thinner.  We still didn't have any time table from the doctors as to when we could be home.  On our drive back to the R.V., Hunter decided right then and there that he was ready to go home next week.  I told him that he might should let Dr. Carrum in on his plan.  In true Hunter fashion, he called back up to clinic and informed them that they needed to start coordinating an exit strategy.  I was a little skeptical.

Monday morning we went back to clinic.  Dr. Carrum walked in with Hunter's bloodwork and the first words out of his mouth were "Well, are you headed home today?"  We were shocked as we thought we'd have to do a little convincing.   Hunter's hemoglobin was 11.7, which was the highest it had been since transplant.  His liver enzymes looked better, and we practically ran back to the truck to start packing.  The plan all along was for Mark to fly down and help us drive the massive R.V. home.  Jana told us to just leave the trailer behind and they would come get it the next day.  Words could not describe our happiness when we realized that we would be home to our kids that same night.

We had quite a bit to do before we could get on the road.  I hadn't packed because I thought I had more time.  It worked out perfectly because my brother had a checkup with his heart doctor in Houston that same day.  If you don't know Nathan's story, you should click on the link and read about it on my sister's blog.  He was running in the Houston Marathon and his heart stopped near the finish line.  God has now given our family two miracles in Houston as Nathan has no ill effects from his cardiac arrest and two days in a coma.  

It turned out to be such a blessing that he was in Houston that day!  We had a quick lunch with Nathan, dropped him at his checkup (his heart was perfect), and scrambled to get the RV ready for travel.  I knew it would be a tiring day for Hunter, so I made him take a little nap while Nathan and I packed up all the fragile stuff.  We filled his and our truck, and a few hours later were on the road.  I got to ride with Nathan to catch up for a few hours, then we switched and Hunter became his co-pilot.  This was just another small reminder that God always provides just exactly what we need! 

Pappasitis=YUM!

Goodbye Lakeview RV Resort, you were a perfect place to recover!

 The past few days at home have been a blast.  We are just soaking up time with our guys.  There has been lots of hugs, kisses, wrestling, and spending time together.  It had also been very busy!  I have yet to get our four months of junk from the RV unloaded.  I decided to just pile it all in the dining room so it's out of the way.

I am one BLESSED momma!

bug catching in the rain

Don't mind the Christmas pjs in August:)

 We feel giddy with excitement to be all under the same roof together.  For the first few days Clayton would say "Mommy Daddy home?" a lot.  Caleb could usually be found in one of our laps.  Their little two year old minds were not sure what was going to happen next.  Kids are so resilient, and we're thankful that our families took such good care of them while we were gone.

Hunter went back to Houston on Monday for another clinic visit.  His mom and sister drove him down there, and his hemoglobin was up to 12.6.  His weight is almost up to what it was before transplant.  He is now down to 15 mg of steroids and doesn't have to go back to Houston for two weeks.  He will get bloodwork on Monday here in Abilene.  The plan is for him to wean off his blood thinner within the month.  We ask for your prayers that Hunter will continue to get stronger, that he can stay free from infection, and that God blesses our next few months in isolation with our boys.  This has truly been a life changing few months, and we are grateful from the bottom of our heart for those that have diligently prayed for our family!