Thankful and Blessed

The Lord is moving in powerful ways in our family!  It is both humbling and exhilarating to be a witness to Hunter's healing.  Though this has been the most difficult battle I've ever experienced, it's also the most that I've ever felt HIS presence here with me.  Our God is mighty and faithful, even more so in the hard times.  When all is well, I find myself too busy or not spending time seeking Him as I should.  I have been forever changed by the past few months.  I don't know why Hunter's transplant journey has been so rocky, but our family has made the decision to trust God's plan for us and believe that He works all things for good.  I am also so happy to report that Sadie is off her oxygen, eating from a bottle, and gaining weight right on track.  We are all in love with this precious little girl!

Hunter is back to trach collar trials.  This is him breathing on his own with humidified oxygen through the opening in his trach.  Last Thursday (12/4) he started with two 1-2 hour trials a day.  He has made steady gains each day in the amount of time spent with the ventilator turned off.  He now has clearance to go for 6 hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon.  Because of the profound weakness from his demyelination, his wean from the ventilator has been slow to not fatigue his diaphragm.  During the day he also participates in occupational therapy, physical therapy, sitting up in the cardiac chair for at least an hour, and has passed his initial swallow evaluations with speech.  He is working so so hard!  It's very exciting to think he's off the ventilator for more than a third of his day.

When you've seen Hunter so weak, every gain is celebrated.  He sat with minimal assistance on the side of the bed for three minutes, and able to practice leaning side to side and forward for 15 more.  He was able to scoot himself over in the cardiac chair by pushing off with his left elbow.  He was able to swallow ice chips without choking and drink from a straw.  These are all things that most of us do without even thinking, but Hunter has to relearn all of it.  His blood counts have all been stable.  These are all baby steps forward, and have been covered in prayer from many on Team Hanner.  Thank you God for progress!

And saving my most exciting news for last....Hunter got to see the kids for the first time in three months.  It was a very happy reunion for all involved.  Benton was happy to tell Hunter all about his deer hunt, sang his school program songs, showed off his wiggly tooth, and just enjoyed seeing his Daddy.  Caleb and Clayton ran around like little monkeys and I know it did Hunter a lot of good to watch all their three year old busyness.  We are more than ready for him to be off the ventilator and out of ICU so that we don't have to move mountains to make a visit happen.  We are very grateful for the doctors, nursing, and respiratory staff at Zale Lipshy who made it possible this weekend.  Our family is so ready to be back together for good.  We are praying hard that Hunter can get off the ventilator and to the rehab floor quickly so the boys can come visit more easily.

After laying in a bed for 3 months, sitting up is hard work.  He is up to two hours of sitting now.

Occupational therapy is trying to get him back to earning his keep at the dealership:)

Blue ice chips--have to make sure his throat muscles are able to swallow around the trach

Meanwhile, I've been trying my hardest to make the best of our holiday season.  None of this feels right with Hunter in the hospital.  The boys and I spent Thanksgiving with my family in Abilene (old news I know)!  Thanksgiving morning we got up and walked the Turkey trot 5K.  Benton ran in the kids 1 mile race.

All Honey and Poppa's little turkeys

 The day after Thanksgiving the boys wanted to get out their nativities.  Benton asked to put up the tree.  I really hadn't planned on getting out Christmas for the few days we spend at home in the month, but I decided to try and keep things as normal as possible.  I attempted the tree on my own, and ended up needing my dad to help.  Benton said "I think Daddy would be better at this job."  Amen brother.

Mom, they're all bowing down to baby Jesus

Thanks Poppa, for coming to my rescue.  

Such helpers....they broke zero ornaments!

So thankful for three year old joy!

If not for Amazon prime, I'd have nothing for the boys.  We get them three small gifts each, and when I got into town Thursday night I wrapped them so they'd have presents under the tree.  Ernie also took each of the kids on a date night and they bought for each other.  From what I've heard (they were 0/3 on keeping it to themselves) they put a lot of thought into what they bought.  Thanks Ernie!

Busted trying to peek.  Caleb is a mess!

We went to a Christmas book exchange in our pjs.  His stomach was a little upset after this hot chocolate. 

Benton and G-Daddy on their deer hunt.

 At church last Sunday, Benton was sitting beside me coloring.  I wan't sure he was listening, but our preacher invited anyone who needed prayers to come to the back.  I was already battling back tears from hearing his sweet voice sing "Oceans," but then he grabbed my hand and said we should go and pray for Daddy and Sadie.  Pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye in the prayer room.  I just love the faith of a child.

So cooperative for pictures

holiday tradition--Granny's cut out cookies

I don't think anyone wanted any of their cookies after all the knife licking that went on!

Many prayers have been answered in the last two weeks.  Hunter has been blessed by a peace that could only come from God.  He has been very calm for his breathing trials and is doing great on them.  His days are filled with one exhausting task after another, but he keeps trying his best.  Tomorrow he goes for his formal swallow evaluation with radiology and also has a chest CT to check on the status of his MRSA pneumonia.  I ask for prayers that he is cleared to drink, and that there is no areas of infection left in his lungs.  All the antibiotics he's on to treat the pneumonia are doing a number on his digestive system, so I would love for his lungs to be clear and be able to stop some of his medication.  My prayer is Hunter to be fully healed of the MRSA and off the ventilator so we can focus on his rehab and getting him home.  Hunter's birthday is the 22nd, and with Christmas coming up I am bolding asking God that we be out of ICU, off the ventilator, and able to celebrate his healing with our kids.  I know he is able!  I'm sure Chase and Macey would agree...all I want for Christmas is for us to be together.  Thank you Lord Jesus for all you've done in the life of the Hanners!  May we always honor and give glory to God for all he's done for us.