Getting Ready for Home

It's hard to believe we have less time than more time here at Shepherd. Kip arrives on Friday to do the family training....I don't think Jack and I have ever been more excited to see him! We are lucky, Kip and I, that we created these tiny beings who have taught us so much about love, family and hope.

I am guessing that family training will be a bit of a shocker for Kipper.....the first night here, I said to Chinwe, our night PCT, "You're going to do WHAT to my kid???" I had never (probably like most of you) heard of a bowel program.

We have learned so much about the human body during our stay here. It's truly fascinating.

• Bowel

• Bladder

• Skin

• Respiratory

• Blood Pressure......

It's like one of those things, when you drive by a medical supply store or a Spinal Cord rehabilitation center and somewhere in your brain you think about it for a minute, but since it's not your everyday life, it's a fleeting thought.

I am happy to say that I am now the proud owner of a blood pressure monitor, a pulse ox and a set of those flashlights that hang around your neck;).

On top of what I have learned from the experiance so far, now I realize that I am just like anybody else who needs to concur a fear. It's ok to be scared. Lately I have been thinking about fear. I think fear is mostly due to the unknown. I remember when I was pregnant with Maggie and I got a call from our doctor...she told me the amnio had come back and Mag would have Down Syndrome. It was scary only because it was unknown. But once I started learning it became less scary. Knowledge really is Power! Thank you, Thomas Jefferson!!! I finally get it.

This journey has taught me that we all have fear, but now I realize, it's ok, and that it's ok to lean on the relationships we've built over our lifetime and the new ones that are just blossoming.

Also, we have been extended to a discharge date of Oct 20th!!!!

4 more weeks of Inpatient Awesomeness!!!! Then it's Day Program here at Shepherd or Back to Maine! .....Oh and did I mention.....Jack's left arm is joining the party:)

Love you all Cam