A Special Birthday Surprise!

As most of you may know, I am home now. For those of you who haven’t heard…. WE HAD A MIRACLE!! It was all probably because of the many MANY prayers that were sent out from all of you. So thank you!

            Sunday, July 28^th, sweet Dr. Hooda came into my room for a consultation. He told me that my blood works looked great and that I was responding to the high doses of chemo and steroids really well. He sat down beside me and asked me how I was really doing. I was honest with him and I told him that I was receiving excellent care from all of the nursed and I felt like the doctors were listening to me and making me feel really involved in my healing process. He kind of looked at me again and said “Now, how are you really feeling?”  I smiled and told him that I missed my family. I miss waking up to my sweet baby in the morning and feeling the comfort of my own bed. Not that hospitals aren’t great…. But they stink. Literally and figuratively. J He told me that on my new regiment that I was only going to be getting chemo every Friday and he felt that it was best if I were to go home, under strict household arrest, and I was to enjoy my baby and my family. He felt like I was capable enough to take my medications and to get myself up to the hospital for labs. He said he would talk to the head honcho, Dr. Asch, but he was sure she would be on the same page. He also gave me the go ahead that day to go outside with my family and Gray and enjoy some fresh air.

         That brought joy leaping into my heart! During my last stay, back in May of 2009, things were a little different. As a patient, we were pretty much cooped up on floor 8. They wanted us to get out of our rooms and go for walks, but it was just around the 8^th floor. The East wing even, not the West wing. The floor was even under construction so it did not make venturing outside of your room very exciting. Since then, the nurses had set up a little course around the floor to let you know how many laps make a mile and you could make up your own personal racer to show your progression. I think the staff truly realized the value of getting up out of bed and having goals to reach. If your blood levels and neutrophils (immune system) is happy and healthy, they encourage you to go outside. If you are feeling REALLY good, you could even get a doctor’s note and a pass to go on a little car ride. Probably the closest thing to escaping your reality for the time being. This was music to my ears. I also could tell that it was very motivational for other patients around me to work harder to stay healthy. It is amazing what a little bit of fresh air can do for you.

            So on Sunday, we got to celebrate Grayson’s 3 month birthday with some fun pictures on the hospital grounds. Mommy was sooooo happy to get out. Gray was too. He hates the hospital.

            So the next day was my birthday!! Good ol’ July 29^th. I turned 29. I woke up this day wanting to hear some hopeful news from Dr. Hooda. Tests came back and guess what… They were letting me go home! After he left my room, I sat on the edge of my bed and cried. Definitely tears of joy and gratitude. I knew that my prayers had been heard and that Heavenly Father knew where I needed to be at this time. My honey needed me and I needed him too. Grayson needed to be in his home with a stable environment and schedule and we all needed to be together. I called up Joe and told him the news and called my mom and sister to break me out of the hospital. We all rejoiced! It took a little bit longer to leave than we thought so Joe was able to be the one to break me out. I came home to a house filled with cute birthday decorations, yummy Winger’s dinner at my house, and the best family surrounding us. We felt very blessed that day! Thank you!!