Annnddd.....we're back.

The first day home from the hospital was full of relief.  I started panning our lives again, making appointments we'd missed and  checking in with other responsibilities.   My mom bought her return ticket home.  All hopes or normalcy were soon dashed. After 24 hours home, Aiden developed a fever.  After a few hours, it wasn't coming down so I called our friends, the Marbles.  Jordan Marble was a surgical resident who had actually worked on Aiden's case the week before.  He came over, did a quick assessment and told me there were most likely more abscesses.  We took him into the surgeon's office who sent us back to the hospital.  I cannot express the deep discouragement we all felt.  Aiden sobbed as the nurses hooked him back up to machines.  We felt defeated.  More MRI tests confirmed the abscesses had formed and needed to be drained.  They were in identical places as before.  We were literally back where we started.  Surgery was done on Wednesday morning.  Recovery started all over again.

Aiden's best attempt at a post-op thumbs up.

We all hoped things would be quicker this time since Aiden wasn't as sick.   He wasn't on oxygen.  He wasn't dehydrated.  Surely, this would be a quick fix.  I assured my mom that we would be home by the weekend and could handle things so she flew home.  Within a few days, it became clear that this wasn't going to be any faster or easier than before.  Brent, Aiden and I spent several days feeling very dark.  Aiden said things like, "I hate my life."  or "I hate being here, I just want to go home."  He stopped smiling.  He wouldn't laugh.  He wouldn't play.  He just laid in bed watching TV.   Brent posted the following on our family facebook groups:

     Aiden is still working through recovery. He hasn't had a fever for almost 48 hours which has the
     doctors feeling much better about things. They were starting to get concerned about their ability
     to  really tackle the infection.
     He just had one of his drainage tubes removed. He still has one in. Physically he is doing ok. He
     can't walk without serious assistance, and even then we are only going a few steps. He can sit up
     and watch TV in a chair, but that's about it.

      The biggest challenge has been the emotional recovery. This time around has been much 
     more difficult. He is really discouraged and doesn't feel like there is an end in sight. We are 
     working with him to keep his spirits up, while at the same time not getting too discouraged 
     ourselves. 

I spent a few hours with Aiden on Sunday (May 14th-Mother's Day).  Here is another facebook post:

     I was on hospital duty this morning when I casually mentioned that it was Mothers Day. Aiden's    
     eyes welled up with tears. "I'm sorry mom," he choked with tears falling, "the only present I can 
     give you is a smile." Then he smiled the saddest sweetest smile ever. "Thank you, buddy. That's 
     exactly what I wanted," I said. We hugged each other and cried. Best Mother's Day gift I've ever 
     gotten! 

On Monday morning, I came to relieve Brent and found Aiden out of bed, happy and smiling.  As the day progressed, I could see he had turned a corner.  I saw little glimpses of his personality.  I felt hopeful again.

One of the great programs at the hospital. Still attached to an IV, but he got to go outside and see the horses.

 Each day was better than the first.  He had more energy.  He started enjoying all the electronics and toys he had.  We had to make him earn MarioKart time by eating food.  They weighed him each day to make sure he was gaining weight. 

 Near the end, they transitioned some of his antibiotics to oral pills.  Swallowing pills had become a huge battle.  I had to coax and threaten most times (and he was taking them 3 times a day).  After making him swallow his pills and then beating him at foosball (another new favorite), he decided he didn't like me much.  This is him trying to avoid me.

Finally, arrangements were made for him to come home.  Aiden was being sent home with his PICC line so we could administer antibiotics at home.  He was pretty excited when the nurse let him pull out his other I.V. by himself. 

I felt like Aiden was much healthier going home this time than he was the first time.  I felt confident the worst was over and we wouldn't be returning.  Coming home was a bit of a transition.  Aiden hadn't been alone for almost a month and was afraid to sleep by himself.  Brent and I jumped every time he did anything.  It was hard to not treat him like a china doll.  The girls were jealous of all his gifts and attention.  Within a few days, he felt like returning to school for a few hours each day. His strength and eating weren't back to normal, but he was getting there.   He had oral and I.V. antibiotics for about a week.

In all, we spent 25 days in the hospital.  It was the worst month of Aiden's life, I'm sure.  It was pretty rough for our whole family.  I have been so grateful for wonderful friends and ward members who helped with meals, rides, and play dates.  I am grateful for my mom who came down for 1 1/2 weeks to make things more normal for the girls.  I am grateful for a caring and patient husband who put work on the back burner to make sure I got enough sleep and respite.  I am mostly grateful for the power of prayers.  For the strength we felt throughout this time.  For the strength I saw in my little 8 year old boy.  It was hard to not be able to help him.  It was hard to not have control.  I became so grateful for wonderful nurses and doctors who could help him.  And for a Father in Heaven that allowed us to keep our son and helped our family survive.

So grateful for the normal life we now have!

First family dinner in a month!