Damn if 5:30 am didn't roll around and I was wide awake. I thought it took 21 days to form a habit, I had only hit the 15 day mark.
When Austin was told we could go home he was so very excited, he did a happy dance. I had tried to be as prepared as possible moving some of our personal belongings to our storage locker (aka the Flex) in advance. He did very well waiting, the longest thing we had to wait for was the nurse to remove his IV port and then Dad to return to the room (he went for a walk).
We were fortunate that we did not have to wait for transportation to take him to the exit that would have taken far too long for Austin. He left the hospital the same way we came in - Mom pushing him in a wheelchair.
Austin was greeted by his lovely sisters when we got home and his face just glowed with happiness. The first thing he did was to go into his room, turn on his TV and sit in his chair, I can't remember exactly but it might have been to his favorite channel - The History Channel.
Mom, of course, after she unloaded the storage locker, mentally (and shortly afterward verbally) started ticking off things in her head about what needed to be done. She was naturally responded to with the girls and dad chanting "Mom's home" and a few eye rolls. Once in a research study I participated in for fragile X carriers I was told I was slightly OCD, I naturally didn't agree but after this adventure I do believe we've got to call the kettle black.
We gave Austin a little time to rest and just enjoy his room while Mom let some of her OCD tendencies take over, putting everything away from the hospital, venturing to her office (the laundry room - which put her head in a spin cause dirty laundry wasn't sorted into neat little piles) and changing the sheets on her bed. No offense honey, but beside being able to sleep once again next to you I wanted fresh, crisp sheets. Note to self - If I do a social story on laundry make sure to include clean the dryer vent after every load :-).
I did get Austin into the shower and washed him up really well. To wash his hair I had to balance on the edge of the tub because he towers over me. The poor guy has bruises all over his arms from blood draws and IVs, and his abdomen has bruises from all of the incisions. He was ready for bed by 7:30 pm. It was sweet to be able to tuck him into his own bed. That night I felt like the mother of a newborn, a little anxious, I had to check on him a few times during the night.
Wednesday, Natalie and I tackled a few things on Mom's to-do list, tree isn't up yet but the living room and kitchen are a lot closer to Mom's specifications than the night before. On top of the list for mom was going through the fridge and bread basket, getting rid of a few things that expired (I do believe we had a few science projects going on). We've decided when Austin is up we need to have a sentry on the first floor, that or put locks on all the cabinets and fridge or he'd never stop eating. He enjoyed a visit from Gram and Gramps. He is still being very polite and calm, hasn't called anyone a "Dumb Ass" lately (thank you "Pawn Stars").
Friday his classroom is having their holiday party and if all goes well I will take him in for a very brief period. He keeps telling me he misses his friends and I don't want to have to make him wait until after the New Year to see them again.
Our first appointment is scheduled for Monday, Dec 23, two other appointments already on the calendar for January and today I have to call to make another appointment.
I've re-written our annual family newsletter (well mostly a re-write on Austin's section) and have finally gotten back to our Christmas cards (a tradition for me since I started doing the cards for my mother when I was a teenager - normal is good). The tradition has continued but with a twist, every year I get to hear Jer complain about how much money I spend on stamps, although I do think he might skip complaining this year. Late November I thought I was on track - that changed quickly in December. The Canadian cards typically need about two weeks to get there in time for the holiday. I had them all addressed just needed stamps and Jer to proof the Christmas letter so I could print and stuff (he does a little more than proofing, sometimes he edits, one year I should do a bloopers edition putting everything in I wasn't allowed to put in previous Christmas letters :-)).
I hope to have the tree up by this weekend, of course my husband says just put it up with a few lights - not gonna happen - when it goes up it will be fully decorated (hmmm, am I hearing OCD again). I've got to do an inventory of what I have gotten done in the way of shopping, like the Christmas cards I thought I was ahead of the game but now I can't even remember exactly what was on the list in my head.
Sadly being home doesn't take away all the worries, it seems like we still have a sizable recovery period to complete. With Austin my biggest worry is his inability to communicate to me if he is not feeling well. He doesn't really understand what is or is not normal when it comes to health so it's up to me to be his watch dog. Hoping I don't miss anything.
Thank you all for being part of my support team. I didn't (and don't) have the time to respond to each and every email or facebook post we've received but I do want you to know I've read and appreciated each and every one of them. You kept me focused and strong during the good and bad days. Thank you so much!
Hugs, Sally
P.S. And a big thank you to my husband for letting me complete my old normal, pick on him because of a few of his habits.
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