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The New Normal

Yesterday, I went home to work on getting the house ready for Abby's homecoming. 

Today, I began training on the vent she'll be on when she goes home.

We've done two out of three trach changes that need to be done.
Matt and I have both been signed off on g-tube care, trach ties, and suctioning.

Our case manager has found us a home health care company and a medical equipment company.

We'll soon be interviewing prospective nurses.

What does all of this mean?

There really is very little standing between now and when we will be able to take Abby home!  If everything continues to go well, mid-January will be our home date.

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I'm terrified.  Yes, I'm going to be a nervous wreck that first night (and every night after that!)  Yes, I'm concerned about how we'll get along with our nurses.  Yes, I will miss our old normal.

But that's just it.  Nothing about the past three months--since September 19th, to be exact--has been normal at all.  There is no "normal" for us anymore.  So even though Abby's homecoming won't mean returning to our old normal, it will allow us to create a new normal.  And we're looking forward to that.  I just want to figure out what this new normal is going to look like, and I can't do that until she's home.

And boy, are we ready for her to be home!

I get a little emotional just thinking about that day....what it will look like, who will be there to welcome us, the joy on all of our faces, the love we'll have for our family, the thankfulness to God that we will be feeling...

To be completely honest, there was a time when I didn't think this day would come.  Those first few weeks were the scariest in my life and we seriously didn't know if Abby would make it.  We never lost hope, but it was a terrifying experience.  I look back on it and realize that God is the sole reason why I made it through.  Someone once said, you never realize that God is all you need until God is all you have.  Too true.

So, just the prospect of getting to bring Abby home is thrilling to me!  I'm starting to get a little antsy, but I know I can wait until everything is in place for her to safely come home.

Home.  That has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Comments

Amanda Davis said…
What a blessing to know that you will be home soon. I am sure it has to be scary to think about leaving all that you have, but knowing you will be in the comfort of your own home again has to be exciting. God has taken care of you all so far and will continue to take care of you all as Abigail comes home. I know it will be a smooth transition and that you all will be okay. We will continue to pray for you.

Amanda Davis

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