How Fast?

I could get used to days like this. We made it to the pulmonologist (lung doctor). He came in, took one look at Garren and said "So, does he still need that trach?" Nancy and I looked at him and I said "Well, that's what we're hoping you can tell us!"

So we talked for a few minutes, talked about Garren's progress and what he's been doing. After some discussion the doctor looked at me and said "How fast do you want to make this happen?" I was thinking "Are you kidding? How fast? How about yesterday?" I said "As fast as we can!" He left and came back with a smaller size trach. He explained that he would change Garren's trach to the smaller size, and in about two weeks we go back for a bronchoscopy, at which time he will probably remove the trach altogether! If Garren could have, I think he would have danced out of the office! We are all very excited about this.

All these weeks of hearing everyone's opinions and speculations. One visit with the one guy who really knows what he's talking about is all we needed. We are soo excited!

Water Guns and Ice Cream

Garren is cracking us up! He is so positive, and so funny! Yesterday I brought home a little squirt gun (I won it at our staff outing - my team rocked the scavenger hunt!) I didn't know if Garren would be able to squeeze the little trigger, but I tried anyway. I filled it with water and gave it to him. He immediately started squirting us. He especially enjoyed squirting Kara and Kelsey!

I needed to go to Best Buy, so I asked Garren if he wanted to go. He said sure. So we loaded up the family and headed out. After Best Buy, Kara needed to go to Target, so we headed there next. As we were walking through the store, Garren started pointing the way, telling us where to turn. He eventually led us to the freezer case. His favorite treat from Target are Dibs (little bite sized chocolate covered ice-cream bits). We all stood and had a great laugh together. All Garren can think about is eating real food. Tonight a commercial for Longhorn came on TV, and Garren said "Mmmmmmmm."

When we left the hospital, we left with lots of unanswered questions. The more we deal with the "pros" the more we realize - they are not used to dealing with people who get well, or at least who progress as quickly as Garren does. His trach has always been something that Nancy and I knew would be temporary. But we haven't been able to get any direction on how or when it would come out. Even today in conversation with the speech therapist, we hear talk as though it could be permanent. (Of course, we know it's not, it's just that we can't seem to get everyone else to understand this with us). So by the hand of God, we were able to get an appointment squeezed in tomorrow with the pulmonologist (lung doctor). After having heard how much Garren has progressed since he left the hospital, he wants to see Garren and start working on a plan for removing the trach.

The big prayer right now is that we will finally get some answers, and that Garren's trach will be removed soon. Garren told me today that he can't wait to get rid of it.

Sit Ups

Yesterday Nancy walked into Garren's room, where he was laying in bed. Garren said "Mom, watch!" She looked to see what Garren was talking about. I was on the back porch with Kara, Kelsey was in the yard. Nancy started yelling "Geoffrey, Kara, Kelsey! Come in here right away! Garren has something to show you!"

So we worked our way into Garren's room. We gathered around his bed. "Garren, show everybody what you just showed me." Garren got a little smile on his face, and sat himself up in bed! We all laughed and celebrated together! So awesome!

Garren is getting stronger everyday. He is getting taking more coordinated steps with the walker. I hold him and keep him steady. He really focuses on taking steps. Each time we do it is stronger.

Yesterday afternoon Garren started trying to tell us something. I got the iPad out and we started spelling words. "Die." Die? What are you talking about? "I would die." You would die? Why? "...for a pb and j..." You would die for a pb and j sandwich? "YES!"

We have so much to celebrate. We also have tons of questions. How do we know when the trach can come out? We are trying to navigate our way through the maze of doctors and figure out exactly who we should be asking, and what should we be asking? It seems as if they want to do things to Garren, but they give us no future plans, no "exit" plan. It would be nice to know what the long term goals are. And how to work toward them.

In the mean time, we will just continue to work with what we do know. Garren wants to be walking in time for his semi-formal dance this Saturday. That is something we can work with. I guess I better go get Garren up so we can start working out.