Sat. 11:48 am: Rach Posts a Note

Thurs.

2:30 pm: We are packed, ready, and on our way. Micah crows in the back seat, "Go simmin' wi' Daddy!" Not for a while. It's a three hour drive. Seth kicks back to enjoy a book on CD. Knights in shining armor, clashing swords, so cool! A nice loooong story to keep him occupied.

3:15 pm: Stop off at Burger King to enjoy the delectable dollar menu. Micah is going to take a while to mow through the nuggets.

3:31 pm: Lucas leaves us to finish up while he heads out to get the oil changed. Micah is still munching the second piece.

4:05 pm: On the road again. Micah shouts, "Go simmin' wi' Daddy!"

5:49 pm: Bleh. Traffic. The real kind. Sure do miss the one tractor/four car jams back home.

6:52 pm: Ah! The hotel is in sight at last. "Go simmin' wi' Daddy!" Micah sings. Seth stretches and helps Daddy haul in the "stuff." I haul in Micah. Am I getting wimpier or is he gaining weight?

7:10 pm: Lucas and I wriggle Micah into his floater. Seth doggy paddles over to new found friends. Micah startles as the other kids splash around. Uh oh. Shut down in three, two, one... chin on chest, eyes lowered, lip out. His head doesn't come back up until...

7:30 pm: Micah and I snuggle into downy blankets. Lucas and Seth stay to play a while longer. "I hungee," Micah states. He won't be able to eat again until after the laughing gas tomorrow, so we put off dinner as long as we can.

10:15 pm: Tummies full. Kids asleep. Mom and Dad lay awake in discussion, praying tomorrow goes well.

Friday:

8:00 am Scrape through the door just in time to register for appointment.

8:30 am Micah is fitted for two wrist braces: one for days, one for nights. Micah shines puppy dog eyes on me. "I hungee."

10:29 am: Injections take place under Lucas' watchful eye. I just can't. One peek was enough. A machine shocks the muscle of Micah's legs and they jerk while Dr. G prods a needle this way and that as gently as possible. I kissy Micah's head all over instead. Pupils dilated to the size of dimes, he gives a wobbly smile. The gas is working.

11:26am: Lucas wheels Micah in for x-rays. Seth groans over a story problem as I check his work. Yeah. I made him bring it. Mean Mommy.

12:00 pm: Doctor Q explains Micah's need for a second bilateral hip placement surgery. Despite the pump, etc. his hips are still working their way out of socket. Without this surgery, he will need another, scarier one a few years out. We learn our view of Micah's procedures is skewed? The braces, phenol injections, and other various therapies are not to fix Micah for good, but to stave off future, inevitable surgeries. Her schedule is booked until July. Dread. Five days in the hospital and six weeks in a body cast if all goes well. On the outside, we nod understandingly. On the inside we pray. Hard.

12:39 pm: The nurse ups the dosage on Micah's Baclofen pump.

1:44 pm: Micah, still a bit unsettled from the gas, sips Sierra Mist and refuses anything but M&Ms. Sigh. At least they are peanut.

2:15 pm: We strap Micah's newly tweaked AFOs to his feet and grab directions to the MOA.

4:15 pm: Micah is keeping lunch down and Seth has a death grip on his Lego gift bag. Now, just a four hour trip to the b-day party. I call his friend's mom. Seth is going to be way late.

12:00 am: Collapse into the sweet bliss that is our bed! Heavenly Father, thank you for our safety today. Please prepare our family for the rough road ahead, if you choose not to work a miracle. I still remember: all faith, no doubt.

12:02 am: ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz