Recovery...

Here we are, post surgery, and Levi is a total rock star. As it turns out, recovering from spinal fusion is one of the tougher things in life. But, Levi is doing well, and we should be going home Saturday. He is returning home in a halo vest to protect the surgical work. He will live in the vest for two months, and then we will return to have it removed. (Which is an easy thing, thankfully!) We are tired, but thankful to be at the end of this long journey. We are nowhere near done with the entirety of Levi's care, but we are past the biggest thing. 

Thank you for your prayers & support. I will update soon with more news of going home! 

TGIF!

We have reached the end of our final week at The Shrine! Who can believe that? Although we have all had our tough moments, this has been the most grace-filled four weeks ever. And, for the most part, has really gone quickly. We will be transported to Primary Children's Medical Center first thing Monday morning, and Levi's surgery will get under way. Speaking as a mom, this is both the best part, and also the biggest hurdle. I have no doubt that the surgeons are the best, and that Levi is in good hands...in more ways than one...but I am still anxious to be on the recovery side. We have been told that recovery, on average, can last from 5-7 days, and some kids do it in three. We are hopeful for a quick recovery for our strong little man, and your prayers for a safe, successful surgery and recovery are appreciated! 

We have had nearly ever staff member here at The Shrine come to wish us well today. These people... God bless them. They are terrific. They put their heart and soul into each and every patient, and have all taken Levi into their hearts. (He's a charmer!) 

Tomorrow, there will be a Christmas Tree assembled and decorated in the giant activities room. (Or as Levi likes to refer to it, "the living room." The Shriners themselves will be here, along with [creepy] clowns, some muffins, and a few extra people. Daddy arrives tonight, Nana & Papa from Tulsa tomorrow, and also Papa Clark. We will have a small 'platoon' as my dad would say, to see Levi through the weekend and surgery. We are very blessed. 

I will be sure to post a blog as soon as Levi is out of surgery and in recovery. I am sure that we will also have more pictures, what with all of the grandparents around. We are all looking forward to being 'Home for the Holidays' very soon. 

........

Post Script: To keep ourselves busy this week, we have been diving headlong into Christmas crafts... and a visit from the Utah Jazz. (Unfortunately, hardly anyone here knew which players were visiting... so your guess is as good as any.) 

Levi and an assistant coach from the Utah Jazz

 Santa and Frosty were feeling a bit deflated...

Anyone remember these beauties? 

Maca and Levi making a pom-pom wreath

 A Reindeer S'more 

 Charlotte observing the ways of the city

 Levi making a gingerbread house

 The neighborhood

The Countdown Has Begun...

What's up bloggin' peeps? : ) As you can see from the photo, Christmas has landed at The Shrine, and we are enjoying the lights and color, including the above-pictured scene from How The Grinch Stole Christmas. (Donated from the Festival of Trees) My mom said that the Ronald McDonald House also received a tree from the Festival... a Beanie Baby tree that spins around. This sounds creepy to me. 

We have begun our countdown to surgery! Bless the Lord oh my soul, we have made it to the last week. (I feel as though the Hallelujah Chorus should be sounding right about now. Hum it if you like.) Levi has done remarkably well, and his spine has responded beautifully to the traction. This will give the surgeons room to 'stretch him out' on the table, and will make their work "easier." Levi had a CT scan today in preparation for next Monday's main event, and so the surgeons begin their plan of attack. 

I couldn't be happier with the doctors that we have been blessed with. They are nationally and internationally known. Just this morning, we were informed of patients coming from New Zealand to see one of the orthopedic surgeons that is also working on Levi's case. Incredible stuff. 

We are sailing through our last Monday here, and can't believe that next week, Levi will be recovering and we will be going home! Stay tuned for more good news: ) ... 

A Trip to the Fire Station

Today was an exciting day for our little man. We were able to take him out of The Shrine, and on a field trip to a local fire station! He, of course, was super excited. We loaded Levi up in his chair into one of the transport vehicles, and headed out of the hospital for the first time (for Levi) in several weeks. It was a beautiful day for it as well, because the high here in SLC today was 61 degrees. (November, where art thou?) 

Ready to roll! 

Learning about a fireman's uniform

Mommy being tortured

Squirting water out of the fire hose! 

All in all, it was a great morning, and we topped off our outing with lunch. Levi definitely had a good nap once we returned. :) 

A Psalm for Tuesday

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!" 

Psalm 31:24

A friend posted this scripture on Facebook this morning, and it really struck a chord with me. So, naturally, I deemed it worthy for the blog. In all seriousness, we could not handle this adventure without the Grace provided to us during this time, and we are surrounded by it. As one person so aptly put it, it's like being cushioned by a Grace that you only receive in times like these, when you absolutely need it. And it's absolutely true. We are comforted by it, strengthened and encouraged...and cushioned. 

So if you are in a place where you need a little bit of cushion...take courage. And wait for the Lord. 

Hospital Holidays...and fake turkey...

As is his customary practice, Levi decided to go on a hunger strike for Thanksgiving. (As he seems to do for every holiday...that or find a way to injure himself.) Not much was lost for him in the way of a turkey dinner, however. The...ehem..."turkey" was a little disconcerting. I prefer to call it as I see it. In this case, "spam turkey" seems appropriate. But I digress. 

All in all, Thanksgiving passed in a mild way. We were very thankful indeed to have Daddy, and both Papas join us at The Shrine. The day moved in and out of football, naps...snacking, and a very appropriate Christmas movie. (Shout-out to How the Grinch Stole Christmas!) We definitely missed homemade gravy and the company of family at home, but no one was overtaken by severe depression, and so we sailed through... 

Black Friday descended upon us with a looming trip to Ikea... for my mom and me. The men stayed behind to partake in more football therapy, and some tether ball, where Levi could fit it in. We exhausted ourselves at Ikea, and only for a few measly items...lame. It was good to be out of the hospital for an extended time, AND the inevitable Holiday tunes have begun on the radio, so our car was full of cheer. Cheer and Starbucks to be exact. 

Levi continues to do well with the Traction- his surgeon even commented that his body has responded so well, he is in fact, ahead of schedule. (Now only if we could arrange the surgeons' schedules to match.) He is probably 2 inches taller, which tends to happen when one gains a neck. He is at max weight now (12lbs) and is cruising all over as fast as he can manage. (Which happens to be pretty fast.) So now, at this point, we begin the wait for surgery, and Levi continues to defy gravity with his "weightlessness". Heh. 

Here are some pics from our four-day weekend with all of the men folk: 

Levi had a visit from a policeman! (They shot guns...that's ma boy!) 

Levi got his very own badge.

Thanksgiving lounging...the sport of champions.

Mom trying to understand why we would inflict Cooties on our children.

Dad frowns upon Cooties.

Charlotte observes Thanksgiving from her Boppy.

Daddy and Charlotte 

Papa Emery, Daddy, and Charlotte enjoying Feast Numero Dos. 

Papa Clark and Macca

Levi and a new "friend" playing hockey

How Charlotte prefers to travel.

The Weekend and Other Stories...

I apologize for not having posted in a few days, but when the weekend rolls around, we get visitors! Daddy comes on Fridays, and this weekend, our friends/pastors, Andy and Lisaann and their daughter Grace, joined us for hamburgers, Bingo, and some competitive tetherball. (Is there any other kind?) Thanks to our kind friends for sending care packages to Levi...and holy cow! The gifts just keep rolling in for this kid. Let me just say, it is a good thing that we drove a minivan... Meanwhile, I should apologize to Santa for his current competition.

Levi had a few X-rays taken on Thursday afternoon, and the improvement in the short amount of time that we've been here is remarkable! One of his doctors commented that the X-rays looked "wonderful". (For a spine surgeon to use such bright vocabulary suggests great things!) :) So what'dya know...the traction is working beautifully! (For those of you who require technical details, I can add that, in the beginning, the side view of his neck looked as though it were broken, and leaning at a 90 degree angle... and now his neck is standing straight. Needless to say, he has gained a couple of inches in height...) He is now at the max weight of 12lbs. Levi continues to attend the regular evening activities, and seems to be taking an interest in painting. (We now have several Picassos adorning our walls.) My walks also remain on our daily to-do's, but sadly, the before mentioned Mr. Snowman has since lost his head. The nearly 2 feet of snow that we incurred in one weekend has now almost all melted away. The now headless Mr. Snowman still presides on the hill as I pass by...

 Sunday afternoon has settled in, our company has gone home *sniffle*, and we return to our regularly scheduled program. We are looking forward to this next week, and the beginning of the Holiday season. We have much to be thankful for indeed! 

Gobble.

 Levi painting a mask

Straight Neck! 

Levi and Daddy playing with the racetrack! (What else are Saturdays for?)