the amazing adventures of carson and kellen: Summer flies!

Friday, July 29, 2016

Summer flies!

Wow...its been over two months since I last updated. We only have 17 days (yes...we have a countdown going) left until Carson gets his t tube out! We made a paper chain (like the ones we made in elementary school) shortly after getting home. I'll be honest, it was almost depressing when we first made it because it seemed SO long but now there are only 17 left. The boys tear one off each day : ) I should know from past experiences that the days may seem long and months overwhelming when viewed from the beginning but as you take each day at a time, you make adjustments, get into your new routine, and time flies. Over the past couple months, Carson has adapted amazingly well (that shouldn't surprise me, because that's just what Carson does). His medication time has become routine...yes that awful, awful stuff...has just become another thing we do morning and night (with a little help from his iPad, it is almost easy.) We even did it in the car, in the middle of a parking lot, at night in Nashville...that's much different than when we started. God is good! And I'm so thankful for Carson's adaptability and his attitude!

The boys completed their first season of tball. The many aspects of baseball were totally over their heads, but they got out there to bat each time, even hitting a few off a live pitch, and then they'd get out in the field and catch the balls...oh wait, no...I mean they would play in the dirt and pay attention to everything BUT the game most the time : ) Every game was a bit of a comedy show...if you could keep it in that perspective. Batting and the popsicle at the end of most games were the highlights!

And we just got back from the true meaning of a 'family vacation'. We spent a week in the Smoky Mountains with the Bunch clan and then headed to the beach to meet up with the Clark side. Talk about 'the life'!! I know Carson and Kellen can't grasp it now but I continue to be in awe of the family I am surrounded by. I am blessed and the boys are blessed to be growing up in a family where love abounds, where everyone truly enjoys each other and wants the best for every person, where we are truly sad when the end of family vacations/events come to an end. I didn't realize it when I was young either...but it is a gift that not many get to experience.

We will head to Cincinnati mid August. August 15th, Carson will have the t tube removed and a trach put back in.. Then, a week later, they will do another scope to look at his airway... This will allow the doctors to see the true success of this last reconstruction (because the t tube will no longer be in there keeping the airway open) Most airways close up a little bit once a stent or t tube is removed but praying that it may stay open enough to be functional for Carson. As always, I get a little anxious going into these just because Carson's future will be affected depending on the results. But I am so ready to hear Carson's voice again! And more than anything, it is another lesson in truly trusting God's plans...plans for Carson & plans for our family. He has never failed before and he won't fail us now.

Now for some pictures...