Headed back to Cincinnati

It's been THREE months since our last trip...kinda hard to believe and still reveling in the fact we never needed the t-tube <3 We have been busy this summer. Carson and Kellen played baseball, went to their first VBS (they loved it!), went to basketball camp, and have taken a couple trips (one to the beach, one to Nana & Poppy's by themselves, & several other shorter trips)!

We have definitely seen an improvement since surgery (when we could tell that there was alot of swelling from the surgery itself...which is expected). Neither Preston or I are expecting them to say ALL of the swelling is gone and they are ready to move forward with the decannulation process (but our God is a God of miracles so who knows!!). We do hope they can get a look at the surgery site and see how healing is progressing. This trip should just include a MLB (aka scope). It should be a short trip. We will head up tomorrow (Thursday) morning and the scope will be on Friday at 7:30 am ET.

Prayers for safety are appreciated and probably more than anything that Carson may have some out of the ordinary peace. He is old enough and has had the anesthesia process frequently enough that the memories don't fade and the anxiety just builds on itself. Now, when we say we are going to Cincinnati, he says "I don't want to do it [the anesthesia part]." Ugh...it breaks my heart. We talk through it. He really doesn't like when they hook the air up to his trach...it feels weird and really causes him some anxiety. We have talked about other options...getting an IV in preop or to try using a mask (& leave his trach capped). We've tried an anti-anxiety medication before but it never has really helped. So prayers for Carson's decision on method of anesthesia and for something to click to help keep him calm. I am praying for a miracle that the swelling might be gone (but like I said, we aren't really expecting that news). This trip should tell us what the next step is...a little more waiting or steps to decannulation (removing his trach).

Sending our love to all of you!

Baseball nights with their fans!

One of my favorite sights

Pre-nerf gun war (happy faces didn't last long)

Their happy place!! And mine too!

Blueberry pickin'

So much fun on their new swing (at the expense of some poison ivy)

They love Mimi & Papa's pool! I included this because my prayer is for Carson to be able to get in water without having to be EXTRA cautious the water doesn't get up by his stoma. About the only time we really hear Carson say "I wish I didn't have a trach." is related to water play.