September 18th - Surgery Day

We will be heading to Cincinnati tomorrow (Sept 16th) for surgery on Friday. Carson will have his airway reconstructed (the portion above his trach that is obstructed at various levels). I do not have the official time of surgery yet but should tomorrow (I will do my best to put it on here when I find out). I'm guessing it will be an earlier time since his surgery is expected to last 7-8 hours. While, I don't know specifics of this airway reconstruction...one, because they don't know exactly what they will do until they get in there and two, because I'm better not knowing all the details that are going to happen to my sweet boy, I do know they are planning to take cartilage from Carson's ribs and use it as a graft to open up his airway. They will also be putting a stent in at the time of surgery to keep his airway open while the grafts heal. The stent will then be taken out at a later date (mid to late October). Carson's trach will remain in until the surgeons see how successful this first surgery is, how his body heals WITH the stent, and then also AFTER the stent is removed.

We have told Carson he will be having surgery on his airway in an attempt to get his trach out eventually. He usually seems fine with that explanation but there have been a few times that he tells us, he 'doesn't want to go to Cincinnati.' Some of that is him just being a stinker but I do think he knows enough, to know this trip isn't going to be all fun. The blessing...Carson does not feel like his life is limited in any sort of way because of his trach. We ask him if he wants his trach out and usually his reply is NO. : )

I will do my best to update along the way but my access to the blog is limited so please don't worry if you have not heard anything. I appreciate all the prayers, we can feel them. Although there are times that my mind runs in a million directions to the many different, scary scenarios, Preston and I are surprisingly at peace and ready to have the surgery under Carson's belt. This is the surgery we've been waiting for since we first went to Cincinnati in January 2013.  I am continuing to pray for a miracle, one in which the results could ONLY be attributed to the power of God but I am also content that God does not always work according to my plans or in my timing. : ) I am so thankful that God promises to be with us always and to walk with us, through the trials and suffering.

Kellen and my mom will be going up with us tomorrow and then likely come home on Sunday. Kellen is VERY excited because this is his first trip to Cincinnati. He is most excited to go to a certain park that Carson has told him about and that he has seen pictures of. : )

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Prayers requests:
1. For Carson's safety and comfort during surgery and through his recovery
2. For the doctors and nurses that will be performing the surgery: for steady hands and clear thought.
3. For Carson during the FEES procedure Thursday (8 am) - they will be putting a scope up through his nose (while he is AWAKE), and then asking him to eat so they are able to assess his swallow. Ugh! That sounds like ZERO fun but he surprised us last time he had it done.
4. For safe travels to and from: for our vehicle, my mom, and Dave and Sandy.
5. That Preston and I are able to get some sleep through Carson's stay and continue to feel peace with whatever may come our way.
6. For ALL the details that we do not even know.

The Lord has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of courage, love, and self discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Last week at the park, talking while they ride.

Morning chat session : )

 

A heck of a vacation!

We are back from our family vacation (Carson and Kellen's first real vacation!). We went with my family for a trip out to Banff, Alberta (where Mom and Dad celebrated their honeymoon 35 years ago!). Round trip we put 4700 miles on our car and made tons of memories (even those that were not so fun at the time, are already funny memories now). 

The boys thought vacation was great! Their favorite parts were the many playgrounds we stopped at to let them play. Our resort in Banff also had an awesome playground! After one stop to let the boys get some energy out, Kellen remarked, "This is THE best. And we're on vacation!"

Just wanted to share some of the many pictures! Thank you all for following our journey (the highs and the lows)! We will be heading to Cincinnati next week for Carson's airway reconstruction...I will post an update soon on more specifics of that trip.

And we are off...Poppy was a life saver!

St. Joe, MO along the MO river

the boys thought the hotels were awesome!

Corn palace in Mitchell, SD

Great Falls, MT

Glacier National Park

Red Rock Falls, Glacier national park

View from the top of the Banff gondola

Lake Moraine

Lake Louise

Hike in Johnston Canyon

Upper falls

Waterfowl lake

Columbia Icefields

The playground at our resort

Escalators...so much fun (glad Nana and Poppy were there to ride along with the boys)

These 3 had so much fun together!

Delicious dinner thanks to Emmett!

Our last ice cream stop (Clinton, MO)

Our last picnic (outside Van Buren, MO)

We have a surgery date

Carson's surgery is scheduled for Friday, September 18th. He will have a swallow study done the day before and then a 7-10 day hospital stay after the surgery. The reconstructive surgery itself will be 7-8 hours long! I am already praying for all the details of the trip, there are too many to even name and I'm sure alot I don't even know! Honestly, I am praying for some sort of miraculous healing, knowing that God's timing and plans are much better than mine, I still dream & pray because our God is in the business of miracles! I can just hear it, the doctors coming to talk to us after the reconstructive surgery, 'We don't know how to explain this but....'

Thank you all for your prayers! I have moments of fear and anxiousness about what the future holds for Carson, long term, success of the surgery, and with the hospital stay but I'm working on that TRUST that God wants from each one of us and just staying in the present moments. We went to a Tenth Avenue North concert recently and something that the lead singer said really struck home with me. He was saying how we so often ask God to show us our future/our path/His plan and really God just wants us to find joy IN our current place/our current path (whatever it may be). That is one thing small children are so good about...they are always in the moment - with little concept of time or future events.
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

My dentist confirmed the presence of cavities and referred us to a pediadontist : (

Carson's turn...he did great, especially with his many oral aversions

Kellen's first visit at the pediatric dentist...he then had a minor surgery to repair three cavities...he did well but no more sticky hard candies for him

But nothing was said about ice cream ; )

Ellie's FIRST birthday!!

Ra-Ra even made sure the boys each had a monkey cake

Ready for our favorite 4th of July parade

Ready to sing some songs!

The WHOLE gang...we had a blast!

Had to throw in a puddle picture!!!

Silver Dollar City frozen lemonade!

The boys rode EVERY kiddie ride there was : )