We're Coming Home!!!

I'm not posting "before" pictures because they are a little too scary,
but this is a pretty good "after" picture if you ask me!

Mason had another amazing night. Yesterday he wouldn't stand on his own (we think because of all the bruising, pulled groin muscle, swollen foot) but he slept really well all night (and kept his oxygen levels up without help) and this morning he woke up with a lot more energy. He ate 3 little boxes of fruit loops, 2 containers of milk, and is working on a muffin now. He's gone potty by himself, and walked back and forth to the playroom down the hall two or three times. He seems completely back and in the playroom used potato heads to re-enact a scene from Toy Story 2. The pediatrician just came in and told us that he feels good about going home as long as we follow-up with our pediatrician by Wednesday morning at the latest to get the stitches out, re-write prescriptions (can't fill Canadian ones in US), and decide where to go from there (maybe repeat EEG, chest x-ray, blood gas, maybe nothing). So our plan is to wait for the brain injury team to come talk to us about a few things. They just took his last IV out which was pretty rough for him and he said he would miss his "tall skinny friend" (the IV pole). After we get out of here we will go to show him off to the ICU nurses and doctors who were wonderful but have never seen him without tubes, walking, or talking, and then to the Ronald McDonald house where Mason and Myles get to visit the "Magic Room". Then it is to Lethbridge for the night and leave for Utah in the morning. My parents were planning on coming with us but now that he is doing so well I'm not sure what the plan is. Our regular pediatrician is out of town for the week, but I'm really hoping we can see one of his partners who is in our ward instead first thing Wednesday morning. I'm trying to get Marshall to agree to see a doctor as well since his hip isn't healing like you would think if it was just bruising, and I need to see my OB so it will be a busy week but we are so happy to be going home.

We can't even begin to express thanks for all the prayers and thoughts we have received over the last week. I wish I could express my thanks to each of you in person but that would take years to do it justice! We are so grateful to have so many people that care for Mason and for our family. I know that there will be a lot of people anxious to see him and give him a hug and we can't wait. I also just want to let everyone know that the doctors have given us a lot of good instructions about how to handle the rest of his recovery emotionally and psychologically. We are not sure how much of the accident he remembers and when we ask he gets upset and says he doesn't want to talk about it. So we would really appreciate it if everyone tries really hard NOT to mention what happened (fell in the water, almost drowned, hit his head, etc). We will work through it with him and professionals when the time comes and he is ready. A simple hug and "we are glad you are feeling better" is probably the best thing that could happen. Marshall and I are happy to talk more about it and fill in details for people, but not in front of Mason. We also need to be mindful that Myles saw the whole thing from Mason falling in, to Marshall jumping in, the CPR, hospital ride, ICU, mommy hysterical, everyone crying constantly, etc. When he came to me off the boat he was scared and said "Mason fell in the water." We also need to try to get our routine back to normal as soon as possible which may be difficault but we will work at it. So we are excited to be getting out of here. Someday I'll post more about the amazing treatment at the Alberta Children's Hospital, the Ronald McDonald house, and all the things that happen here. This is truly a place of miracles.