So many metaphors come to mind.  The best seems like climbing a mountain and that we are in the training and planning phase.  To that end, it seems strange to celebrate “a win” in that phase when there is such a long walk/hike/climb up the mountain ahead of us that includes it's own bumps, bruises, twists, turns and obstacles, but I think that’s how a meaningful, useful, purposeful life is built.  One intentional milestone at a time.  So yes, some wins this week.

And those wins started Monday morning when Carson rolled over in his bed, looked at me and said “you snore a lot”.  Don’t get me wrong, he’s had periods of profound pain.  But he has also had some great moments of laughing and playing cards with friends, long and nice conversations with periods of greatly reduced/manageable pain. 

So that Monday afternoon he said, “dad, go home” (mostly because he was tired of the snoring).  I’ve slept at the house the last two nights, Carson has had wonderful overnight care from a nursing staff that has gotten to know him and our family very well. Mostly women, young women (which Carson’s doesn’t hate), and they have been attentive, kind and loving.

So, he’s sleeping better which means our whole family is sleeping better. 

This week is skin graft on Friday.  He needs to remain in the hospital one more week with the wound vac on following the skin graft.  Then likely next Friday heads to acute rehab for a week or two. 

This week is also beginning the interviews of 5 or 6 knee surgeons as we are likely looking at beginning reconstruction in the next 30 days (lots of knee pain).  And we will also be making decisions with Washington University, whether they can help, if they can when, and if we might call St. Louis home for a while.    

And we also begin building the mental and emotional resilience for us all as we enter the phase of life being different and uncertain. It always was uncertain, the illusion was pretty safe for a while though.