Where my thought's escaping
Home
Where my music's playing
Home
Where my love lies waiting silently for me
-Simon & Garfunkel, Homeward Bound
Homeward bound!! I can't even begin to tell y'all how excited I am to be headed to the airport in the morning. (and I'm even more excited that my dad and my AJ get to be the ones who figure out how to jam all this stuff into the CR-V!) Derek and I are flying with the boys since the docs thought it would be less stressful than an 8+ hour car trip. And they were probably right - though it's a bit odd they're concerned about my stress level. Oh wait, it is probably less stressful for Jay, too.
The area where CHOP is located is known as University City, and it's squeezed in among Drexel University and UPenn. On our pre-op visit, Jay was super-excited about the Drexel Dragon, named Mario (an interesting little tidbit we learned from one of our fab nurses who graduated from Drexel). He wanted to ride it, and we told him that we would when he was out of the hospital. (Who knew that would be nearly 6 weeks later!) And without even our mentioning it, Jay started asking in the hospital to "see that dragon." Who are we to deny a kid such a simple pleasure?
Gimme 5, Mario!
After our dragon-slaying adventure and a nap, we decided to have a little family fun and check out the Philadelphia Zoo. We've now experienced the first zoo in the country, the first children's hospital in the country, and the first Ronald McDonald House. Boy, lots of firsts in Philly! We had a great time in spite of the fact that the zoo (and it's parking!) are way overpriced. We saw all kinds of rare animals, but Jay insists that his favorite part was the ducks. Yes, the Canada geese we saw on the pond in the middle of the zoo. The same Canada geese we despise in our parking lots, our golf courses, our lakes in good ol' NC. Guess the kid just wants a taste of home.
Truly, it is simply a miracle to see how far Jay has come. He is walking (a bit wobbly but improving), talking up a storm, and is in every way the adorable, lovable, awesome little boy we brought here with us. Tears of joy.
So, we're headed home tomorrow and can't wait to see you all again!
15 comments:
These pictures are too beautiful for words.
Love you,
Annie
I'M LOVING these pictures of Jay and the dragon!!!! It's so good to see Jay on the move and having fun with his family. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Lynn
You don't know me - I just ended up on your blog after seeing it on a friend's blog roll - but I've been praying for your family and reading your updates for the last several weeks. Congrats on this milestone and safe travels back to NC. You've had not only friends & family but strangers all over pulling for you guys! Congrats on going home and safe travels!
Jay the Dragon Slayer...the Eastgate geese await!
Hugs to all,
Susie
After he slayed the figurative dragon by overcoming such a huge surgery with so many extra complications, he is off to slay the real dragon! I love it, and I know he is going to slay every other dragon, real or figurative, that he will encounter. I don't know how you did it, but you made it through with such amazing patience and courage...You guys are truly my heroes.
LYTB,
Jamie and Jeff
How wonderful to see pictures of Jay outside!
When I heard the news at church tonight, I wondered if your song would be Daughtry's "Home."
"I'm going home..to the place where I belong.......these faces & these places are getting old..I'm going home."
I'm sure it's a little hard to leave the safety you've found with the doctors & nurses, but home has it's own kind of healing power. Hope the trip back is a exciting but easy-travel experience. Can't wait to see you ALL back at church.
Amy
Your song selection has me thinking of home, and since it is 4:40 AM, all I can come up with is the names of the Great Lakes (minus Superior). Then the awful old Joe Tex song "Skinny Legs and All" came to mind; trying to get to a more elevated spiritual plane, an old Glen Campbell tune "Gentle on My Mind" popped into my head, and although it is a sappy song about a drifter, I like the line.
An inveterate radio listener from the '60's and '70's will never be out of music to draw from. But for the occasion, I have settled on a line from the '40's - the 1740's, in a catchy tune by Handel: Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Welcome home.
Gabby.
Happiness! Love the pictures of Jay! Safe travels and welcome home!
There was a spontaneous eruption of applause at FBC last night when Dr. Chapman verbalized what we've all been praying for--it was written on the update, but somehow hearing it said was even better.
I'm so glad to hear that you're going to be able to fly--make sure that Jay and Luke get all the attention possible from the flight crew...you'll have even more fans for your family.
We love you and still are walking around with silly grins knowing that you're "on the road again" back home!
Don't know what time your flight gets in, but beware the NCSU football traffic this evening!! Go Pack & Go (Come Home) Fosters!!
Cara Lynn
Wow I can't believe you guys are headed home. That's so exciting! I've been following your blog since they emailed it to the office. What a crazy ride you've been on but I'm so glad to hear Jay came out of it on top. We're all still praying for you guys.
Oh Jen this is great news! I love the pictures, and I laughed out loud that out of all the animals at the zoo, of course it is the canadian geese that he will remember from it. Hooray for going home!!
What wonderful news! We are all looking forward to seeing your whole family back in church!
Go, Jay!
Barbara Huggins
What a joy to see Jay enjoying life.
Hope to see you all soon.
:)
Love,
Aunt Ali
Horray! So glad that you'll be home soon! Love the pictures of Jay & the dragon-- what was Luke's favorite part? Sending lots of hugs!
I'm so happy we are all in our OWN BEDS tonight!! I loved being with you all this past week - thank you for the most inspiring experience I have ever had ! Prayers answered....LYTB, AJ
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