Hello Out There

Well, not a whole lot has changed, but Jared is showing signs of getting better. We decided to post a short video of Jared saying hello to Gabrielle and Bradley, but thought you would all enjoy it.

Jared has to go in to see the ENT doctors tomorrow for some scoping of the throat and vocal chords. They have to check his swallowing capabilities as well as the possibility of aspiration. Hopefully this will free Jared to be able to eat on his own and remove the hunger pains. His voice is still very soft, as it was prior to the surgery, and they want to make sure there has not been permanent damage. The downfall of these tests is the likelyhood of sedation. I would rather they sedate him though, than see him fight the white jacketed men shoving hoses down his nose and throat. What a sureal experience this all is.

Jared had a lot of visits from doctors and nurses this morning who just wanted to keep inspecting everything and everywhere. Just after he had said goodbye to one set of doctors the ENT doctor walked into the room to place the feeding tube further down his nose so that it could reach his intestine. Needless to say, Jared did not welcome the visitor and quickly pulled the sheet over his head. I hope he reads this someday and realizes just how classic some of these moments have been. They did manage to push the tube from his nose all the way down to his toenail.

I have to say that I am really missing little Gabrielle's hugs and Bradley's tackles. Thank you Darren for the video. I well up thinking about them and how grateful I will be to have us all together again. Jaime ran into a man in the laundry room here at the hospital (no she has not taken on full employment, just needed some clean clothes to wear) who clearly had made enough long term visits to the hospital with one of his kids that he was giving advice on how to do laundry efficiently in the hospital. As we walk the hospital daily we realize that there are people who have life pretty hard. I find it really hard to complain when we really have it quite well.

This has been a life changing experience and your letters, comments prayers have been so strengthening. To think of prayers being offered up from living rooms, bedrooms, dinner tables and temples, both from the children and adults alike, provide much needed strength. Our life has brushed by so many great people and this experience has brought even greater evidence of that blessing.

We have been blessed to have an amazing outcome thus far and I thank you all again for your amazing love and support.