The VEPTRS are making me lazy!

Ever since Owen's surgery, I have had an "appointment" break, which has felt like nothing short of a vacation. What have I done with this break you may ask yourself? Well I have worked of course. This should all show you how sick and twisted I am. Mondays at work feel like a vacation compared to 4 appointments in Manhattan, every Monday, 3 of which are in different facilities all of which have corresponding parking issues. I.e., there is no parking.

What makes this even more difficult to understand is that I work in the city. At the very bottom tip right by the S.I. Ferry. So what makes working so much easier, I wonder.

It's not the distance. Work is farther than the farthest appointment in NYC. It's not really the commute either. I take the Metro-north to work and then the subway, but since my Kindle and I have become best friends, this is actually enjoyable. Driving to the City with Owen is usually just after the A.M. rush hour and I usually get out right before the P.M. rush hour. I guess it could be going between the offices, incurring $75.00 in parking, having to drag diapers bags, splints, extra clothes and food for the two of us for the day.

But mostly, after having 5 weeks off, I realize it's the emotional baggage I drag around every Monday. Waiting to hear the Orthopedist tell me that we need another round of casts (oh, and don't be surprised that we will hear that this coming Monday, because we will). It's hearing the pulmonologist tell me that she really does think he has asthma on top of everything else. It's going to P.T. and O.T. and listening to him cry. AND I DON'T WANT TO DO IT NEXT WEEK!

But I am going to. Even though I feel like kicking and screaming. Even though I want to pout in the corner. Even though the thought makes going to work seem more enjoyable. I am going to do it.

And then, for the whole month of August Nick is going to do it because he is off. I get to feel like I am on vacation (while I am at work) for one more month!

An update on the patient, summer and what's doing

Owen is great. He is happy and adjusting well. He is still not doing everything he was doing prior to surgery, but everyday he uses that left arm a little more and he even did some scooting on the floor the other day. Prior to surgery, Owen was a professional scooter. He would do this move where he circled his left leg which would cause him to scoot along the floor and if he went too far one way, he would roll himself over and then scoot and roll and scoot until he made his way to whatever toy he wanted. I miss the scooting and I hope we get it back. His cut, which is very big, is clean and thin and when all is said and done, it won't be the horrendous eyesore that I was expecting. I am not sure if that will change over years of surgery in the same spot, but for now, it's not so bad for what it is.

It is the summer! Yay! It's been uneventful so far. Nick had ten days off. He spent a lot of time with Gavin. They went on bike rides and had a picnic. They played. We went to my parents and all the kids swam! Even O. He could only get wet to his butt, but he loved it! Caleb splashed and attempted to drink the pool. It was a lot of fun. We have been bbq-ing a lot. We have finally got the yard to a place where I would say, it looks beautiful with all the flower gardens and pots of vegetable and herbs. The backyard is really a nice place to hang right now. Things have been calm. A nice change.

Gavin is at camp in his old school and it's day two, but so far so good. All seems really good right now. The camp has a theme of "around the world" and this week he is in Jamaica. Wish I was too!

Bringing up Gavin's old school, St. Peter's reminds me of something I wanted to share. When Owen was in the hospital, our neighbor's daughter (our upstairs friends that we bought our house with) did something pretty amazing. Madison decided to start a fundraiser for Owen. At church that week, she made an announcement asking all of the teachers, staff, students, parishioners, and parents to make a donation on Owen's behalf. And they did. Madison raised $255.00 for Owen. And at 7 years old, that is pretty amazing. I get choked up every time I think about it. It's pretty amazing to have friends that would do something like that for O. We cannot thank her enough or the people of St. Peter's. It's not a wealthy community by any means and to think that they came out of their pockets in support is so generous and selfless. Thank you just doesn't seem adequate.

And as always, the outpouring of support and notes and cards and messages was amazing. We needed all your words during that week of craziness. Thank you.

Write soon.
Sara