Parker's Promise

I had a friend ask me today if no news is good news... And this time around yes!!!  But I don't want to just post and complain about the rough stuff.  I want to document and celebrate the good. And again- I am documenting this for us.

First off- Parker is doing great.

This week started out a little rough since most of our family went through the stomach bug. Sunday was our Anniversary and I cannot think of a better ode to 12 years than an amazing sweet husband who nursed half of us that were soooooooo sick without any complaint or ado.  I really married a wonderful man.  I knew that before, but I am reminded again and again. I saw a great story on Facebook several months ago when we were just beginning this journey that said the biggest quality to look for in a spouse is not who is the most gorgeous or even the most fun to be around, but someone who suffers well.

That is a unique trait, but I can testify an extremely important one.  And I managed to marry a wonderful man who suffers through a very hard time very well.  He has been such an incredible pillar of strength, stability, kindness, comfort, joy... We were talking over our anniversary dinner Sat night about what a miracle it is that we have come through this so close to each other and with our marriage very intact.  And I am not saying that to boast, just to document how incredibly grateful I am. I think one thing that has made the biggest difference is communication.  During those first weeks in UCLA, we talked many times throughout the day of the phone.  I did not answer my phone for anyone- except him.  Even if I was talking with a doctor, I would just put him on speaker phone so he could hear, too.  I think this was even harder for him- having to go to work most days, take care of our other kids, manage home and school stuff (Parker feel just 1 week after school started)- all the while worrying about Parker and not being able to be there or do anything. I was at least at the hospital and not having to worry about everything else. We traded places on the weekend, but he took the brunt of the home/work/school stress.  We thankfully had so much wonderful help at home with Grandmas and Grandpas trading off and staying long term to help the kids.  I don't know what we would have done with out them.  But even with so much help, he really had so much on his plate. And he handled it amazingly.

Even last night I was looking through some pictures for the kid's yearbook and came across some pictures of Parker the month and week before he fell. I showed my husband, in tears, and he just came over and put his arms around me and looked at the pictures with me.  I love this man I married.  I love him soooooooo much.

I've been thinking a lot and had some thoughts lately.  This accident has thrown us into a new world.  An amazing world of special needs kids and their families. Parker's main diagnoses are TBI and Cerebral Palsy.  May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month- which is what causes CP. I feel really strongly that the way this accident happened and the severe damage from such a tiny, minor fall-- resulting in a severe bleed and subsequent strokes-- that this was meant to be. And I see the first 15 months as a gift.  A gift where we could see and enjoy Parker's personality before his injury, as opposed to having a stroke in utero and being born with Cerebral Palsy. Not that I wanted this to happen.  No one does. AT all. But I choose to look at those first 15 months as an amazing gift and tender mercy. And I am so eternally grateful we got to keep him.

We got to keep him.

He is such a miracle and he is continuing to improve EVERY day.

He is still the same little boy and his sweet personality shines through.