life is good {mostly}...

You know back to real life is hard! Last week was very eventful, but with recovery staying on track.  Maybe if I tell you some of the things that were going on you'll forgive me for taking so long to post. :)

Sunday the 4th we had a family get together to say our goodbyes to Garson. {thank you Shelbie for planning it!} We had it in my in-laws back yard {thanks Pam & Barry.} It was only a week and a halfish since surgery so I mainly tried to sit...it was good to see everybody and we were able to pray over Garson with my family in attendance and most of Shawn's family too.
Monday the 5th was Labor Day...Gillian had mini miss duties in Nicolas for their Labor Day parade. When Shawn got home from that we helped Garson finish packing what was on the list, mind you a very short list, but it still seemed hectic trying to get some last minute things done. Shawn then drove Garson down to Sacramento to the official hotel that houses the soldiers while they are at the "Processing Center." Left him there to check in.
Tuesday the 6th was the official swearing in at the "Military Enlistment Processing Station " {MEPS} We were told to be there at 11:30 because it was likely that they would swear him in between 12:00 and 12:30...well true to government form it was 2:30ish. We got to take pictures and hear his oath as he was sworn into the United States Army...hugs all around. We grabbed lunch and then over to the Surgeons office in Sacramento to see the PA, Crystal. She wanted to look at some swelling she had seen the previous Friday near my collar bone. She wanted to make sure that the swelling was going down as all my bones were settling back into place in that region. She pronounced that it looked good, the swelling was down. :) Then we were back to the hotel that Garson was staying at to pick up a few things and say our final goodbyes. :( Hard but we all handled it well.
Wednesday the 7th I think that I slept and cried all day. As you can imagine having that big of a day both physically and emotionally not even two weeks out took it's tole. Garson was still communicating with us letting us know that he got on his flight, landed in Atlanta, waited for the bus {2 1/2 hrs} and then told us he was on the bus to Ft Benning.
Thursday the 8th was fairly uneventful but Gillian still had after school volleyball and Aidan had Cross Country practice. Gillian also had jazz class on Wed night...
Friday the 9th was the follow up Doctor appt with the pediatric cardiologist, Dr Kahwaji, here in Yuba City. The appt involved getting an echo ultrasound of my heart and an EKG. Dr Kahwaji pronounced that everything looked great. My heart "rhythm" looked great, blood pressure good and the echo showed the repair looked good...no fluid around the heart. This is a possible negative side effect of open heart surgery which the keep a close eye on up to 4 weeks out. Dr K also repeated what the PA, Crystal, said on Tuesday about sticking with the "Sternal Precautions" for the entire 6 week recovery period and that no matter that I felt like I could do more or reach, stretch,bend more I was not to do that for the sake of the whole healing process. As the tornado of our life continues to spin,this is proving to be the hardest part.
Sunday the 11th was Shawn up again with Gillian to attend a 9/11 event at the high school with the royal court again.
Overall I am well...some days I am very "bone" sore...shoulders, neck,collarbone other days not as much. Some days are better than others where the tiredness is concerned...there are days I want to sleep all day and others I am thinking I can conquer the world or at least that big pile of laundry. Still pretty much staying at home other than doctors appts. Tried to go to Target {one of my favorite places, but what was I thinking.} We were there 5 minutes and I wanted to go home...even from Target.

Again I am so very thankful for all the cards, dinners, comments on the blog, email, or Facebook posts...Everything!!  I am sorry that I just don't have the stamina to personally respond to everything...At this point trying everyday to get back to normal and add all this back to my plate. I am truly wondering how I did it before...but then I know the answer. God is still holding on to me, healing my heart both physically and emotionally. It is very hard to send your son to boot camp. We are incredibly proud of him and what he has set out to do. But we are still grieving some for the part of the journey with Garson that is now over...
I will leave you with another excerpt from my devotional Jesus Calling which I am sure was written just for me!...

Seek Me with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind. When things go well and your are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you. When you encounter rough patches along your life-journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you. My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise. Seek Me in good times;seek Me in hard times. You will find Me watching over you all the time.

hopefully an update soon!!!!  wendi