Family and Friends

Most of you know that Mommy and Daddy have been working on the house to get it ready for little G when he comes home. It has been one of those projects that grows. Take one thing down and find two more things that need to be corrected or replaced before the new goes in. This weekend, Mommy and Daddy did a 48 hour 'room in' with Grady. While they were living the family life, their dear friends were working their back sides off. The new floor is in! Thank you to all of you. I hope you know how much this means to the big kids. What a wonderful gift, to give up your weekend and give Mommy and Daddy one huge blessing. Time was getting short for this project and you all completed it and took major pressure off of the kids. At the risk of repeating myself, you are true family. God has blessed us by putting you in our lives. Our little man is going to grow up knowing that family has a much larger description than most people know.

As for our precious little man, he is getting so close to coming home. Once the rooming in weekends are completed, we will be getting ready for the day we bring Grady home. Once he is home, there will be new worries and concerns. Bringing an immune weak child home , will have its own fears. This little man may be 25 before he gets to see the light of day. The hospital staff have already begun to warn us that we need be sure we keep visitors to a minimum. Everyone will have to wash up before they can touch him. Little people will be discouraged from coming over to see him. One more period of time that Mommy and Daddy will worry. The RSV season is upon us so that will restrict the places that Grady will be taken to. Having a kindergartener will have its own concerns. We will be doing our best to keep big sister healthy. So, please don't stop praying for this little family. All of your prayers have assisted in getting Grady this healthy and he will continue to improve with the love you have given him. Hopefully, it will not be long before all the kids can live a more normal life and not have to be so cautious.

As always, thank you for your love, support and most of all your prayers. Also, a big THANKS to the work team that got this house so much closer to being completed. You did a great job.

Talk soon,

JoJo

Big Visitors to tell G Happy 9 months

Just about the time Grady starts growing and getting bigger, look what shows up! Now these are very Big Boys. Some of the Dallas Cowboys came to the hospital to visit the children. These boys were bearing stockings full of Cowboy stuff. The stocking is an official (clean) Dallas Cowboy sock. If you look closely over Grady's left, you will see a picture of this years Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Um, does anyone have a 10 by 12 frame Grady can borrow? Mommy will this go with his new room decor?

Our little man is doing well. He has gotten back to his 13 pounds and he is 24 inches long. His little fat dimples are disappearing. His thighs are getting longer. Little G looks skinny and long. Guess his body finally knows it is safe to grow. Grady continues to do great with his breathing. He sleeps a little more than usual, but this breathing thing is hard work. And he is eating as much as he can have. Looks like this little man is trying his best to get home for Christmas. Keep up the good work, Grady Pants.

Well, I just wanted to share some of the fun the hospital has for the children. We have been told that this time of year brings a lot of visitors to hospital.

If any of you have ever wondered if prayer really works, go back to the top and look at the little man that needed prayer and got it. We feel so blessed to have such a strong extended family. There is not way to thank you enough for your prayer and support. Hugs.

Talk soon,

JoJo

Busy, Busy times

It has been a long time since we last talked. Grady's world has really gotten busy. He has been working very hard to get off the respirator. You can see, in his picture with Momma, that he has a new attachment on his trach. This is an HME or artificial nose. This allows Little G to be free of the hoses that were connected to the trach. It does the same thing that our nose does and heats the air that he breaths. It also puts moisture back into his lungs. Picking this little boy up is so nice with no heavy hoses hanging around his neck. Friday night was his first 24 hours with no respirator assistance. He is doing very well. All blood gases are good and Grady is good.

Grady has plans the next couple of weekends. He will be spending them with Mommy and Daddy. It is part of the process to getting him out of the hospital. We are so close that it is getting exciting. It is also getting every one of his care-givers in a rush to get all their paperwork done. He is having a lot of visitors because they all need to get one last follow up on him.

YES! Grady is coming home soon. We still have some planning and prepping, but it is getting close to time to bring this boy home. What a blessing that is going to be.

Well, more soon. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Talk soon,

JoJo