It's That Time of Year Again

Yes, it is that time of year again for our annual pilgrimage to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital for Daniel's annual visit on Thursday, April 14. Our visit this year will feature an ENT check for his airway were they will size it and make sure it is age appropriate and is growing. He will also be seen by his GI Dr. who will take a peek at his esophagus to make sure that there has been no narrowing. (I doubt it given the way he has been eating these days.)

As the "road trip" and visit approaches I once again can not not stop and remember were we were THREE years ago and can not believe how quickly this year has gone. Of course, the thought of going back to Ciny brings such mixed emotions for me. I know in my heart Daniel will be absolutely fine and his Drs. will be so incredibly impressed by how he has grown and flourished this past year. I also know in my heart how amazing it is that we are THREE years post-trach surgery without incident and are already six months of no G-Tube. Where has time gone and how incredible it has been to Daniel and us. It still blows me away to look back on this picture and remember that day three years ago when we entered into the hospital with a trach-baby and five-and-half-hours later we saw this.... I can still hear the nurse saying "He is going to be a sedation nightmare" (Which he was!) and feeling so helpless but knowing he was in the best hands - hands down. It still feels like yesterday. However, the weeks that followed are a bit of a blur but the support that surrounded us, and still does, was remarkable. And as much as this yearly look back brings me to happy tears, and probably always will, I am and will forever be so thankful for the adventures we have taken with Daniel. The road was certainly not the one Mike and I ever imagined we would have to take when we decided to have a child, but, we are so glad we did. We have the most amazing kid in the world and we are lucky that we have been given the privilege of raising him. (He might not think so some days and God help him!)

It is also amazing to know that outwardly, other than you who know our story, will never have any ideas of what he has been through. Well, maybe when he flashes or decides to run naked through the house, which he does on occasion, the scars he has endured are nothing to him. (Thank God!) Another year done and here's to Happy Days now and in the future!!