The past three days since Silas's tracheostomy have brought relief, joy, frustration, and gratitude. It is wonderful watching our little guy come back to life with new breath, "real" food, and lots of love. He finds new ways to make us proud beyond words each day. We knew before this past week that he is tough, but we are learning that he is also incredibly adaptable, forgiving, and attentive. He is generous with his smiles and grateful for all the attention he now requires.
After Mom's first night away from Silas's bedside in two weeks, Silas greeted her back with big smiles in the morning.
Aunt Rachel came to visit and brought some art from the cousins (although the pictures on the left are from friends) and treats. Snuggles abounded. Everyone loved seeing Aunt Rachel. We miss her already.
We are learning more each day about how to care for his trach. Right now scar tissue is forming around it inside his throat so that by next week it can be replaced and changed periodically (by us). It is a bit intimidating to learn to care for a thing that helps your child breathe, but we're pretty comfortable with the most common procedures already. The nurses and respiratory therapists here are patient teachers. It doesn't hurt that they love Silas and that Grandma arrived on Wednesday with dozens of homemade cookies and candy to share. Even though Silas's condition is steadily improving now, our room seems to be getting no less attention! We will continue to learn while Silas heals and hopefully we will leave the hospital next week.
Our greatest teacher this week, however, is Silas. As we come down from crisis mode and begin to process these past two weeks, and as we struggle to fit our new reality into our expectations and hopes, he is teaching us many things. He taught us that when someone smiles at you, smile back, and if they don't smile at you, smile anyway. He also doesn't seem to care too much about how the world should be or what he deserves, but he cries when something hurts and laughs when he is happy.
