and were able to enjoy the snow from the coziness of our room.

Those at home got up close and personal with about 17 inches on Wednesday and a couple more last night.

Thursday morning the surgeons approved the removal of Grace’s chest tubes which solved a lot of her pain issues and she became a lot more mobile. It was kind of like magic.

While she still spent a lot of time in bed watching movies, we did get up to walk the floor a bit. We’re hoping to come home today but are waiting for the results of her morning chest x-ray since she has still not been able to fully inflate her lungs.

I’ve noticed that all of our new-to-America kids don’t quite know how to take deep breaths. The medical personnel here think her shallow breaths are due to her pain, but I’m wondering if she would be able to give them a satisfactory deep breath even if she hadn’t just had surgery.

As for Patrick and I, we’re ready to be home. We’re both feeling a little better. I’m normally an anti-med kinda gal, but, man can they do wonders fast. Whatever germs have plagued us, we apparently brought from home as our other girls back at home are under the weather. Mia’s taking the brunt of it. She also is the most emotional about us being gone. Please keep her in your prayers today.

Here’s hoping our next post is from home!

*Grace sleepwalked as expected due to her anxiety. Patrick’s Monday PT appointment from his recent surgery left him in too much pain to sleep comfortably. I was feeling under the weather and distracted by Patrick’s inability to sleep.

Grace did great during pre-op thanks to Despicable Me 2 (and the minions) and a great medical team. Every person we’ve interacted with here has been knowledgeable, compassionate, and accommodating.

Her surgery went right as scheduled time-wise. The surgeon did find and patch an additional hole in her  heart. This was surprising since the anesthesia team said her heart murmur was so faint, most physicians wouldn’t have caught it. We spent the time having coffee with a friend who works on campus and trying to rest. Keyword: trying.

To whoever designed the family lounge, the it’s great to look at. Crappy to actually use. Hospitals should totally let families choose the furniture when they design these places.

By lunch time we were all settled in the PICU. The next few hours were long. Grace was extremely groggy but every time she seemed conscious, she cried about her pain level. They maxed her out on meds which made her too sleepy and her breathing would slow. On top of all that, Patrick and I were exhausted and feeling yucky.

We had a mostly uneventful night and all woke in much better shape this morning. The accommodations weren’t too shabby for a PICU rom. As I type, we’re packing up to move out to a regular peds floor.

Thank you all for texting, emailing, Facebooking, etc. She is one loved girlie.

True to form, life has thrown a set of curve balls (never just one) which we will, of course, turn into home runs because sometimes drama is really a blessing in disguise. Besides open heart surgery for our most anxious child, my sister will be moving in temporarily 4 days before surgery. While this will certainly cause more chaos (she’s 8 months pregnant), the extra hands and distraction for the kids will be welcome. My second self (a great friend we recently hired to help me teach and do Grafted work) just found out she needs semi-emergency oral surgery which is scheduled for the day before Grace’s surgery. The good news is I have a second self, so I really can’t complain. There’s also another blessing in disguise in which child has to have surgery–she’s going to get the undivided attention she demands. We’re hoping this intense period of being cared for will outweigh the medical trauma and catalyst her to securer attachment and trust. There are a lot of developmental gaps that have made processing this trying at best. We’re thankful for EMDR which has helped Grace’s ability to process all of the emotions surrounding this even feasible.

So the practicals. I’m blown away at the response I’ve gotten from those of you who know about the surgery. I’ve said it before, but we are surrounded by the best community…ever!

Pray. Most of you reading don’t know us in real life, but your prayers are powerful, and we appreciate any you want to send our way. I’ll be updating FB, Twitter, and, hopefully, here as the saga unfolds.

Meals. There will be anywhere from 9 to 12 people eating here at any given time over the next couple of weeks. That’s a lot of people for whom to make a meal, and half have weird food restrictions. The best I can suggest is that you bring what you feel led to whenever it’s convenient. I suggest versatile separates (cooked meat, veggies, fruit, and dairy elements) rather than casseroles or pre-made meals. However, no matter what you bring, someone will eat it. The truth is, my kids are used to fending for themselves and creating what they can eat using whatever is available. There will be a cooler on the porch if we’re not home.

Kids. For the week of surgery, we’re really covered. Seriously. I’m just not sure what to expect once we get home. We could have a lethargic invalid which would allow us to all function as normal (like real “normal”…not just our “normal”) which would be a huge treat, OR we could have World War 3 in which case the diva will need constant attention from me or some willing friend. I’m just not sure but praying for the former. If you’d like to be “on call” to come sit with kids or taxi kids around the week of re-entry, just let me know.

Well I think that about covers it…those of you who have done this, did I miss anything?