My HERO

Exactly three and a half (yes, only 3.5) days after being rolled out of the OR into ICU, Sheridan was discharged from the hospital.

We walked out those front doors and he waved and said bye-bye (actually it's more like buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-bah, but he's working on it!).

funky picture of me, but I love his fresh-out-of-the-hospital-crib look

He slept the whole way home. And arrived to the BEST homecoming EVER! Becca and her family made heart streamers and decorated the outside of our home.

And filled the living room and breakfast nook with helium hearts, stars, and a monkey with a "welcome home" balloon.

Here he is walking with Gary to the front door (showing off our new landscaping we did a few weeks ago).

I grabbed a quick shower (trying to scrub the hospital off me, yuck), and when I got out I heard the tell-tale sound of crawling pitter patter. I couldn't believe it. Yesterday he didn't even have full head control back (more about that in another post), this morning he could barely sit without some support.

Yet this afternoon, within 10 minutes of being home, Gary laid Sheridan on his back on the ground, and Sheridan rolled over on to his tummy, popped up on all fours, crawled out of his room out to the living room, pulled to stand on one of his music tables, and pushed it across the room to walk.

HOW FRICKING AMAZING IS THAT?!

He is still a bit wobbly at times - still trying to regain his balance - and he's not quite as fast as he was right before the surgery, but he's only a little bit slower. This evening he just picked up right where he left off, really. He even helped me with the dishes.

He's even experimenting with standing independently for 2-3 seconds at a time, and he'll take an independent step to cross over to something he wants. It makes me nervous so soon after surgery, but so far he's doing fine...

Just a few more things before I sign off:

1. I apologize that I didn't do updates throughout our stay at Stanford like I planned/promised. I didn't have as much down time at the hospital as I expected (everything just progressed so quickly), the wifi throughout the hospital was spotty and even where I could access it the connection was painfully slow, and there were no electrical outlets for me to use in Sheridan's rooms (I stayed with him around the clock and outlets are for medical equipment only - they had them locked even if they weren't being used)
2. I have LOTS of pictures and information I plan to share about the surgery, Sheridan's progress, etc. So I definitely DO intend to share everything, it will just be little more retrospective than planned.

Also, I just want to say that we appreciate all of the love and support we received from you. There is no way I could have survived this without it - especially our family who traveled to be with us the day of the surgery, and my mom who stayed 4 days so she could support me and Gary. A special thank you to Jen, Monica, Sheree, and Jonna who created the best gift a little boy in need of lots of love and healing power could get. And to Jenni whose little ones gave Sheridan a fantastic care package to help him pass the time in the hospital - everything was put to good use!

We're not out of the woods yet... Sheridan's three biggest wounds (the sternum and two drainage tube holes) have to heal over the next 6 weeks or so. There is still a major risk of infection, so your continued support is much appreciated.