Yesterday and Today and Riley Wagons

YESTERDAY

• Tom started an antibiotic for a sinus infection.  Stress is impacting our immune systems.  Please continue to pray especially for Jacob & Jocelyn to stay healthy.
• Tom, Lori, & Jocelyn took naps, and Jacob rested some.
• Tom finished catching up the laundry and went to the grocery.  We are thankful for the bank holiday.
• I worked some.  Was encouraged by coworkers. Moved forward with coworkers on our big class this Sunday.
• We were encouraged by 400 hits to our blog.  I have to admit that several of those were me as I watched the bottom corner where cities (some from around the world!) showed up as folks like you looked.

I am hopeful that some of the hits were already parents of other kids with single ventricles or other special hearts who need to know there is hope in the journey.  I am excited to put the wonders of the internet to good use!

Thanks again for coming along for the ride with us.  It makes it so much easier knowing we are not alone!

TODAY

• Jacob is working to get caught up from the craziness of the semester so far.  He really wants to leave next week caught up before he gets two more weeks behind. Thanks to his teachers who are working with him and being patient and helpful and yet holding to their standard of excellence!
• Tom and I will move forward at work toward our big projects this weekend.  Tom normally is off on the weekends but this Saturday night holds a huge update of equipment.
• We all take many deep breaths through the day acknowledging that one week from today we leave for PawPaw & NaNa's house.  (They live close to Riley and will be hanging out with Jocelyn while Jacob is in the hospital.)
• We all take one step at a time... trusting God to provide.

RILEY WAGONS

I realized that some of you might not understand the significance of the Riley logo.  Check out photos below...Riley wagons are a special part of the Riley culture.  They carry all the stuff that parents need to take in for extended stays or back out to their cars when they leave.  They carry kids from pumpkin seat size up to about eight years old.  They allow kids to go for rides and get out of their rooms once they are able. Some of the kids have been through chemo or brain surgery or are hooked up to many tubes or can't walk for other reasons. 

Riley wagons... We smile when we think of them as they represent one of the many ways that this children's hospital makes kids and families feel special.

 After Jacob's open heart surgery in May 1996.

In October 2010 while waiting for Jacob's first pacemaker surgery... only a Kodak moment...

we didn't put the wagons to the test with our 16 year old and his friend Christian.

So many memories at Riley.  So many good times and challenging times.  Part of the intensity of this week is thinking back through the memories.  Part of the sweetness of this week is remembering God's faithfulness through the years.  The Riley Ride... WHEW and WOW!