Hello again...

Connor,

Well hello there little man, its been a while since we have seen "your character" as Dr. Ilias puts it but we are certainly glad to see that the last week of ups and downs and surgeries and sedation haven't taken anything away from you. Actually, if anything, I would have to say that in that week or so you have managed to find a little bit more spunk and even learned a few new tricks. I'm sure you were practicing while mommy and daddy were sleeping so we wouldn't know about it. Stinker. If that's how you want to do it though, fine with us, we will be more than happy to go along with your little plan.

Today has been a good day for you, you got to see several of your favorite doctors (one of which stuck a light up your nose) and a few of your favorite nurses, and you got physical and occupational therapy. And all of that was after a bath early this morning. So you have been awake for a good portion of the day, starting around seven when your day nurse got here and did her checks and pokes and prods. She said you woke up happy and alert and when mommy got here a little while after that you were still wide-eyed and ready for some interaction. So I'm sure you can guess what you and mommy did.

"That's right Pinky, the same thing you do every morning.... try to take over the world!" Well maybe you weren't actually trying to take over the world (that is just one of my favorite quotes and since it is from a cartoon I thought you could handle it) but you did do the same thing you do every morning. PICTURES. As you can see you were bright-eyed and ready to strike a pose GQ style. Mommy was so impressed with how you were doing and how you looked that she made sure to tell me that even though the doctors weaned your oxygen support down you are looking better than yesterday. So woo hoo for that.

Where to start with the rest of your day.... Your kidney doctor came in, he has been one of your favorites for a while now, and gave mommy some good news about you and your little kidneys and bladder. They are doing so well that you are going down to only getting cath'd twice a day instead of three times. So if he wasn't one of your favorite doctors before then you can bet the farm he is now. Even though our excitement at this news must pale in comparison to yours I have to admit mommy and I are pretty thrilled that we won't be having to wake you up in the middle of the night with a catheter. That was a pretty good start to the day.

Then Dr. B (still can't remember how to spell his name but he was the one who did your tummy surgery) came by and took a look and poked around on your belly. Now he is the only one who really "pokes" on your belly right now because he knows exactly where everything is in there, and his pokes quickly told him you were doing great. He said that your surgery (this will be a surprise) was one he hadn't performed before (at least not with the same kind of situation and complications) and that he was looking forward to seeing just how well you were going to do. Your scars looked good and from what we can tell it looks like you are getting better at swallowing. So that was another mark in the win column for the day.

Then your cardiology doctors rounded on you and told mommy that you were looking great and doing even better with your numbers. They just finished weaning your high-flow down to where they wanted it so they could start on the next step in your climb out of the CICU. That next step is one you always look forward to. Milkshakes, and lots of 'em. Mommy has been working hard (there is talk of her starting a dairy farm in the near future) to make you plenty of milkshakes and today you are back on them and building up to where you were before your tummy surgery. Before you know it you will be growing like a weed again, and that is indeed a good thing.

Then came your therapy sessions. Physical therapy came in first and worked with you for quite a while and was thrilled with how well you were doing. Apparently we need to work on your hamstring flexibility a little bit but I told them that you get that from your dad and pretty much every other man on your dad's side of the family. If you work on it I promise I will too, and I'll make sure and tell your Pappaw and uncle Sebastian to get their buts in gear too. Then occupational therapy spent some time with you working on your "bobble head problem" as mommy calls it. You were doing a great job and sat up with her and showed off your new hand skills (grabbing everything in sight, including your other hand and your mouth). Then, and we have to mention this just in case your daddy's friend Justin is reading, you were working on rolling over and practically got all the way over on your right side. You are almost ready for your wresting match.

Now about three seconds after your therapy session ended and we got you positioned again you were passed out. You were ready for your busy day to come to a resting point so you could get some beauty sleep. You crashed for about three or four hours and have only gotten back up now because your night nurse had to do her checks and pokes and prods. I give you about ten more minutes then it will be right back to nite nite time for you. That works out well though because your mommy and I are still trying to catch up from not sleeping much the other night and we are about ready to get some sleep ourselves.

So for now you just close your eyes, think about some of the fun times you and mommy had today, and dream some sweet dreams. Oh, and one more thing, quit trying to pull your G-tube out Buster. We are glad to have you and "your character" back and look forward to what tomorrow brings. Mommy and I are so proud of you and how well you are doing.

Mommy and Daddy love you Connor.

- Daddy