Life's Simple Pleasures, Or the Joy of Sleeping in One's Own Bed for the First Time in Three Weeks

When you have a month as challenging as the one we've just been through, you learn to appreciate the little victories when they come. Case in point, Wednesday night, Paul decided he was ready to make the trek up the stairs to our room. I have been dreaming (or not, since I haven't slept well) of this moment for three weeks. Don't get me wrong. Most of the beds I slept in were relatively comfortable. But there's just something about sleeping in your own bed, in your own room; nothing else can compare to that feeling of rightness. Ah-h, home at last!

Paul started outpatient physical therapy today. I'd love to tell you it was fun, but that would be a bold-faced lie. He continues to make progress with his mobility and the pain in his leg is getting less intense. Yesterday we went to see Dr. Mills, an orthopedic surgeon, about Paul's right shoulder. Several weeks before his leg surgery he injured it lifting a huge drill. At the time, it was sore, but now that he is using it more to scoot around and support himself on crutches, the injury seems to be aggravated. The doctor believes Paul has a torn rotator cuff; an MRI on Monday will either confirm or negate this diagnosis. So, the PT is working on Paul's leg and shoulder. The pain in his shoulder is actually worse than that in his leg!

We we're heading to SLC on Tuesday night, as Paul has a follow-up visit with Dr. Jones on Wednesday. We'll be home later that night. Speaking of Dr. Jones, I just got off the phone with him. He called to say that the pathology reports from the surgery came back looking great. They were able to get clean margins in the bone and the muscle. This is the best news possible! We are so grateful for the excellent care that Paul has received from all the medical professionals involved in his treatment.


Last night, I was helping the boys get their costumes ready for their Halloween parties at school today. Everything was in order for Hayden (Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Jacob (Robin Hood), but Cameron couldn't find all the components to his Yoda costume. We looked, and looked, and looked, but had no success. Finally, at ten o'clock, I dragged out the old sewing machine, dug through my stockpile of fabric, and rather hurriedly constructed a new outfit for Yoda. Thank goodness Cameron still had the hat with the green ears; there's no way I was going to make another one of those! It was bad enough the first time. In the event that a similar incident happens next year, I think we'll follow Parker's cue and send them to school wearing name tags that say, "Hi, My Name Is DAVE."