What a day!

Our day actually began at 12am! JT decided to wake up and play and talk and giggle at the stroke of 12. At first Jake and I thought "this is perfect! We can give him one last bottle and put him back to bed before his surgery." Not what JT had in mind. I gave JT his bottle and gently lay him back in bed, left his quiet room thinking "success!" Then as I lay my head on my pillow and close my sleepy eyes I hear it... JT laughing and talking and giggling. Loudly too. This went on for a few HOURS! At 4am I decided enough is enough, someone has to sleep in this house. So I went, got JT up out of bed and headed to the sofa so Jake could sleep. JT giggled and wiggled on my chest for a while and then finally found a resting spot at about 4:45am. The alarms went of at 6am for us to get up, dressed and out the door to the hospital. Not the night Jake and I were hoping for. But at least he was happy!!
At 6:30am I went into Ethan's room and gently woke him up. He looked at me with sleepy eyes and then gave me a HUGE grin! It made my morning. Then I asked if he was ready to go and spend the day at a friends house and he smiled even more. "yes please" he said as he climbed out of bed.
By 6:50am we were out the door and headed to drop Ethan off. Thankful for amazing friends who offer to help all the time we dropped E off. I didn't worry about him once, knowing he is in good hands, loving hands was just what I needed!
We arrived at the hospital at 8am and by 9:45 right on time JT was being put to sleep. They allowed me to get in a gown and hat thingy and go back with JT to the operating room. I held him and whispered in his ear as he lay struggling to get away from the sleepy gas mask. He screamed and tried to hold his breath but after only a few moments he was out. I gave him one last kiss, whispered "I love you" and I was back with Jake. Although this is the second time I have watched my little baby be put to sleep it still chokes me up. It's hard to hear "the normal" sounds he makes, see his little eyes half open and let go of his hand. Being a parent is hard, but doing that... ugh, it's just painful.
Jake and I headed to the waiting room where we sat and talked, played a game or two and just waited. After about 1.5 hrs. the Dr. came out and told us everything went well and that we could go and see him in about 20 minutes. I think that 20 minutes was longer than the entire 1.5 hrs!
Once we got back to the recovery room we could hear JT fussing. He had a wonderful nurse with him named Charlie. Charlie was so great. He allowed me to climb into JT's bed and just lay with him, hold him as best I could and just let him know that mommy and daddy were there. He had a fever of over 100 due to the anesthesia. They showed us his surgical site which was really hard for me to see. It took everything in me not to cry. I had to be strong. Jake didn't need two babies to care for. (lol) An hour later Jake was getting the discharge papers and car and I was getting JT ready to head home. We got him home, settled and in bed for what we hoped would be a nice long nap. I left and went to pick up Ethan and run some errands while JT napped. Sweetest moment - I got E in the car and the first thing he did was ask about JT! We talked about how JT has some ouchies (as we call them) and that he hurts. We talked about how we have to love him and help take care of him b/c he is going to be cranky for the next few days. When E got home he walked over, looked at JT and gave him a kiss. God sure knew what he was doing when he made Ethan! JT couldn't have a better big brother!!

Jake and I are prepared for a long night and a long day tomorrow. Our prayer is that the Lord will sustain our bodies for this adventure too. We also pray that Ethan who is a fantastic, loving and understanding 3 year old won't become jealous of the attention JT needs. The more than normal extra attention JT already needs.
God seriously blows my mind. It is only by his strength that I am sitting here writing this with a cheerful heart. Thankful for the incredible blessings we have in our lives. Thankful for my husband who is always there with me and for me. Thankful for my first born who has so much love and such a big heart. Thankful for JT. Who with all his challenges smiles and laughs and talks and giggles even after a painful surgery. God may give us challenges but He also gives us the strength, grace and cheerful heart to make it through. God is good!