Author: Mardon Hickford

We found the magic food today! Actually, Meghan did!!!! Philly Swirls with Candy Spoons. They look like little sherbert cups and Jake likes them. The doctors have said to give him ANYTHING… fatten him up! Unfortunately these are fat-free and gluten-free, so not a lot of fattening going on, BUT he likes them and it’s food entering the mouth. And as a bonus… he actually had a scrambled egg and almost 1/2 a

cheese burger. I’m calling this day a HUGE success!

Today was busy.  There were moments where I sat and cuddled but order and laundry was the name of the game today.  Jake hung out on the sofa watching movies and his favorite shows, he’s tired and weak, but he’s glad to be home.  He ate 1/2 of one of those little circle pizzas and most of a Capri sun.  Oh, and some little Nestle Crunch candy bars – it is Halloween! And he had a visitor that really brightened his spirits… Mrs. Amos, his teacher stopped by with Halloween goodies from his classmates.  He misses them so much and knowing they are thinking of him brings a smile every time.  Now, I forgot a little tidbit yesterday so I’ll back up to go forward… yesterday we left the hospital on a pump.  When I first learned that this was the plan for our release, terror set in.  I’m NOT medical!  I will now be responsible for flushing his line, changing out his TPN fluids, changing his tubing.  Lord, help me!  BIG breath prayer on that one. But they taught me yesterday and today was my day to do it on my own.  A home nurse did come out to oversee my first “nursing experience”, and I did it!  Whew!  I can do this!  We will be OK!  Jake’s not sure what to think of this but I’m told he’ll get used to it.  As for Halloween… we all went out together and took Jake to a couple of our favorite neighbors as he really wanted to be included – then he was ready to come home.  We held him, he doesn’t have the strength to walk far but he wanted to go out.  We stood at a good distance and I gently Purell’d the few pieces of candy in his bucket when we got home.  The kid’s were troopers.  It wasn’t the stash of candy they usually rake in but there is a silent “knowing” that this year is different.  It will be different for everything.  But we were together!  AND, after the kids were in bed, I later found a Special Goblin had delivered about 10 POUNDS of candy in cute Halloween bags for each of the kids.  Any chance of feeling slighted in the candy department just turned in their favor for sure… Thank you, Adriene!!!!!!!!!!!  And a Happy Hickford Halloween it was!

We’re SPRUNG!!!!! After 12 days, we’re home! We’ll sleep in our own beds, take a deep breath, and relax in our own home! It is a HAPPY DAY… we brought our baby boy home! If you can imagine us doing the happy dance, we’re doing it! We’ve spent 28 days a TCH this month – that’s a LOT of days. We need rest! Jake will sleep in his own bed tonight! Are hearts are exploding with joy for being together as a family! The kids are bubbly and so happy to have Jake home. Papa and the kids decorated the family room with balloons and a welcome home sign. It was perfect! While they want to be all over him, right next to him, I find myself hovering. I’m trying not to be that germ-a-phobe parent that I am. I don’t want him to feel my nervousness and they all need to enjoy the moment. It’s so good to be home! And I’m looking forward to the busyness of getting things in order and going through all the piles of things that my friends have so kindly put in organized piles – School Work To Be Seen By Mom/Dad, Recycle/Trash, Unopened Mail, Cards & Gifts – Kristel and Sarah have been Jesus’ arms for me and my everyday mommy duties, for sure. Quite some time ago I was visiting a friend, Andrea, while she was going through her chemotherapy and I remember her telling me how she was tired of being in the hospital, she just want to go home

and do laundry, scrub toilets, anything to be back in her mommy element. I remember saying, “Oh girl, let us do this. We want too, please enjoy our help.” I get it. I understand completely. I just want to be home and do all the things we’ve always done. For things to feel normal. And so for a week, they will. And I will be THANKFUL and GLAD to do all of my mommy chores!!!!! To sit and cuddle my baby without beeps and pokes and vitals and all of the day/night interruptions. We’re back in Clinic for labs on Friday and pray that all is well. We WILL go home later that day! Then, Jake is scheduled to begin his second round of chemotherapy, next Thursday, Nov 8th. But for now, we’ll focus on today, and today was a good day! This is the day that the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm