September Cincinnati Trip - Day 4

Emily and I switched shifts around three this morning (Thursday) and Nathaniel looked peaceful. He repositioned frequently through the night, but over all had a more restful sleep than he had on Wednesday. Which is good. Wednesday night was rough. Nathaniel was awake from 11:30 Wednesday night until 4:30 Thursday morning. He napped lightly in my arms through that time, if he slept at all. I assume it was due to discomfort and pain despite giving him as much pain medication as I could. I am relieved his Thursday night went better. Thank you Team Nathaniel for the supportive response to my Facebook post requesting prayer for sleep.

September Cincinnati Trip - Day 1

Nathaniel is nestled in a make shift bed for a late nap and I thought rather than spend time answering all the texts and emails asking how we were doing, I would try to get a post up here. Thank you to those taking time to connect with me, letting me know you are praying, and asking how we are doing.

We arrived safely in Cincinnati last night. Emily, an homeschool senior in high school, is our travel companion. Emily spent about ten hours with us last week learning how to monitor Nathaniel for airway emergencies and how to suction. She and Nathaniel did great together in the backseat yesterday.

Getting Ready for Another Trip: AAC Words for Medical Experiences

I have had two busy weeks since I returned from Wyoming. Three priorities have been filling my days: Josiah's homeschool work, Nathaniel's speech program, and getting ready to leave again. I will dedicate an entire blog post to our homeschool year someday, and I will write a bit below about new developments in augmented communication. But first some details about my next trip.

Nathaniel and I are leaving Sunday for Cincinnati again. We will be there two weeks this time. On Monday he will have a FEES study to evaluate his aspiration. On Tuesday he will have a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Hopefully he will spend just one night in the hospital for observation, but we will need to stay in a hotel the Cincinnati area until October 3rd to be near the surgical team through a post-surgery risk period. 

My Cowboy Life: Day Four

I had to leave the ranch by six this morning and am in Denver waiting at the gate for my flight. I know life will be full speed ahead when I get home so I am hoping to post these last photos before they start boarding. I think for the sake of time I might just put all the remaining photos in a gallery. There will be some extras from earlier days and a few I took of Andrew's leather work on Sunday. I was especially captivated by Andrew's hands this visit. They can lay a gentle rein to a horse's neck, force the weight of a trailer onto a hitch, and create beautiful works of purposeful art. It is a special gift to have been able to come and see him in his environment and doing the things he loves. We talked some this weekend about the fact that he lives so far away. The sadness of that truth is lightened by knowing he is happy.

My Cowboy Life: Day Three

Andrew was out of the house and in the saddle by six this morning. They had to move one hundred and twenty mares and their foals to a new pasture. He was back at the house around nine, we had breakfast, and then left for Cheyenne. It was go to town day.

My Cowboy Life: Day Two

I was awake and out of the house before sunrise, and I was over an hour late. Andrew and his boss, Jed, had saddled five horses, taken them by trailer to the arena, rounded up about fifteen leased yearly Corriente steers from the pasture, and already run a few through the shoot by the time I arrived. The cowboys had forgotten to tell the insects the day had started; the grasshoppers and cicadas were still singing the night songs as the blue of dawn was just fading.