Grow Deklyn Grow!!!

This is going to be a bit of a shorter post but I just had to say, things have been going very well over here! Deklyn is so happy! Nurses and doctors just keep commenting on how much happier and interactive he is since his trach change! For the first time in quite awhile I enjoyed rounds on Deklyn today, for those of you not familiar with hospital life rounds is a time where the doctors and other specialists come around to talk about the patients. For the most part this times are a little on the discouraging side, talking about all things that aren't happening. Today though there was a lot of talk about how well he is doing (Finally!!! I was so sick of hearing all the bad things), we've been so focused on his breathing and today the doctor said we need to be more concerned with his growth and the lungs and breathing should come along with that, keeping in mind as he grows we may have more trach issues ( like his trach not being long enough) but thats all part of it. 

Its usually a little scary to ask anything in front of everyone but today I got up the courage to ask if Deklyn would be able to be off of his sat probe monitor while I play with him. It would be just one less thing hooked up to him,  its a little monitor wrapped around his toe that hooks up to a screen that tells his O2 sats and heart rate. Surprisingly they told me they trusted me enough that I could do that! I was so happy to hear that! Its so frustrating trying to be a parent and then you have to watch all this wires and hoses yet so I was happy to get rid of one just for while I play with him!

Deklyn has been wiggling his arms and legs so much lately! He's usually a kid that you can hardly get to smile and I can now say I can pretty much make him smile anytime I want! Heres a short video of him smiling!

I'd been so discouraged lately, the other families here are starting to get to take their kids for walks around the hospital and there is even talks of them getting to bring there kids home for christmas. I was so happy for them but sad for us. We've been here so long and I feel like we've done everything we can to get him to a place where we can take him out and eventually take him home for good and we just never get there. But today I'm feeling much more hopefully that this day is coming!

Here is our christmas card this year, I wish I could send one to each and every one of you but this is the best I can do! Have an amazing christmas surrounded by the ones you love, as your celebrating remember to be thankful for what you have even if what you have doesn't feel like very much. My heart goes out to those of you who have lost a child or loved one,  I couldn't imagine celebrating christmas without Deklyn. My heart also goes out to those of you celebrating christmas in the hospital... its not a easy place to be especially if being in the hospital also means your not close to home.
We are blessed! Merry Christmas!