Colorado Visit

It was so good to get out to Colorado and see my brother. He just made me feel so much better about everything. His spirits are still so high, despite everything he is going through and that makes me so happy. Of course when he got his halo on Friday, it was hard for everyone - and hearing that surgery is a for sure thing was difficult to swallow. But really, there is no choice in the matter - so we just deal with it and move on.

Brendan got to move to his own private room, which is so nice. He was sharing a room with a younger guy. His roommate was going through a lot of denial and depression it seemed like. He refused to eat, wouldn't go to any of his classes or physical therapy, and would pretend he was sleeping when people came in. It didn't seem like he had a very good relationship with his father either, which you could tell was really hard on his dad. I pray that this kid will come to accept his challenges, but it's just so hard because he is able to lift his arms up by his face and Brendan would KILL to be able to do that. But then there's Brendan. He can barely twist his left arm, he got a halo put on, he has to have surgery in two weeks - and he is laughing and talking football with my dad. He was eating pizza the night his halo was put on. He knows every medicine he is taking, when he gets his next dose, when the nurses are late with it, when he needs to be turned, when he should do his breathing exercises, he is just on top of it all and is so cooperative. Honestly, I don't think Craig Hospital could get a better patient.

It was hard to leave, especially not really knowing when my family is going to be back home. And with me getting more uncomfortable with this pregnancy and having a packed September, I doubt I will make it out there again. It would really stink to not have them home for Christmas or the birth of this second baby - but I can handle it. And I know that it's more important for my parents to be with Brendan than me.

A few nights ago, when I was trying to fall asleep - I wondered what I used to worry about before bedtime and how I would give anything to have those small petty worries over what I worry about today. I know there will come a time when things all seem back to "normal" - but that just seems like so far away. So until my family is back in MN, happy and healthy as can be - we will just take it one day at a time and continue to pray and stay positive.