Memorial Day

Today was a gorgeous day in every aspect of the word. First, as Memorial Day is often considered the "kickoff to summer," today was as summeresque as any day we've seen here in the Milwaukee area in quite some time. Temperatures rose to the mid-eighties and a beautiful breeze rustled the new leaves on the trees. Today was a day when you thank God to be outside. In our neighborhood the smell of charcoal drenched in a bit too much lighter fluid wafted above the roof tops as families grilled and played in their yards. I saw moms, dads and their children on bike rides together, parks filled with the gleeful smiles of little kids on swings, and a plethora of dogs sauntering along the side of the road, tongues hanging out, on one of their many walks.

Today as I planted the pachasandra around our house and listened to the Milwaukee Brewers defeat the Washington Nationals in extra innings, I reflected a bit about the past five days. Last Thursday I got the phone call that Hope was not breathing on her own and had to be put on the ventilator with nasal prongs. Friday we heard that she had a staph infection. And then things began to turn around. Today, Hope is down to 1.25 L on the nasal cannula, has her feedings increased to 24 ccs, and the doctor ordered that her main-line IV be taken out. Hope, once again, came through in the clutch! As parents, we are emotionally exhausted from the weekend. When people say having kids in the NICU is a roller coaster ride, they are not kidding- the lows get pretty low and the highs, pretty high. Trying to keep our wits and a sense of balance during this time can be increasingly challenging for the both of us these days. We are so grateful that little Hope seems to have turned the corner. When we think about Hope's success, it is important to realize how there truly is a team of people (nurses, doctors, Jeni and I, our parents, family, relatives, our spiritual leaders- Scott and Jan, our church community, our school communities, "face-to-face" friends, "cyber friends" who read this blog, etc.) all of whose talents, kind thoughts, and positive energy are helping Hope, Grace, Jeni and I get through all of this.

This brings me to something else that really hit home today. Tomorrow (May 27th) is our 2 year anniversary. While there are so many images that stand out from that day, what still blows me away is how St. Christopher's Church was packed to the gills and how the balcony was filled with lots of Jeni and my students, past and present. At one point in the service I remember Scott, our pastor, asking "will you (the congregation) support Jeni and Will as a couple?" and a loud cry from the balcony yelling "WE WILL." As we watch the video of the wedding, this part gets me choked up because it is so true. As this Memorial Day comes to a close, let us take a moment to remember how important it is that we, as people, have each other. The kindness of strangers, the love of friends and family, the talent of nurses and doctors and the support of our extended community means more than you could know. As we turn into an "old married couple" at two years, we have learned that not only are we supported as a couple, but we have grown and are supported as a family. We WILL get through this.