Kuntze Family Journey: We will go home Today!

What a relief it is to know that we will likely be home with all of our boys in Calgary tonight. Yesterday was a nice day -- no roller coaster of emotions or high stress, but a nice day taking care of Henry and spending time with him. Aside from a vitals check every 4 hours, Henry was off monitors and out & about the hospital for most of the day. He looks wonderful and people passing us by can only tell he is a patient of some sort by his hospital issue yellow striped PJ's, the bandaid on his neck (from his jugular line that is no longer in place) and by the arm board that holds his IV safely in place. Most would be shocked to see his torso and realize what he has been through this last week (and in his life for that matter). You'd never know it by how he looks physically or in spirit.

Henry is back to his happy, giggly, talkative self. His walking was a little on the wobbly side early in the day, but even this was back to normal within a short time period. Henry has only 2 'accessories' left - a peripheral IV in his foot (which he needs as long as his pacing wires remain...in case he runs into trouble then the access to deliver medications immediately is there), and his pacing wires. These are easy to pull, but removal can rarely be followed by complications like bleeding. Henry will remain in the hospital for 6 hours after the wires are pulled, just in case. So, these should be pulled around 8:30 this morning, the 6-hour clock should start immediately after, and we should be on our way home at around 2:30! Henry, like his mommy and daddy, likes to be organized and ahead of things. In that, he took the liberty of personally pitching in a 'helping' hand by pulling out his last peripheral IV on his right hand last night. His night nurse had a very good chuckle at how proud Henry was sitting there with all the collateral equipment in this hands - lifting it up to show her he had removed it. Smart boy, he got a midnight cuddle, tickle and a few giggles with Jess - she is very very nice and very pretty. Instincts are in place for old Henry :).

We are also doing quite well. It will take time to recover from the stress & emotions of the past weeks, of course, and to catch up on our sleep. We can hardly wait to get back to Magnus and Owen too. It will also take time to thank everyone properly for their endless support - whether it be via emails, texts, phone calls, facebook or blog messages, by taking care of Magnus and Owen, by bringing us food or a comforting visit in Edmonton, or by bringing food to our family back home. Thank you all very much. One thing we have truly learned in our journey with Henry is in the goodness of mankind. We are truly truly blessed to have such good people in our lives.