Home is Where the Heart is.

Since Case was born, almost 23 months ago, I gained a second home. Case spent 38 days after his birth at Children Hospital, Pittsburgh and several hundred hours after that. It takes between 2 and 3 hours (depending on traffic) to get there. We go between 2 and 4 times a month, usually. Between appointments, x-rays, blood works, surgeries, tests, tests and more tests we feel like we have two homes. Half of my heart is here in my physical home and the other half in the home that has saved and enhanced Case's life. Yesterday, for the third time in 3 weeks we went to our second home. It was only for a follow up with Neurosurgery but it was pretty early so we went last night and stayed at the Ronald McDonald house. I love that place too I would tell you how much, but that's a whole other blog. Anyway, we saw the PA and the surgeon who untethered Case's cord. His wound looks good. They still don't want him bathing (only sponge baths) for 4-8 weeks (when the stitches completely dissolve). Not an easy task when you have a bath-obsessed baby! Case has several issues that require a neurologist  to follow him (brain stem abnormalities, Stenosis of the Foraman Magnum, an unclosed fontanel, a rather quickly growing head, and low muscle tone on the right side of his face). A neurosurgeon only fixes the problems but a Neurologist follows, explains and tests the problems that exist. Therefore, we have added another specialist. Number 16. Number 20 if you include his pediatrician and therapists. Holy, frekin' cow! So, the moral of the story is that I LOVE my big, awesome, strong boy and my second home.