April 27

We made it home.  It took us a while to get the car all packed up and we still left things behind.  Guess it's only fitting that it will take us a while to get all of our stuff out of there and to the house.  After all it only took us two months to get everything there.

One of the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctors that Karen saw in the hospital gave her a puzzle.  She saw a puzzle Karen and I were working once during rounds.  After Karen was moved to a different floor of the hospital (and was no longer pregnant) the doctor stopped by and gave Karen this puzzle.  Both Karen and I thought it was very thoughtful and went far beyond what doctors normally do for patients.

Karen wasn't able to concentrate during the last two weeks of her hospital stay.  Once she was discharged she was able to concentrate better and started working on it.  A little over a month later she finished the puzzle and then had to take it apart to pack.

Once we got home I hurried and unpacked the back seat of the car so there was enough room to pick James up from my sister's house.  This will be the first time we will all spend the night under the same roof.  For the first time our little family is together.  I pray it will be many, many years before it is separated again.

Watching Karen go through chemo and visiting Becca in the hospital has not been easy.  I believe that her ability to persevere and fight is due in large part to her desire to see her children grow up.  She wants so badly to be there for them and be a part of their lives.  I want the same thing and will do everything in my power to make that her reality.

Braden