The new shape of my life is a triangle.
Each morning we drive from home to Children’s to see Ben and go to rounds, where we hear about any issues he’s facing and what the day’s plan for him is.
Then we drive from Children’s to Group Health for some time with Luke, either skin-to-skin cuddling or some very interesting attempts at breastfeeding.
And finally we drive from Group Health to home to hang out with Jack and Jane for a bit before we drive the triangle all over again, this time with the older kids in tow.
Just for the record: I hate driving. It’s part of why I live in the city – so I can walk most anywhere I need to go. I’ve spent more time in the car this week than in the entire month previously … and I was driving to Group Health nearly every day in July for some pregnancy-related appointment or another.
But oddly enough, except for Wednesday, when I spent an hour and 45 minutes stuck in traffic and started feeling just the merest bit sorry for myself and may even have shed a self-pitying tear or two, the driving hasn’t bothered me.
Maybe that’s because Doug is doing most of it, while I sit in the passenger’s seat and return phone calls. (Thank the Lord for cell phones.)
Or maybe it’s because I’m just so grateful for Ben’s rapid recovery. What’s a little driving or a lot of traffic compared to the life of your child, right? (Dry your eyes, Kimberlee; it’s just a traffic jam.)
And the life of my son is little short of a miracle: yesterday, Ben was removed from the oscillating ventilator he’s been on since he arrived at Children’s on Saturday. He spent the whole day on a regular ventilator, and today he’ll likely be extubated and won’t be on a ventilator at all; he’ll be breathing on his own. This, for a baby boy whose lungs were tearing and collapsing and who was at death’s door on Saturday.
I am stunned and amazed and overwhelmed with gratitude at this miraculous turn of events. And I am deeply humbled that my son, our family, has been given this gift of Ben’s life, twice: the gift of his birth and the gift of his healing.
That’s worth driving for.
Praying for you. Praying for your boys. Thanks for keeping the blog world updated.
Good news!
Kimberlee, I’m so glad to learn how well your boys are doing, and wanted you to know I am reading your posts and thinking about you and your beloved family.
Kimberlee, I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through all this with Ben. I’m glad he’s doing better. Hang in there – your writer friends are thinking of you!
Silly me only remembered to check your blog this morning to see if there was any news. Good news! I just wish we were there to help take care of Jack and Jane. Dang. Miss you.
love, Sarah
oh, thank you for the update! praise God for Ben’s amazing healing and the doctors and nurses and gas and … may He keep holding you and your family in His hands!!
Praising the Lord for answered prayer. May your precious boys continue to grow and heal. May your faith sustain you through this all.
Kimberlee, Luke and Ben have been in my thoughts and prayers. I am so glad to hear about Ben’s great progress. Yes, definitely worth driving for!
Thank you for keeping us in the loop here, Kimberlee. I’m so glad Ben is getting stronger every day. We’ll miss you Friday (and probably quite a few for a while) but will be thinking of you.
So, so glad to hear that he’s doing well. We’ll continue to pray for your family.