A Really Long Week

It has been a long week in the DeVoogd house. Kellen had to have some major surgery this week and it was one of the roughest week of our whole lives. Kellen has Inflammatory Bowel Disease - or - Crones Disease. He has major problems with his intestines. He has had many surgeries some minor and a few major ones. This one was by far the worst. Not just physically, though physically it was awful for him. But also mentally, this was a hard one!
He went in Tuesday and had a procedure then after a night of vomiting and pure misery was taken in for surgery on Wednesday morning. I wont go into details other then to say it was a very long week. And it is one of two surgeries. He will have another, though not as hard for him, in 6 weeks. I learned a lot this week. If you read our Carepage we have set up for Kellen this is a repeat, you can stop reading now. If you don't read it here is what we learned:
1. I am thankful for our good doctors and hospitals that have the ability to care for our children, and are able to think "outside the box" even if it means rigging up some feeding bags to avoid "spillage" so a self conscience 10 year old boy is not horrified when he is sitting covered in nasty!!
2. I am thankful for the ability to be tired but still function and to be exhausted and ignore it. It was just this morning I told Kelly if he did not go home I had hit a wall and was beyond tired. Today is the day I truly felt extreme exhaustion. I am not sure of many people who could sleep only 1-2 hours a nigh and still feel like a human throughout the day. There was never a time I thought I would not be able to be "up" and "available" for Kellen. This is one of those small miracles that happened this week. I should not have been able to function...I should have "cracked"
3. I am thankful I have a husband who is willing and able to take care of everything at home. As well as my crazy complaints and requests. He was available for the kids, me, and even kept the house looking good.
4. I am thankful to have the kids I do. The ones who are at home but are doing all they can to help out. Mekenzie was great helping with laundry and cleaning. She even sat with her brother one afternoon so me and Kelly could have a 10 minute conversation we needed to have alone. Camden was pretty easy going and just went with the flow. As long as we made sure he got a little individual time he did great being shipped off and moved around all week.
And of course Kellen. There are a lot of kids in the hospital. A lot of crying, screaming, yelling, and bossing around. Kellen was so good, he always is. Never complaining when he has every right too. Crying only when he has reached a breaking point, and never being rude or out of control. He said "thank you mom" so many times to me I had to hold back tears when he would say it to me after he had just been through something so rough yet still made sure he was kind to me.
5. I am thankful for good friends who brought us food - to our home and the hospital. Who called and called then called Kelly when I was unable to answer because I was having my own little breakdown to see what they could do. Who texted when I couldn't answer the phone sometimes late into the night, who facebook chatted even thought they wanted to go to bed. And who visited with Kellen and made him realize it is all going to be ok!
6. I am thankful that we are in a situation where I did not have to leave my child alone in the hospital while I went to work. Leaving him having to fend for himself. This happens a lot from what I heard or saw. I have complained about being stuck in the hospital...I needed to remember it is actually a blessing to be able to be there and give my child the one on one care he needs. I could have never left him.
7. I am thankful I was able to bring my child home with me. Knowing that what is going on with him is permanent but, he is still here with us. I did not have to wonder if he was going to get to come home, or if he would be ok. This hit me really hard this week knowing how very lucky I am.
8. And finally I am thankful to have a home to come "home" too. With my own bed and shower. Even if we came home to a water leak that looks really bad and a lot of work ahead to get Christmas taken down and my house sterilized so I feel like I can actually care for Kellen appropriately.
It is going to be a long couple of weeks at the DeVoogd house. I am tired even thinking of it. But we are so blessed and thankful for all that we have.