Todd Morrison Alumni Tournament!

We had such a fun weekend and it was so nice to get out of the house and just enjoy life.  This weekend was the 20th Todd Morrison Alumni Tournament.  Every year they pick a child who has had a life threatening accident or illness and they donate the money raised to help out the family.  This year we were the recipients, I never wanted to be on this side of it but we are so grateful for all the support we have.  We were able to meet so many wonderful people and it was fun to go back to our high school and see a lot of familiar faces.  Tayton loved watching the basketball games but his favorite thing was a surprise visit from his best buddy!

Big Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They had Tayton turn around and Big Blue was headed towards him.  Tayton just ran and jumped in his arms, it was so sweet.  I couldn't see the look on his face because I was behind him but everyone said it was priceless.  We love Big Blue so much and can't believe he came to visit Tayton again.  It was so much fun.  I am so thankful for all the new friends that we made at the tournament.  I hope we can help them out for future tournaments and help pay it forward.

Two years ago the tournament was for my new friend Tessie and her sweet boy Dakota.  She is such an amazing person and has helped me so much through this.  I found her blog from the tournament two years before and have always followed her blog but I never commented because I never really knew what to say.  But so many times when we were in the hospital I thought of her and her struggles and how she always had a positive attitude.  I would read her blog in the hospital and it helped me so many times just to make it through the day.  I am so glad I got to meet her and her sweet family.



Monday we had two doctor apts.  The first was at the burn unit and we got really great news.  They said Taytons burns are looking great and as long as we keep up on our physical therapy they won't need to see him for a couple of months.  We need to order some more burn gloves and things like that but they said we could just do that over the phone.  Tayton was really excited that his burns were healing.  Then we had to go into the burn center and say hi to some of our favorite people!  It is amazing the friendships that you make.  I have loved every nurse and doctor in the burn unit.  They are all such amazing people and we love to see them whenever we get the chance!

Then after the burn unit we headed over to Primary Childrens.  Tayton had his post op check-up with the ENT.  He said the swelling in his airway had gone down and he thinks his airway is stable enough that we can take him out of the house.  He is still planning to do the same operation in May but that should open his airway even more.  Then after surgery in May he doesn't want to operate at all during the entire summer.  He said we will give him a break.  He also said sometimes when you do to much it can cause more scarring and other problems so we will see where he is at in fall, but that was great news to hear that we get to enjoy our summer with no surgeries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm still a bit nervous to take him out a ton because it is weird going from one extreme to another.  Plus we are going to have our baby in 8 days and I don't want to take her out all the time, but we were all going a little crazy being cooped up so we can't wait for picnics in the park, going to see a movie, or just having some friends come over and play.

Tayton wanted to go back to school so yesterday so we went in the afternoon for a couple of hours.  We had to hurry and run to the store Monday night to find him a backpack because the one he had earlier all the straps were burned and he didn't want to use it.  I didn't blame him so we went and found him a new backpack.  He said he wanted me to stay with him at school so I did for about two hours then I had to run to Walmart to pick up a prescription and he said it was fine if I left.  I was so nervous to leave him, it felt like dropping him off at school for the first time ever, but I did it and I didn't cry!  I was so proud of myself.  I am struggling with letting this boy out of my sight.  We just came so close to loosing him and he is everything to me.  Hopefully with time I can let him be more independent again.  He said his favorite part was seeing his friends again.  I know school is going to help him so much but I am not sure if he is up to going all day.  We still have to do physical therapy a lot and he can't go that long in-between so I am not sure what to do.  I am thinking about just stopping in at lunch time and doing a quick session of physical therapy and then making sure he gets a really good session before and after school.  Not sure how that will work with a new baby but we will figure it out.

I heard him talking to some kids in his class and they wanted to see his burns.  He showed them a tiny bit and I was so impressed.  Tayton hates talking about the fire and he said he didn't want anyone to see his burns.  The kids were great and said the burns looked like they hurt.  Then they were asking why he had to wear his gloves and wrist brace and he just answered them like it was no big deal.  Before people would ask him things and he would just get mad and shut down and not say a word.     So that was a huge step for him and I am so proud of him!

Well hopefully my next post is about our new baby girl.  I am so excited and nervous all at the same time.  I know she is just what our family needs.  I can't wait to hold my little Blakeli in 8 days!  (Also I can't wait for the swelling in my feet and hands to go away and to sleep on my stomach again.)  Overall this has been the easiest pregnancy despite everything else that has been going on, so I shouldn't complain.  The kids are getting really excited to see her but have no desire to help change dirty diapers.  It is funny to see their reactions.