Sorry for so late...I had to catch up with friends, pay the bills and time just got away from me once Addi got to bed. We made it back up to Durham. As luck has it, it rained the whole way making my 2 hour trip 3 (one potty break for Addi - and too much sweet tea) then it took me 30 minutes to find a parking spot (no one wanted to leave the parking garage in a down pour I guess) Finally I made it to Bo, who was looking as dapper as ever. He had been growing a goatee still and needless to saw we have not been keeping it up and he looks dashing. He has taken some resting days concentrating on breathing and coming off the vent. He is doing a good job, we just now need to find a way to help pass the time. Tomorrow I hope to talk with the doctors and see how things are medically looking. We established physically Bo is looking good.
It was great to see everyone and we cannot wait to come back to our friends with the far, far away house.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - I hope you are having a better evening than me. My sweet little girl does not want to go to bed tonight and I hate to lay her down when she is crying, but now she is way past bedtime and we have school tomorrow. (Sorry Miss Kim and Miss Candy) We had to brush our teeth again and then we went down quietly. Win one for Mom
We had a busy day with gymnastics and Dance Class today. We stopped by work and saw our favorite people. We got to see Baby Conner which now Addi thinks that all babies that come out of tummies are Connor. Except she is having baby Swiper...LORDY (is that a word) Then we ended out night talking on the computer with the Kansas Family and that is always fun.
I have almost made it my 48 hours without seeing Bo. I did talk with his nurse quite a lot today and she said that it sort of took it easy today. Which I am sure it is well deserved, but I did warn him that I will be up there tomorrow to kick it into high gear to get us to come home. He is missing everyone a lot and I hope we can see people soon.
Thank you everyone for your kind words of encouragement. I do draw great strength knowing that there are so many people that care and pray for us (and me when I am nuts) Truly know that you are not going unnoticed, I can feel the strength, hence staying here. Plus I have my "family" at Duke checking up on Bo and encouraging him along as well, Thanks Sue.
Take care and Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo
PS - Lordy is not a word per spellcheck...now if we can only get grammar check

Good Evening Everyone - I hope that your day is going well. I have to say that I am having mixed emotions right now. Addi and I came back to Cornelius or as Addi says, the far, far away house. She started school last week and attends school Monday and Wednesday, so for a mother's piece of mind I want to make sure with my own eyes that she is adjusting alright to her new class and will be okay if she spends a couple of days a week with family and friends while Mommy helps Daddy adjust home, when that time comes. She is doing great and loves her new and old friends. I do have to say Jenna and Addi must get together and play, Addi loves her.
So here I am in Cornelius freaking out that I haven't seen Bo for my first 24 hours since the first transplant. The nurses have kept me up with his progress and said that he had a really good and relaxing day. They are practicing during the day of plugging Bo's trach so he can get used to breathing through his nose and mouth and not the hole in his throat. Another breathing exercise which is never easy, but it is a step we have to take to get home. He is working on getting his independence and the nurses assure me that he might need this and that they are taking incredible care of him...can I really stay here until Addi finishes school Wednesday...only time will tell. I know it is what Addi needs and Bo and I did swear and promise to always put Addi first. I just stinks that I cannot be in two places in at one time...
Love and take care
Christi, Addi and Bo

Hello to All - A real quick post. We survived Tropical Storm Hanna. Just a lot of rain and some wind...like standing in an open Kansas field with no buildings to slow the wind down. Bo is working on coming off the vent and hopefully by the end of next week we will be vent free. He rested a lot today and is trying to work on getting some comfortable sleep.
I will post more soon. I did forget to mention that Friday they ran another diaphragm study and it appears we are getting more diaphragm function! Yeah - hopefully nothing to permanent there!
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening - Seriously is it Friday...Is anyone else so confused? Anyway, Bo's x-ray last night came back alright. Nothing overly concerning, so now we work on coming off the vent at night. I think we are just going to have to pull the band aid quickly, this slow pull is starting to add more anxiety. I doubt anything will happen over the weekend, but I might be surprised.
So we will wait and also wait for Tropical Store Hanna to come through this area. The hospital is preparing for the power to go out and making sure everything is hooked up to the generators just in case. Depending on the time the storm comes through here, My parents are suppose to fly out about the exact time the storm is suppose to come through, so we might wait it out at the hospital. I am not sure our little apartment will be the greatest place, but hopefully this will be nothing.
Take care and be Safe
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - I hope all is well with all. Today we had a good day. Bo got a day pass for 2 hours to spend some birthday time with me. We of course went to the hotel and hung out with Addi. Then Addi and I took him back to the hospital, played for a bit and then went and got my parents from the airport. They are going to hang with us until Saturday. Addi is really excited to see "Papa Cow" (Dad). I think she gets away with murder with him. Grandma has to take the backseat at least for a day. Needless to say with all the fun, no nap...enough said.
On another note Bo is working on breathing. Today wasn't his best day, so they are going to run a chest x-ray to make sure there isn't fluid in the lungs. He is retaining a little more fluid in his legs with his new diet, so I am sure we will be adding some medicines to help that out soon. I will let you know more when I find out more.
Take care everyone
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo
PS - thanks for the well wishes...another year, another year with my husband and daughter, who could ask for more.

First - Sorry for last night and for nothing...hahaha little silly there. Second, you are silly with the posts (J - but I am waiting for the shoe contract) Anyway, Addi had her first day of school today, so I am trying to be a good Mom and encourage her along. I know some of you think I am crazy for putting her back in her school in Cornelius, but I need to know along with everyone else, WE ARE COMING HOME. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but we are not getting comfortable at all at Duke or Durham. Addi first had a dance class the night before and she loved it. She is now a ballerina, although she is more excited for the tap part of the class. For the friends out there that have kids Addi's age, next week is bring a friend to class so I am extending that invitation to you all. (Motion Dance at 6:15 - 7:00) I do think she was even more excited for her toys at home. The kid was all over the place with The Buddies on her heals behind her. She actually got a little freaked out by them and their need to "love" on her. Then this morning off to school (McD's first, no food in the house) (Now I am sounding like my Mom with the play by play commentating, anyway) Then school...she was so funny walking in. She was like I know this place, but something is a little different. As soon as she saw Ms. Meg and Ms. Kim there were running hugs. I am so grateful for God helping us find St. Albans. Our prayers were answered last year and having Addi already comfortable with a program has been one less thing for me to worry about. Thank you everyone that I saw today for your kind words. We are so excited to be back.
On that note, I got to stop in at work to get a few things done and ask for some help with some paperwork. It was so great to see everyone! Your faces rejuvenated me and got me so excited to come home. Please know that Bo and I miss you all and hopefully soon we will get to drop in. I have been trying to leave Bo's blackberry with him, so for anyone that wants to send him and email with questions, kind words or just for fun, please do. He isn't emailing back yet because of his hand, but he is reading them. I will try to get him to type a "k" or "b" to let you know he got it...take care and see you all soon.
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo
PS - Sorry for those I didn't get to talk with...this was just a whirlwind run into town and run back. Talk with everyone soon.

Hello - I hope everyone had a great long weekend. We are doing good hear except I need to get a new phone ASAP, sorry for anyone that has tried calling. Bo has had his phone some, so that leaves me a little out of touch with everyone. I will try to get that done in the next couple of days.
Today we had a good day, Addi and I went to the park and played outside and then more puzzles. She is so fun. Then tonight we had dinner with all our friend - other transplant families staying at our hotel, but as Addi was playing with them she looked at me and said "Mommy, look it's our family," boy are we a hodge podge bunch, but I love them all.
I did spend most of the afternoon with Bo, while Addi naps, and we got to celebrate Labor Day with a glass a grape juice together. Bo also amazed me with walking a mile today. We are working on lowering his oxygen support they have had him on after his surgery. His is doing better from the procedure and now we set the path to leave the hospital for good. I sure do love my family.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - So far we have had a quiet weekend here. We started off with a great visit from the Graham family, Addi loved to see some of her friends. Then yesterday and today Addi and I have played, visited Daddy, make more puzzles that I could dream of (which is amazing because I love puzzles and board games - growing up in the country of Kansas winters will do that to you) and visited Daddy some more. Bo has been resting from his surgery and hopefully tomorrow will start working on getting up to speed to leaving the hospital. Tomorrow will probably be another quiet day with the holiday, but maybe not we will see.
A couple of "Addi Stories" to share. I hope I do not offend anyone, but I still working on how to explain everything to a 2 year old going on 10. First we saw a woman in a gown walking around the hospital. Addi pointed at her and said "Mommy, she's got an infection. The doctors will make her feel better." The woman looked at us like we were crazy, but to defend myself. The third time Bo went into ICU I had to explain to Addi why she couldn't see him anymore, therefore the word infection. Second story - The college students are back in town and lot of students are running near the hospital. So I explained that they are exercising. When we were walking into the hospital there was a nice older woman (maybe a little out of shape) and Addi proceeded to tell me that she needed to exercise...we kept walking with our heads down. Third story - we are having lunch outside with the Graham family and Addi has really been using make-believe play and always Disney Princesses - Mulan is a hit right now. Needless to say an Asian woman was outside and Addi proceeded to yell for everyone that Mulan was there. I thought she was pretending until Lena informed me differently.
The final story is that today during Daddy's nap time we went and visited the "castle" - Duke Chapel. Today we found a close parking spot so we went inside. After prayers said, a candle lit, Addi wanted to read a book, The Bible. As we are reading she then proceeded to tell me that she wanted to sing. I'm thinking okay the kid knows good acoustics. Most people are quite in the chapel, not my daughter she proceeded to sing at the top of her lungs, much to the amusement of everyone there. Then before we left she said she wanted to say a prayer, with her hands clasped "Dear God, please make Daddy feel better and come home soon. Amen." With tears down my face I just pray from her mouth to God's ears. Man I Love that Girl
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo
PS - When we got to the hospital after the castle visit, Daddy was up walking more than usual.

Good Evening - Today Bo walked already 3 times as much as he did yesterday...yeah! He had some follow up tests that took most of the afternoon just to make sure the pain he was feeling was "normal" Everything look great on the CT Scans and I got to witness Bo take his first clear fluid drinks. Tonight he actually gets a tray delivered with some clear broth, jello and such. Nothing to write home about, but hopefully next week we can get some shakes moving and shaking...He is resting right now. Addi and I are off for dinner for two. I think tonight I will have someone wait on me...
Have a Great Long Weekend
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo

Hello to All - Just a quick post tonight. Bo made it up moving around today. He wasn't comfortable, but he did it. He spent most of the day without the vent which is the beginning of the end trials we will have to hopefully endure. They performed a Barium Swallow today to make sure the "wrap" was done properly. He passed with flying colors so hopefully tomorrow he can start drinking clear fluids...then to thicker fluids (hello Chik Fi-la) and then soft foods (hello Grandma's mashed potatoes) Tomorrow will be another day of getting his strength together walking and handling the anxiety of coming off the vent.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - Well how do I say this...Bo is in a little pain right now. The doctors didn't quite get it right with how painful the after effects of the procedure. We now know having any abdominal procedure isn't pleasant, so Bo pretty much just rested today (with the vent) tomorrow will be a new day and we will try again tomorrow. They are going to try and get him up to walk and try to keep his pain minimal. (not let it creep up on them to where he is miserable...)
Thanks for the prayers and we will try again tomorrow. I am glad he got a day to rest (stable is always good)
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Sorry for the slow post, it was to much for me to bring the computer and Addi to the hospital during Bo's surgery. He made it through and the doctor is optimistic that Bo will be able to take the swallow test tomorrow and start drinking small amounts of clear liquids. Yeah! He said the procedure went well and Bo handled it like a trouper. (They did say this time Bo wasn't a cheap drunk this time, he tolerance is getting stronger!)
Addi and I stayed to see him and he was resting well on the vent. Now the "tough" part starts and tomorrow they will start taking Bo off the vent full time. I hate that he is drugged up for his final night on the vent....Please pray for him to have strength these next couple days and take on his greatest fear, sleeping without the vent...
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Just an update to let you know that Bo is in surgery...this will take a couple of hours and I will let you know when he comes out.
Thanks for the prayers
Love
Christi, Addi and Bo

Hello to All - Well we know how Monday's are in the hospital and we are regrouping. I should apologize first and say that they are fitting Bo in tomorrow for his wrap procedure sometime in the late afternoon. (So if you have time tomorrow afternoon, please say a prayer that things will go smoothly with his stomach wrap) It will take him a couple days to get back up so speed. Most people are nauseous with some abdominal pain. They want him to heal up, run all the tests they ran before the procedure and then they will allow him to start with a soft food diet and slowly progress to a regular diet. In the meantime he will keep his feeding tube to help make sure he gets the calories that he needs.
On another note Bo got another "pass" for 2 hours. We got in the car and came and got Addi. I am a little worried about Bo being comfortable at the hotel. I think I might have to go and buy a lazy boy recliner to make him more comfortable...I will have to think about that one. Anyway it was nice again to get out of the hospital. He will probably be captive there for a while after the procedure, we will see and he might surprise us all and jump out of bed Wednesday.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - Today was an exciting day for Bo, they gave him a "day" pass to leave the hospital grounds for 2 hours. So off we went. We tried to visit Duke Gardens, but it got awfully hot fast, so then we sort of just drove around. It was great, but also a little sad when we had to go back. Really hard to go back. But we do know and want Bo only to come home when he is healthy enough, so we work out and wait. It was still nice to have Daddy riding in the car with us.
We are hoping tomorrow that we will find out more of when he will have the wrap procedure. They tried to schedule it Friday, but to no avail. So now they try tomorrow and we will see how fast everything happens. (remember Duke time)
I hope to post more exciting news tomorrow.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Just a quick post to say I was wrong...not much of a hang over today, but still moving a little slow. They are trying to work on Bo's night sleep, which is when the diaphragm does most of the breathing, (the diaphragm is weak still) so they are trying to figure out at night how to compensate for that. One another note, Bo came back with NO Rejection from the biopsies they did, so that is wonderful news. They are running Bo as low as they can with the immune suppressants to help his body fight off the potential of the cancer coming back. It is great that they are already being so proactive with Bo case. Bo walked about a mile today and rested well, so hopefully tomorrow he will be able to do the same.
Love and Rest to All
Christi, Addi and Bo

Hello to All - I know an earlier post...WOW! Bo was due for a rough day, I just hate it that it happened right before the weekend. He didn't sleep well last night, had trouble with the vent and respiratory, so needless to say he was tired today. When they did his chest x-ray, they found some cloudiness so he had them perform a bronch (camera and suction to pull any fluid out) They also perform biopsies while they were in there (these were due next week - monthly biopsies the first 3 months) We of course will not hear anything over the weekend, so Monday (probably Tuesday) will be a big day of information. Depending on what they hear, they will then look to performing the wrap procedure. So lets pray this weekend, Bo can get feeling better and this will not be a major set back. Well Addi and I are off to the mall to play and see the "Man that Juggles, better known as the Juggler"
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo
PS - Bo got some more of those great drugs and needless to say, should sleep just fine tonight...Tomorrow hang over...

Good Evening Everyone - Today was another day of walking and walking. Since the weather was cooler this morning, Bo and I got to spend a little time outside. (Except for bees swarming around the trash cans) it was a nice time. We are still waiting on word for when Bo will do the wrap procedure. This will knock his out of commission for a couple days, then we will work on coming off the vent. This will hopefully be our last procedure for a while. Bo is starting to get claustrophobic in his room, so we try to spend as much time as possible outside of the room. We have resorted the playing cards people watching in the lobby.
Love to all
Christi, Addi and Bo

Good Evening Everyone - Today was a day where Bo obviously thought he needed to catch up on some walking. He walked nearly 2 miles before 1:00...seriously he is wearing a path around the hospital. We spent the afternoon walking, talking and visiting old friends. We visited the 3 floor ICU, they miss us a little bit, then we visiting the 9th floor and saw some really old friends from when Bo had a collapsed lung (twice - last year in August) Dr. Crawford happened to be working these 2 weeks so we got to see him as well. (We also visited with Ennis - Jerrold) Then we showered, semi shaved (Bo is growing something on his face, goatee (spelling)). Then rest up a little...busy, busy, busy.
Hopefully tomorrow we will know more about when they will perform the stomach wrap.
Love to All
Christi, Addi and Bo