Thanksgiving 2011

  • Post category:Holidays
  • Reading time:3 mins read
James sitting in his Nap Nanny with a green fabric cover, wearing glasses and a cream shirt with a cartoon turkey and the words “Gobble Gobble Gulp!”
Thanksgiving 2011

 

What are we thankful for this year?

“Today I am thankful for James’ health (getting over that cold quick without a hotel stay)!! Thankful for my husband working so hard to put this new house’s roof over our head and food on our table. I am thankful for my family and all their help over the past 2 years with James. I am thankful for ALL my special needs friends for their support!! I am thankful for my OLD friends who stood by my side through thick and thin, ♥ you all!!”

~ Stacy

 

“I am very thankful I will not be spending a night in the hospital this year!! I am thankful that mommy took great care of me!! I am thankful for my daddy working so hard to put a roof over my head! I am thankful for my new house, all my new friends and my family. LOVE YOU ALL! Gobble gobble!”

~ James

 

“I am thankful that James’ health is improving. I am thankful for Stacy and all that she does for James. I am thankful for all of the support we have received from friends and family. Since both Stacy and James said that they were thankful for our new house, I should add that I am thankful that Stacy is able to help with projects in the new house.”

~ Me

 

Notice that each of the above quotes mentions James’ health? The past two years he’s wound up in the hospital with respiratory issues right after Thanksgiving. With him being sick these past couple of weeks we were debating if we were going to make it to Thanksgiving this year. Should we go? Should we stay home? We ultimately decieded that James was doing well enough that we went. Now we’re just praying extra hard that history doesn’t repeat itself three years in a row and he winds up in the hospital.

Here’s a throwback to James’ first Thanksgiving:

 

Papa holds James over his shoulder in a kitchen, wearing a dark plaid shirt with a white cloth draped over the shoulder. James, dressed in a light‑colored outfit, rests his head quietly against Papa. Wooden cabinets, a sink, and a window with blinds form the background, giving the moment a calm, everyday sense of comfort and closeness.
With Papa Thanksgiving 2009

 

Three days later, he was in the hospital with respiratory distress. To be fair, the pediatrician did give him a couple vaccinations the day after Thanksgiving, so that could have had something to do with it.

 

James rests in a crib‑style hospital bed, wrapped in a green blanket with a nasal oxygen canula in place. White metal rails frame the bed, surrounded by medical equipment including tubing, monitors, and a hanging fluid bag. A chair, table, and additional supplies sit in the background, creating a clear pediatric‑care setting focused on monitoring and supporting James as he recovers.
In the hospital November 30, 2009

 

Last year, he started having some respiratory issues on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner. When things didn’t improve overnight, we called palliative care the next morning. A nurse came out to assess him and told us to take him to the ER. He was in the hospital for about a week.

 

James lies in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask secured by a green strap around his head. The mask connects to a clear tube leading off‑frame. He’s covered with a white blanket that has a striped edge, resting against white sheets and metal rails in a clinical setting. The scene shows him receiving respiratory support while resting quietly.
In the hospital November 26, 2010

 

Will this year be a repeat of the last two? Please pray that it isn’t.