...Busy I guess!

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything. I can't say exactly why - just busy I guess. After several months of doing great, Nathan has had a couple of set backs this summer. Nothing unexpected post-transplant- CMV infection, fever off and on, low blood counts. This has led to a couple of hospital stays and frequent clinic visits for labs and such. The good thing is - Nathan has felt great throughout it all. We've enjoyed time at the lake. We added a new addition to our family with an adorable golden retriever puppy named Sunny. We went on a wonderful vacation to the beach which Nathan (and all of us) thoroughly enjoyed. So I would say all in all we have had a pretty fun summer. I was quite surprised last week when Nathan's labs were abnormal and he was unable to start back to school due to his increased risk of infection. Tomorrow we head back to clinic once again with hopes that things are improved and Nathan will be able to start second grade on Tuesday. The first few months after transplant I was surprised at how easy (relatively speaking) everything seemed. Of course it still seemed huge to think that Nathan had received a liver transplant and the medication regimen was an adjustment. But I have come to see in the last couple of months that this first year after transplant is kind of like a roller coaster ride - lots of highs and lows and it really is a whirlwind. I keep hearing that after the first year things tend to settle down. Hopefully things will settle down for him before that one year mark. Nathan is such a blessing though, as are all the boys. He has such a sweet little spirit and finds tremendous joy in the smallest things - finding sand dollars on the beach, waiting on the "ice cream man," spending hours playing with Sunny, bird watching in the park. What an amazing little boy he is and I am so thankful for the gift of life that he has received that has allowed him to have such an enjoyable summer - even despite the little bumps in the road.