Can it be?

We've been waiting for some good news around here and we've got some. Here goes:

I'm not one to say I told you so but... The Texas Aggies did it. They beat Syracuse in the first round and did so with authority. LSU is up next and I'm predicting they'll do it again.
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I haven't said much about Ira lately. I guess one of the traits we've picked up from our nurses is that if things are going good, you don't say anything for fear that Ira will hear and take a turn for the worse. I'm not a superstitious person but I've seen it happen. So I've kinda kept my mouth shut over the past week or so. But here's the latest (Ira, don't listen):

He's off the vent and on the BiPAP. The BiPAP gives him oxygen and a little boost when he both inhales and exhales. Tomorrow, Saturday, they will try and put him on the CPAP. The CPAP is a respiratory machine that gives him oxygen with a little boost when he exhales.

So the PICU doc walks in on Wednesday and says, "Ira will probably go home at the end of next week." I forgot that it works that way. That it happens that suddenly. So here we are again, frantically getting ready to receive our boy. Can you believe that? We're pretty excited, scared and so very ready!

One prayer request, our health insurance has changed recently (like within the last two weeks). The new insurance isn't as extensive as our previous plan and the first sign of that is its lack of home nursing care. There are other means (medicaid) to getting that coverage but it will be more difficult.

But let me end with how pleased we are with Ira's progress. He's still on quite a few meds and still has episodes of withdrawal but all in all, he's doing good.
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Finally, our daughter, Sophia, is three today. We'll take her to the hospital this morning. The nurses there have come to love Sophia and appreciate her songs and smiles. They will throw her a birthday party right there on the PICU floor.

Tomorrow, Laura and I will throw her a small party. We've invited some neighborhood friends and look forward to getting to know more Brooklyn folks. The theme of the party is music and Laura will regale the kids with fun songs that everyone can dance and sing to. We got Sophia a ukulele which I believe, is the perfect gift for her.

Sophia, Happy Birthday. We love and adore you. You have held us together over the past year with your infectious smiles, beautiful songs and playful spirit.