February through April 2011

  Before we knew it February had arrived. The first week I spent basically in the hospital recovering from major surgeries (ablation and chest tube being placed). I was able to go home Feb. 5th just a day after my ICD replacement surgery. In a way I was ready to go home so I could see Joel, but not ready because I was still not feeling well. I wanted to give my mom a break from being with me for a night so I made arrangements to stay at a friends home where Joel was, because I knew my mom was going to spend the next several weeks with me on my recovery. It was so nice to be with my son and our friends. Who really was nice to help me with everything. My friend was also nice to wash my hair which really needed it from being in the hospital. The next day we all went to church. Man was it nice to be back in church since I had missed a week of it.
That Sunday night I was very tired and wore out. It was nice that my mom was staying with me. She stayed so close to me. I may be 31 yrs old but I needed my mom at that time. I slept on the couch because I could sit and sleep at an incline. For the first few days my mom slept right next to me on the floor to make sure I was okay through the night. Since I was still not feeling the best she was making me a lot of soup to eat. I still was not up for regular diet. 
Monday the 7th I was not feeling the greatest, and I had a lot of pain in my arm. More than what I had for when I had my first ICD placed. Actually my arm did not feel right. So, we went to the ER in Winterset (which was okay, but not at the sametime). The ER doctor called Iowa Heart to set up an appointment to see someone there the next day. That night Joel and our friends came over for a little while so I could spend time with Joel. He was so excited to see and spend time with me. He talked how he was having fun at daycare, and even got to see his buddy from school. Also told me that the daycare was working on his potty training. I was so proud of him. It was hard when he left, but I had to continue to recover. He teared up, but he knew he would be back home in a few days. My goal was that weekend, but it didn't happen for another week.
February 10th A bunch of us got together at the Mexican Resturant to celebrate my birthday. It was nice to get out and be with family and friends but I got tired really fast, and went home after a hour or so. Joel and I had fun talking and being with each other for a while. He was excite that he soon was coming home.
I finally got strong enough to have Joel at home with me. My mom was still there though to help out at times. Joel and I enjoyed our quality reading times, and coloring with one another. Since I still was on recovery we ate mostly in the livingroom for another week. Joel would make sure he got to sit right next to him mommy. He was so easy and careful with my arm. Specially since we found out that I had blood clots in it. He was kind of clingy for a while because he wanted to be with me 24-7. Plus he had a bronchitis that he caught from the daycare. He said he missed daycare after the first week not going but he had fun being with his mommy.
March and April was busy with the spring. We enjoyed getting outside and playing. Joel loved riding his bike again, and playing in the dirt (at times mud). We took small walks about 4-6 blocks. Enough to walk to the dollar store, to the care center for ice cream, or to the park just down from us. My mom stayed with us off and on. Eventually she lived with us for over a couple of months as well as my step- father. Easter rolled around as well. It was chilly, but we had fun. We went to the care center's egg hunt. We went to church for Easter. Joel was so handsome in his little suit (I always get him a suit for Easter). Joel got up and sang some songs for Easter that we had been working on with him. He was so much fun to watch. He enjoyed the egg hunt after as well. 

Over February through April he was still going to preschool once a week. He was doing so well in the class. It was great mommy and Joel time with other mommies and their children. It was so sad that the following month was the last.