Home Sweet Home! Finally!

 

 

The last few days have been emotional for so many reasons. 

When we made the decision to go to Healthbridge after Riley's discharge from CHOC we hoped that it truly would be the "bridge" we needed before ultimately bringing Riley home.  And it was.  The staff, residents and community were definitely something we all needed.  It took a few days to get adjusted to but, once we were all settled it really worked out for our family.  We're thankful we were able to spend the time we did at Healthbridge. 

Riley had the most amazing nurses, therapists and doctors.  Of course there are always a few people that you don't mesh with or don't work out but, overall everyone was fabulous.  As we got closer to Riley's discharge date the goodbyes started and the tears and hugs were plentiful!  When you spend so many hours a day with someone and they are taking care of your child you tend to develop a relationship with them.  The way they personally cared about Riley was something that  we knew existed but was only really expressed those last few days.  I suppose most of that is due in part to the nature of the job but, it was amazing to see the genuine care and concern that all of these individuals have for our little girl.  Even Dave got a bit choked up and had to cut a few conversations short the last couple of days.  It was hard to say goodbye!

***A few thank you gifts for the wonderful people that took care of Miss Riley

We watched many patients leave Healthbridge to go home and always wondered about the day we would head home.  A, one of the many patients we  met went home a week or so ago.  She's been coming back for outpatient therapy and I was able to snap a pic on our way out with her.  For someone who has been through so much herself she was always encouraging and always telling us that it will take time but, Riley can do it.  We'll miss seeing patients like her everyday.

***All buckled in and ready for her ride HOME!

We had so much stuff to bring home.  Clothes, toys, blankets and medical supplies.... Tons of medical supplies.  We tried to arrange the room as best we could before we got home but, we knew there was no way to tell how it would all work out.  Thankfully, the nurses have been really good about getting everything organized.  I know it helps them to know where everything is and they've been in a home setting before caring for similar patients so they know what does/doesn't work!

Wednesday we took Riley to her GI appointment on our own.  Due to a mix up regarding how Riley was going to get to and from the appointment we had no other option then to take her by private vehicle.  It ended up working out okay and we survived our first trip with Riley without any hiccups.  We met with the doctor  who originally placed Riley's Gtube.  She went over Riley's ph probe study and as we expected Riley has a pretty bad case of reflux.  We'll be meeting with a surgeon sometime next week to discuss the fundoplication procedure/surgery.  It will be a laproscopic surgery and Riley will need to stay at CHOC for a couple of days.  We were very hesitant about putting Riley through any other surgeries but, we've tried different methods of feeding her, different medications and nothing is really working.  Getting Riley comfortable and well fed is our number one concern and we believe this will ultimately be the best option for her and aide in her recovery process in general.

***Thankfully, we have a double stroller!  This is how we had to travel to Riley's doctor appointment and all the stuff we had to bring with us!

Wednesday night the boys stayed with Grammie and Pa Doug and Jen Jen came over to help me get Riley's room really ready.  We were able to get a ton done and it made bringing Riley home much easier.

We had no idea what to expect when we got home.  I mean, I've never had a mini hospital room in my house before and quite frankly the thought of having "strangers" in your home while you are trying to live your normal life takes some getting used to.  Thankfully, we'll have some continuity with care.  I think it will be good for Riley and for our family.  Logan keeps asking me what the nurses name is and checks on them a million times a day. 

We hope that over the next few days we all are settled in and can get in to a good routine.  It will take time though I'm sure.  The adjustment has been overwhelming and Riley is doing okay but, definitely knows she is not in her room at Healthbridge anymore.  When we first got home on Thursday I walked in the front door with her and she opened her eyes to look around.  Riley knows she is home.  Right now, that is all that matters to us.  She's where she needs to be and the logistics of continuing her care at home will hopefully fall in to place.  With a 13 month old and almost 4 1/2 year old who have been used to us all living apart for so long things are a bit chaotic.  We hope by Monday we're all adjusted and that Riley calms down a bit once she gets to know her nurses and our new routine takes shape.

Next week we'll jump in to a more normal schedule which will be filled with doctor appointments and therapy visits.  We're still figuring out the therapy end so while we wait to see where we end up going we're going to be working with Riley on our own.  We've gone back and forth on whether we want her therapies to be in home or outpatient at a facility.  Where we live is great for getting to many places in Southern California but, not necessarily close to what we need for Riley.  Due to the specialized type of illness Riley has had we really need to make sure we are getting her the right therapists who are familiar with a case like Riley's.  We're hoping a few facilities near us will be able to work with her.  If not we'll use Healthbridge on an outpatient basis for therapies.  While doing her therapies in home seemed to be ideal to us it doesn't seem to be what will be best for Riley.

***Logan modeling the hat that Hannah's aunt made!  We LOVE them!  Thank you Selena!***

Thank you for ALL of your support and my apologies for the delayed post.  Life has been quite hectic as we settle back in at home.  Thanks to my bff Erica we've had meals delivered and it's made it so much easier at night to not have to worry about what to make for dinner!  Thank you Erica!  Thank Jennifer!  Thank you Tia T & Uncle Mike! 

At the end of the day there really is no place like home and we are thrilled to all be together again as we continue to support Riley on this journey.

Fight On!
Love,
Dave, Megan, Logan, Mason and Courageous Riley

Easter Weekend

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend surrounded by family and friends. We all had a very busy weekend and now we're in countdown mode!
I thought I'd start this off with a picture from last year at Easter!

Mason, Mia and Riley

Friday we were given the results of Riley's PH probe test.  This was the tube that was inserted in through her nose to her esophagus and measured the PH coming from her tummy.  The results showed what we had been suspecting and she has reflux and gastritis.  :(  While this provided us with some answers as to why she always seemed to tone and become agitated after a feeding it has also brought back up the discussion of a fundoplication procedure. 

Fundoplication is a type of surgery to prevent stomach contents

from returning to the esophagus (food tube). This is achieved by

wrapping the upper portion of the stomach (fundus) around the

lower portion of the esophagus. This tightens the lower esophagus

so that food and fluid can go down into the stomach but cannot

return up to the esophagus to cause symptoms of gastroesophageal

reflux disease (GERD). Info from gikids.org
 

Riley will have another GI appointment at CHOC on Wednesday with the doctor who originally put in her gtube and we'll discuss where we go from here.  While we want Riley to be comfortable and we know getting these things under control will help her, we really don't want her to have to go through another surgery if she doesn't have to. 

For now, they have upped her dose of Prilosec.  She still spit up/vomited throughout the weekend, right after her 4am feed which makes sense because she gets her Prilosec dose at 6 am.  Thankfully, early this morning I was able to sit with her and rub her belly for an hour or so and she didn't spit up.  I'm hoping that means the upped Prilosec dosage is working but, realistically I know it may have just been a fluke. 

Riley has been very alert and very awake.  So much so that Friday afternoon I called Dave in tears as I sat with our baby girl and watched her look all around the room, follow my voice to both the right and left sides and just look at me like she was back.  It was a moment that really took my breath away.  She was just Riley.  Of course it makes me nervous even sharing that as we all know for every step forward, inevitably there will be a step back but, for now we are enjoying how calm Riley is and celebrating this milestone.  Her HR has remained more normal and has even dipped below 100 for longer periods of time which even though normal makes us nervous because for so long she hovered in the 160's and that was what we got used to.

Uncle Brad, Aunt Kara and Molly came by to see Riley Friday morning.  Aunt Kara, being an optometrist, was able to look in Riley's eyes and reaffirm what we were seeing.  Dave forgot to get some pictures but, the resemblance between Riley and Molly is amazing!  The last time my brother was out here was when Riley was in critical condition at CHOC so I am happy he could see her in much better shape.

Friday Logan was able to spend the day with Grammie, Pa Doug, Uncle Brad, Aunt Kara and Molly.  He has been talking about this day for months.  They went to Chuck e Cheese and decorated cupcakes back at Grammie's house.  Logan LOVES Molly and I think the feeling is mutual.  It was so cute to see him around one of girl cousins because usually he's around his boy cousins who are older.  Logan can't wait for Molly to live back close to us in CA and I can't wait to see our kids all grow up together!

Saturday morning Grandpa Hopper came to spend the day with Riley and the boys got to go with Tia T, Uncle Mike and Mia to an Easter Egg Hunt in Glendora.  It was something we had planned on doing with the kids so I am thrilled that they were able to go.  I know Logan had fun playing with all of Mia's cousin's especially Roman.  Logan loves older kids!  I was told Mason was very well behaved and had fun watching all of the kiddos and excitement of the morning.

 

While the boys were gone we were able to get going on cleaning and organizing our house!  Jen Jen and Casey joined us early Saturday and we started filling the big trash bin I rented and getting things ready for Riley's homecoming.  Tia T and Uncle Mike helped us out when they got back from the egg hunt.   Uncle James, Uncle Scott, Drew, Gage and Tobin were also over and Uncle James has almost finished putting Riley's room circuits to a back up generator panel so that if we were to lose power we can just plug it in to a generator and be assured Riley will have the support she needs.  Logan even got to dye eggs with Jen Jen's assistance.  We are very thankful for the help of family and friends.

Easter morning I was home with the boys and they had fun digging through their baskets.  Logan couldn't believe the Easter Bunny remembered he wanted silly string.  The night before he reminded me and I realized the bunny forgot the silly string!  We (Jen Jen and mommy) made a late night run to Party City to pick up some silly string so Logan wasn't disappointed.  The look on his face when he saw it in the morning made the trip worthwhile!  I did enjoy the fact that Logan told Mason after they opened their baskets that Easter wasn't all about the bunny.  His exact words:  "It really was about Jesus and how he was on a cross and came back again".  I think I can safely say he grasps the concept of Easter, at least a little!

I took the boys over to my mom and dad's house for brunch Easter morning while Dave stayed with Riley.  Helen, Mark, Joanna, Uncle Brad, Aunt Kara and Molly were there.  We had a wonderful brunch and Logan and Molly did an little egg hunt together.  I had not seen Molly in months and her little personality was adorable.  She loved Mason and kept trying to help give him his bottle.  She's going to be a great big sister!

After Grammie and Pa Doug's we went home for naps and then headed to Riley's to spend the afternoon with her.  My parents arrived at the same time we did and I know we were all overwhelmed with the reaction Riley had to seeing Mason.  As I said, she's much more alert and aware and she couldn't take her eyes off of Mason.  We took the kids out back to play and hang out and Riley loved being in the sun and feeling the breeze.   I know Riley will thrive being back home with all of us.

 
3 more sleeps and Riley comes home!  We're hoping we're ready although much like bringing a newborn home for the first time, I don't think you're ever really "ready".  We've had more equipment delivered and I don't know where we are going to put everything!  Our old den is becoming a mini hospital room in many ways.  We're excited and anxious but, looking forward to being under the same roof for the first time in 3 months.  If you have a Team Riley shirt we'd love if you'd wear them on Thursday for Riley.  I have a few special surprises for her homecoming and we'd love for you to share in our joy. 

Fight on!

Love,

Dave, Megan, Logan, Mason and Courageous Riley!

90 days, 3 months

 

90 days.  3 months.  1/4 of a year.

Riley has now been in a hospital for 90 days.  The 27th of every month sneaks up on me and then I realize what day it is and the memories of the first few days at CHOC flood back all over again.  Today it led me to go back and look at pictures from those first few days and I realized just how far Riley has come.  Perhaps a gentle reminder to me (us) how much can happen in 90 days.

It's been a startling date because then I wake up the next morning and realize the babies are now another month older.  Another reminder of how far we've come.

We've gone through New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day and birthdays.  We'll spend one last holiday,  Easter in a hospital.  Logan just wants to make sure the bunny knows where to find Riley.

Riley has been doing ok.  Good and bad days like always.  She is coming back to us though each day.  When she looks at us she sees us.  When she makes eye contact she connecting.  She's starting to actually look all around consistently and will look to the right now as well.  We just hope this continues.  She's more mad now but, that's to be expected especially for a TBI patient.  She can't verbalize her frustrations like an adult would so she just gets mad!

We're in get ready to bring Riley home mode and we couldn't be more nervous yet, excited.  As long as everything falls in to place, and I hope it does, we believe with all of our heart that Riley will do even better at home and that we will all emotionally do better.

There are days, like today, where I don't even see Dave and we only update each other via phone/text.  And days where we literally still just pass in the parking lot or share a quick lunch together in the common eating area here at Healthbridge and it's hard.  It's the part that you do because you have to but, also the part that can really get to you if you think about it too long.

We were able to spend the night away on Sunday and it was needed.  My mom stayed with the boys and Grandpa Hopper stayed with Riley.  We were able to spend Monday morning together having breakfast and returned to Healthbridge around noon to relieve a tired Grandpa!

Monday afternoon the delivery of all of Riley's medical equipment and education on how to use it began.  I'd say that is the day when Riley coming home really got "real".  Logan is very curious about the O2 tanks at home and Mason has already tried to pull the plug out of the O2 generator.  So.... mommy hit up Amazon and a collection of baby gates, plug covers and monitors will be at our house by the end of the week.  I've also been looking for ideas of things we can use around the house for Riley to "hang out" in.  Unlike a newborn who has 1000's of options a child Riley's age is pretty limited.  So far I have a bean bag chair on my list but, if you have any ideas we'd love them!

 

Riley's new car seat arrived this morning and it is waiting in her room to be looked at in case it needs to be outfitted in any way.  We were going back and forth on keeping her in her infant seat a little bit longer or moving her to a convertible.  We figured while we have the expertise of the staff here at Healthbridge to help us configure her car seat it was best to go with something that she can use for a longer period of time.  Most of our car seats are a gender neutral black but, once I saw this pattern online yesterday I knew Riley had to have it!

I got home yesterday in time to relieve my mom so she could get down to Del Mar to see my niece Molly and SIL.  My brother flies in tonight and they'll be here through the weekend.  We're all looking forward to seeing them and my SIL's growing belly!  Our new nephew will be here sometime in early June.  Logan is looking the most forward to a trip to Chuck E Cheese with Molly on Friday.  He's talked about it for months!

I took Mason with me on a quick trip to Target to pick up bunny supplies yesterday.  I figured he'd keep the secret from Logan on who really does the shopping!  It was so odd being in Target without all 3of the kids.  Solo trips have become the norm but, I usually don't just have one kid with me.  Brought back many memories of when Logan was Mason's age.

We picked Logan up from school and we were home not 2 minutes when my crazy child face planted in to our kitchen rug.  Mason is learning to walk.  Has taken two steps here and there on his own.  He uses anything to walk around the house.  Stools, chairs and toys.  The particular toy he was using slipped out from under him and he landed just right on the rug.  Of course, he does this two days before we plan to see the bunny and right before Easter :(.  He is our tough one though and I am scared that he is going to be the fearless boy on the playground.  As it is now he slides face first down two steps in our hallway over and over and laughs and laughs!

These boys may end up giving me more grey hairs then Riley already has!

I looked around the house yesterday and started to freak out about everything that needs to be done.  Our dryer broke last week and after I went to Home Depot with the boys and realized they don't install gas dryers in garages anymore, I decided to just have it repaired.  We just don't have time to do any extra projects ourselves.  So the repairman comes on Friday and I couldn't be happier.  Our house has looked like this for the last week and the piles of laundry to be done just keep growing.

Saturday, we'll have a purging/organizing party and hopefully be ready for Riley's homecoming next Wednesday.  We still have Christmas decorations waiting to go in the attic and Christmas gifts that need to be given.  I need it done though and the piles of mail sorted and over flowing playroom organized or else I will go crazy.  Those that know me well know how I'm not the most organized person on the planet so my desire to have these things done now is just odd to me.  I suppose it's the one thing I know we can actually do and know what the outcome will be so it makes me feel better.

Today I took Mason with me and we went to the Easter egg hunt at Logan's school.  Of course, his teachers were wearing their Team Riley shirts, as it's Wednesday, and it was a reminder of how many people are praying for and thinking of Riley and our family.  Those little reminders help... a lot!

It was fun to see all of Logan's friends and watch them run wild on the playground gathering up eggs.  Afterwards, they did a page of work before they were going to have a little party and Veggie Tales Easter movie.  We had to leave early though because I needed to meet Hannah back at our house with the boys and get back down to Healthbridge to relieve Grandpa.  Now I need to find the movie for Logan!  It's all he talked about driving home!

 

 

 

Dave actually had a job going today and needed to be there so we were happy Grandpa could help us out.  When I say our life has been put on hold for the last 90 days it really has!  I think it was good for Dave to get back out in the field doing something!

They're planning on adjusting a few of Riley's medications in hopes that she won't need so many in the long run and once we're home.  I'm very nervous that this won't all be figured out in a week. 

Thankfully, after a discussion with the nurse and his phone call to Dr. Irwin they only upped her valium a little instead of messing with her baclofen.  At first the rounding doctor wanted to double her dose of baclofen and believe me if they'd done that she would have been out of it 24/7.  It's tough to find the balance between keeping Riley awake and comfortable and over medicating her to the point that she can't progress. 

Thankfully, Dr. Irwin, Dave and myself see eye to eye in this regard and we always ask them to consult her before adjusting anything.  Being the advocate for your child, telling different people the same thing over and over can really get frustrating.  It's also stressful when you just want to make sure you are making the right decisions.  The last thing I want is Riley to be stressed out or agitated but, when I see her trend towards toning and agitation right after feeds and right before she is gassy I'm not going to allow you to up a medication that will in turn relax her so much that when she's not having these episodes she can't function.  Really I need a notebook to start documenting each day here so we have a good reference when we are home trying to decide what to do for her! 

So thank you to all of you for being on this journey with us the last 90 days as we've navigated hospitals, surgeries, nurses, therapists, medical decisions and the ups and downs of hospital life.  I will hopefully squeeze in a post or two before next Wednesday but, if I don't get the chance I wanted to make sure I said thanks!

I get teary thinking about how people have come together from ALL aspects our life, near and far to help us get through the last 3 months.  It's a journey I don't wish on anyone EVER but, if we had to take this journey I'm happy we're not doing it alone.

I've reconnected with people I haven't really spoken to in years, learned about remarkable stories of recovery and triumph from emails and messages you have all sent me.  And we've been carried through this nightmare thanks to all of you.

We've met young individuals at Healthbridge that have inspired us to push Riley even farther.  We've watched a handful go home and cheered them on as they did.

We've met doctors, nurses, cna's, rt's and therapists that have held our hands through the toughest days and have helped us to make the most difficult decisions while under tons of stress.  We've shared tears, happy stories, inspiring stories and learned about their families as they've taken the time to learn about ours.  Each of these people has touched us in one way or another.  Until you are in the trenches so to speak I don't think you can ever fully understand what the person who takes care of your loved one or friend deals with while on the job.  They are all angels and all deserve to be thanked every once and a while (if not daily) for the work they do each day.

This next step is going to be scary and one we hope happens as smoothly as possible.  I remember how nervous we were to leave CHOC and how it all worked out.  So, we'll cautiously take this next step and hope for the best.

So thank you!  Thanks for your continued support. We hope once she's settled we can take Riley out and about to do normal things with us. We also  hope to be able to educate people on Riley's extra accessories (trach/gtube) and I pray I can deal with all of the questions and perhaps stares that will come along with it all.  She's still our little baby girl and we just want what is best for her and for Riley to live the life here that she was intended to.  Hopefully, the decisions we've made so far are giving her the tools she needs to get there.

Riley still needs ALL the prayers, thoughts and good wishes she can get.  We're on a road and journey that has only just begun.....

Fight On!
Love,
Dave, Megan, Logan, Mason and Courageous Riley

 

Happy 6th Anniversary and we move on!

Busy, busy, busy.  I really wish we had a few more hours and more energy each day to get everything done!

Riley did great during her procedures Friday.  As I pulled up to the valet at CHOC I realized something was going on!  I had seen the news earlier in the morning and saw that Ryan Seacrest was broadcasting from the new radio station he sponsored but, I didn't expect to be in the middle of the hub bub!

We got to know most of the security guards while at CHOC.  I guess we're talkative? Friendly?  So as I waited to see if I had to run to Healthbridge to pick up the mickey button that we were supposed to have (supposedly) I was in the middle of the Seacrest crazy.  My favorite security guard told me she had no clue who anyone was but, she was going to stop them to find out.  Love her!

We have not been back to CHOC since the new tower opened.  It was amazing to see and people like Ryan Seacrest have donated tons of money to make this addition a reality.  After seeing what has been done it has only reaffirmed our mission as a family to do something big at some point in the future for this hospital.  Yes, we aren't "famous" but, I believe we will think of and do something that has a lasting impact at some point.  This hospital saved Riley's life.  It's the least we can do. I can't describe our love for the staff at CHOC.  We hope to walk back on the PICU floor with a little girl that makes them all go wow.  Trust me.  This is something we both dream about.  Riley can do it.  She will.

Anyway, I waited next to Sam Rubin who is a local news guy here who joked to me that no one wanted to see him as the Wanted left and I waited for Dave to let me know what to do (I had the valet guys hold my car because I thought I'd have to run over to Healthbridge).  BTW I have no clue who the Wanted is.  They looked like grungy teenagers to me.  I suppose I could have taken a pic like all the other crazies but, I felt silly.

Dave let me know they found a mickey button for Riley at CHOC, thank goodness, and we were good to go.  If they hadn't found it her lack of food since 2:30am and expensive ambulance ride would have been a waste and we would have been mad!  Dave was livid before they found one.  We try to make sure we know all that is going on and we were never told we were supposed to bring this with us!

We were in the new 3rd floor outpatient surgery center.  It is beautiful, state of the art and just perfect for CHOC.  Before this addition all surgeries were done over at St. Joseph's.

 

Riley's procedure started and my nosey, curious self wanted to check out the Starbucks that we were told was opening before we left.  So we head to the 2nd floor and that's where Ryan Seacrest and crew were.  We are so celeb naive and after we got our coffee I guess we walked out with Zendaya and Taylor Lautner (sp).  Only reason we know this is our anesthesiologist and GI doctor were joking about what a jerk Taylor was and how the chief of surgery made a comment to Riley's surgeon that she needed to give Zendaya a gtube.  Girl is teeny tiny! 

It was just funny to see the doctors all excited about the celebs.  We missed Miley Cyrus and a few others but, we weren't there for them we were there for Riley!

She did great, has been pissed about the PH probe tube but, that came out today at 12/1230 and now she has a little button!

Today Grandpa Hopper stayed with Riley for a couple hours so I could come home and switch with Dave and get ready for my bff from colleges wedding shower.  I had to ask for help because pulling a shower off just wasn't going to happen and her family friend Mary stepped up to give her a beautiful shower on a beautiful day.  It's been a while since I've been in Toluca Lake after practically living in Studio City 12 years ago so it was nice to be around some familiar settings!

I can't wait to be Leane's MOH and it was a wonderful shower.  55 days to go!

Thankfully, Tia T and Uncle Mike braved watching the boys with Mia in tow.  Teresa's sister also came over with her daughter Isabel and I know Logan loved the playtime with someone more his age!  When I say we have amazing family and friends I really mean it.  T & M were available for us last minute and I can't thank them enough!   Bonus was I actually got some time when I got home with my beautiful goddaughter Mia!

Tomorrow is our 6th anniversary.  I could nauseate you with all the ways I love Dave but, I won't.  We've been through so much in the last 6 years.  More then I'd ever care to list out and Riley's sickness has just been the kicker.  It's just been life things but, I would never have wanted to go through it all with anyone else.  Thankfully, nothing has ever had an effect on us or the relationship we have.

Dave gets me.  I get him.  We work.  I am thankful that we crossed paths almost 10 years ago and that I get to raise our little family with him.  Obviously, I love him more then words can really describe.  We just click and in my opinion we make a pretty good team.

I am thankful every single day that my life is the way it is.  Even when the days  are dark and I don't think I can go on Dave is there to remind me why I can.  I hope and pray my children find something similar one day. 

So, now I'll bore you with some wedding pics.  We were married by Phil Wood of the Church of the Good Shepard in Arcadia.  I'd always admired him and Dave was able to meet him with me at a few Methodist Hospital events before we were engaged.  He was the ONLY one I wanted to marry us and after we left our first meeting with him Dave was convinced as well.

In this picture you see Brittany, Dave's step brother's daughter (my inspiration).  On the day we thought Riley was gone Jimmy (Dave's step brother was at his side in an instant)  We've lost Brittany since our wedding.  I was pregnant with Logan at the time.  Her strength at the time and throughout her sickness reminds me daily to have faith.  Brittany dancing at our wedding was one of the things that made me the happiest.  If we could all know a Brittany our lives would be infinitely richer!

 

 

As all things seem to come full circle Phil was also the first person I asked my mom to call when Dave was told that Riley was gone and essentially brain dead.  He was willing to drive down at 11pm at night if we needed him. 

Instead, we all composed ourselves and he met us in the hall outside the 6th floor PICU on the morning of one the darkest days of our life.

Phil's presence was so comforting and he was there to help guide us through the entire morning that we were told Riley was not "gone" and there had been an error.

I, to this day, get chills thinking about how life came full circle.  The man that married us was also the man that carried us through the hardest day of our life.  He stuck around for hours.  Listened and translated doctor speak and just was present.  I hope everyone can have a Phil in their life.  One day, when our children are finally baptized, he'll do it and it will mean even more to us as a family.

I guess we just don't know sometimes how certain things fall in place but, they all do for a reason.

So, happy anniversary Dave.  6 amazing, crazy years.  2 businesses, 3 kids, 1 house and a lifetime of memories.  I can't wait to see what the next 6 years bring!  I have faith that they will be amazing!

We'll celebrate with a night away while the grandparents hold down the forts!  We're both lucky and blessed.  And believe it or not thankful!

Fight On!
Love,
Dave, Megan, Logan ,Mason and Courageous Riley!