Getting ready for home

Maya is doing really well. Although she is trached and unable to be capped with her current trach (and will need this trach until her esophogus can be dialated), she is signing a ton, very active, and is in terrific spirits. Grandma and Grandpa Royston along with Dean and I now have just 3 more trainings before we are cleared to take her home. We finally were approved for nursing care at home through our insurance, and we are waiting to aquire nurses for the home. Otherwise Maya is healthy enough to go home. We should be home in the next few weeks, and Dean will spend some time reorganizing the house so that Maya's room is nurse friendly again, and the little girls can sleep near us, with a play room above Maya's room. We have had a good stay here in Seattle since Maya's recovery from trach surgery. The doctors continue to be terrific with her, as do the nurses and Respiratory Therapists. Maya is getting daily activity from either Physical Therapy and an ASL interpreter or a volunteer and an interpreter. We are hoping to have a video conference with her class at school so they can sign to her and see her live, and ask her nurses questions. Maya has frequent walks throughout the hospital and gets lots of positive attention, especially from those who saw her when she was REALLY sick. Addy and Teya must think this is all one big exciting adventure. They love staying at the SCCA house and get a lot of attention since they are the only kiddos there right now. They love swimming with me at the hospital pool and playing with the volunteers in the playroom during trainings. While I think they will be happy to go home, Addy says she would rather not:-) They also have been blessed by so many friends with gifts, toys, and new activities to play with...and of course Addy, the fashion DIVA is most excited about her new "Rock Star" outfit she received from a wonderful small group of friends here in the Seattle area! Must say, considering how hard this has been, we have come through very well. We will greatly miss all the extra Grandparent and Babu time, as I know they will too. BUT, it sure will be terrific to get Maya home and finally ALL be together as a family again! AND, be back home in Tacoma!