a week of text messages

My sister, Eileen, and I have been text messaging each other every day for the past three weeks. Earlier this week, when Emily was readmitted to the ICU for the third time in as many weeks, Elizabeth wanted for me to text this series of photos to her big cousin...

Can you decipher her message?

(Just an FYI > that blue tape on the baseboards? It's been there for SEVEN months. I'm afraid if we take it off now, it will peel off all the paint from the walls and we'll have to paint the whole room over again. What's happened to that gusto we had for home improvement?!)

Yesterday, I sent Eileen a text that asked, "Can Emily receive anything in the ICU?"

She responded, "Yes. They're only restricting her fluid intake to keep her sodium in check."

That was good news, but what I meant by my question is can she receive anything like flowers or balloons? I called the hospital to inquire. Once it was confirmed that patients could receive mylar balloons (no latex balloons and no flowers), I found a balloon shop that delivered to her hospital. A few hours later, Eileen texted me that the balloons arrived and made Emily smile.

Which made me smile.

Today, Charlie and I decided that once the children are out of school at the end of June, we're going to drive up to Michigan to visit my sister and niece.

(This is one of the nice aspects about living within a days drive of family .... you can just DO that kind of thing.)

So, today I sent Eileen another text message that informed her we're planning a trip up over the Fourth of July. She responded that they have a parade at the end of their street and we can watch fireworks over the lake.

I replied, "What does it take to be IN the parade? We're supposed to have a parade in our neighborhood and the kids were really excited about walking down the street and waving at everyone..."

Eileen wrote back that they are accepting ENTRIES for the parade, right now, so we could register and the kids could ride in the back of a truck, throw candy and squirt water guns at people.

(Turns out the parade in her town is a lot larger than the parade in our neighborhood, where to be a participant, you just have to show up.)

For the next few minutes, we texted back and forth about what the "theme" of our float will be.

Ultimately, we decided that it will be focused on the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. But we're going to merge that theme with Henry's birthday and a tribute to heroes. Those people who go out of their way to protect us, help us, and save lives. And the candy of choice that we'll be throwing to the masses will be chocolate Hershey Kisses.

So we're calling it, "The Other 4H: Helmets, Heroes, Hershey's & Henry."

The next series of text messages chronicled a lot of excitement, Emily was laughing and we were trying to figure out what everyone would wear. In conclusion, we're ALL going to be in the parade. Everyone will be wearing a bicycle helmet and super hero cape and we're going to toss handfuls of chocolate to the crowd.

As for Emily, she'll be holding a wand and will be wearing a cape AND a tiara (which will be affixed to her bicycle helmet). We figure that's only fitting since she'll be playing the part of SUPER Princess Helmet Heroine.

Eileen texted me this picture, last night, when Emily received her balloons. It was the first photo I've seen since her accident and in my opinion, she looks just as beautiful as ever. She has a smile that would light up any room and melt a polar ice cap.

She's definitely the epitome of a SUPER Princess Helmet Heroine and as of this afternoon, she has been discharged home. Again.

When I told Eileen that I was very worried and are they absolutely sure that she is stable? Eileen assured me that she will continue to receive heparin injections and since they have a doctor living under the same roof that will be closely monitoring her, she's optimistic that she'll recover better at home.

I responded, "Well. OK then. So long as she is under a watchful eye and is solidly on the road to recovery. I mean, she's playing the leading role. We really need her for our parade!!"

Aside from that, I don't think my heart couldn't handle much more of this.