The Other Pieces

There were so many other things that were going on at this same time; a few other pieces of the story that will make it complete.
*Dani had been away at college since August; we were all adjusting, things were different when she came home from Christmas. The minute I called her on that Sunday night, her heart was broken. She needed to be home she said, we convinced her to wait until Monday morning when we knew more. She packed, made class arrangements and her "sisters" at Pi Phi helped her get on the road. Having Dani home settled my "mom" brain, she knew everyone's routine, their activities, habits, and unique needs. She stepped in not because we asked but we needed her and she needed to be here with us.
*The time you spend with the hospital staff is brief, you don't learn a lot about the person but you do have a feeling when you meet and talk with them. Justin's favorite nurse was Jenny, she referred to herself as Ginormous, like the girl from the movie "Monsters vs Aliens" (she was not ginormous just tall!) Nurse Jenny was actually a nursing student, a young, single mom who will be a fabulous nurse because she is a fabulous person. We had days where we would have four-six nurses, two lab techs, two xray techs, two-three aides, housekeeping, the dietitian, two doctors, and other hospital staff. We learned that this was Justin's experience, he had fears and needs that we would have to verbalize for him. We learned it is ok to tell staff and guests when he needed to be alone, to come back later, to close the door, and when to say we needed assistance.
*If you need sleep, do not stay in a hospital. There is no difference between day and night, the same beepers, buzzers, poking and prodding go on 24/7. There is a chair that lies flat, if you can get it to fit between the hospital bed and the window, and stay out of the way of the I.V., sink, bedpan, and monitors.
*Twins are special. Unless you are one, you will never understand the bond. Lane was thrown into his own situation of loneliness and fear. He had never slept alone since conception, he had always had a wingman; now he was flying solo.
*We live and love in a Christian community. Matthew 22:36-40 "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Our "neighbors", friends and family of all religions showed their love to our family in so many ways during this time. We have forever been touched by this.