Checked In

We made it to Philadelphia this afternoon and are checked in and finally settling into the Gift of Life House. Stephen's "supposed" to be sleeping, but he must be excited about tomorrow too because he hasn't napped in two days and is now playing in the pack-n-play instead of sleeping. It should be an interesting night since he's never slept in one before. We thought we were actually going to have a big problem because I didn't realize how low to the ground he would sleep in a pack-n-play and the dialysis machine wouldn't work with him on the ground and the tubing running up over the sides. But thankfully I found a way to run the tubing through the bottom of it so it seems to be working fine. But the people here who run the Gift of Life House were so nice that they were actually going to go out and buy something for Stephen to sleep in if the pack-n-play didn't work!

The Gift of Life House is such a beautiful place and everything in it has been provided with donations. It has a gorgeous huge kitchen with a giant pantry and big refrigerators and freezers full of food and goodies that we have access to 24/7 and there seems to always be pastries and cookies and coffee available. Honestly, I would kill to have even a part of that kitchen! There are laundry facilities, a work out room, a meditation room, a play room, and even a small hair salon where volunteers come twice a month to give house guests free hair cuts. And like I said, everything is donated....even down to the no surcharge ATM (although no free cash...haha)! And each night a different restaurant or organization comes and either cooks or brings dinner for the house guests. Of course since it is communal living and not a hotel there are some house rules, but we're more than happy to follow any and all rules. And it seems like we might be one of only a few (3 or 4) families staying here. Who knows, we might just end up staying here long-term during Stephen's transplant while he's in the hospital.

Now I just need the little guy to fall asleep since we have a LONG day of appointments tomorrow!! Hopefully the next time I write I'll have some great news to share from Stephen's transplant team!!