Tomorrow we leave at 5:30am to go to the hospital for Ben’s surgery. He took a tour of the hospital today and talked to the child-life specialist. Besides the drama of all of the testing, the tour was the hardest. The good news is that the entire cardiovascular waiting room areas have been redone and roomier and nicer than the last time. The bad news is that Ben saw patients in the CVICU (not intentionally but on the way to see the empty room on the tour which just happened to be next door to the room Ben was in the last time) and other kids and I think that it made it real. One of the jobs that the child-life specialist gave Ben for tomorrow is to say good-bye to mom and dad at the double doors (this is when he leaves to go to the surgery). He absolutely does not want to be separated from mom and dad and go back to the operating room alone. He will start to stare out and get grumpy and then he says that he is sad about “you know.” When asked what that is, he says, “THE DOORS. THE DOORS.”
I know that everything will be ok, but I hate to see my boy hurt and scared. Right now he is very scared. Tomorrow morning will not be any easier. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. A few days of difficulty and road will become better. But getting there is hell.
The Puddles 
It’s already THAT DAY and Ben has probably gone through THE DOORS, but remember that on THIS SIDE of the doors there are lots and lots of people praying for him. And, for you and Chris, and Madie and Ainsley. We love you guys!