Home sweet home.
McKinley responded well to the first medicine we tried and hasn't had a seizure since early Wednesday!  She had to stay in the hospital to be monitored and a spinal tap was scheduled for Thursday.  The spinal was the worst part of the whole hospital stay, thank God it is over. We came home Thursday evening.  Friday morning, after a night of laughter and wine with Jim and my mom, I woke to my sweet McKinley.  She was no longer groggy from the sedation, no more bandages or IV's, and she was able to sleep 11 straight hours with out nurses waking her to take her vital signs.  McKinley and I were back to our regular posts on the carpeted floor doing stretches and playing with familiar toys.  We got OUR life back.

 McKinley looking so little on the big hospital bed

 Madeline and Nana cruising the halls

 Recovering from her spinal tap

Snuggling while she slowly wakes up from sedation

 Madeline and her hospital boyfriend Gabrielle, in the playroom

McKinley's going home giraffe from Nana

The day that McKinley was diagnosed, Jim and I made an appointment to get tattoo's!  I never wanted a tattoo, but after much consideration and a rough day we drove to the tattoo parlor.  Of course they couldn't do it that day, we needed to make an appointment.  So as planned at noon today we packed the car with the girls, and headed to Northampton to get tattoo's.  For three reasons this timing was ironic.  One, I never wanted a tattoo, partially because I thought my parents would be upset with me and now my mom was babysitting as I was getting inked.  Two, the purpose of the tattoo is to be a constant reminder of the love and strength of my beautiful family and it just so happened to be scheduled for the day after we returned from the hospital.  Three,  for the four days prior to today I watched with tears in my eyes as McKinley was stuck with numerous needles and wished I could feel that pain for her and now in a strange way I felt like I was.  Something about all these unusual circumstances together made the timing perfect.