The Pumpkin Patch, Perfectly

So Pumpkin Patches are usually a no-go for us...for a few reasons. The hay ride, the fields, the dust, the mud, etc. The last two years we went to churches that had pumpkins strewn about--which was great, mind you--but this year beat all. By maybe a bijillion. Today while waiting to go to vent clinic, we went to the Dallas Arboretum. Amazing is an adjective I use a lot, but it's the only word that describes this place. It was picture perfect for Dakin--more pumpkins than I have ever seen in my life, all over the place.

They even had houses made of pumpkins, as you can see.

Dakin got to color a picture at the craft table, but I couldn't work up the courage to let him get his face painted.

The pathways were lined with pumpkins...

And then there was this: the picture doesn't do it justice. A beautiful pathway to the frog fountain!

This place is magical. The weather was perfect, the pumpkins vibrantly orange and green and red, and most of all, Dakin loved it. It was all the perfection of a pumpkin patch without the concerns. Perfect.

And guess what we found? Tee hee...this is where we ate lunch.

Vent clinic went fantastically, as usual. Dakin gained a TON of weight, so our strategy for upping the pressure support on his vent is obviously working. He got his flu shot, but everyone please keep your fingers crossed that he will be able to get his RSV shots this year. With the double whammy of ventilator/trach and neuromuscular disease, he might be able to get them.

What a great day.