Your first Thanksgving

Well baby girl, today is my first Thanksgiving as a daddy.  You are still in the hospital in Houston, but mommy and daddy came to visit.  Mommy painted your hand brown and pressed it onto some paper to make "hand turkeys" for our family.  You watched the parade and dog show on t.v. and smiled and laughed.  You have your heart surgery set for Monday.  The doctors hope that you will get better and have you at least in a hospital near home, if not at home, by your first Christmas.  Daddy has to go back home Tuesday and Wednesday and will bring back the tree and ornaments just in case we are still here for Christmas.  You are so beautiful and precious I just want you back home, but your health is more important.  Don't worry though, we will have many happy holiday seasons to go as you grow up.  I will see you tomorrow, as I do almost everyday.  Love, daddy.

Week 3 in Houston

Well baby girl, you are you're own person for sure.  You got a big butterfly balloon for your 6 month birthday and loved it.  You stare at it for hours and smile and laugh.  Yesterday you were supposed to go in for the catheter procedure, but the anesthesiologist could not get you to go to sleep.  They tried giving you more medicine, but you stopped breathing.  They used a ventilator (breathing machine) and a special balloon to keep you breathing.  They decided you weren't ready so they will try again next week.  Mommy says that this is your new way of throwing a temper tantrum.  You also surprised us by making sounds.  You laughed and cried.  You have already learned how to push air past your trach tube to make sounds.  We are so happy.  Meanwhile, mommy and daddy are learning how to take care of your trach tube by keeping it clean and comfortable.  We practice every day.  We hope you will be able to have your test next week so the doctors can decide what and when they want to do to fix your heart.  The sooner the better so we can all get back home, but all in your own time.  I love you baby girl, Daddy.

Houston, a whole new world.

The doctors in Corpus Christi decided it was best to send you to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas.  The doctors here (in Houston) put a tube down your throat again to check things out.  These doctors were more specialized and had better tools though.  They decided you needed a Tracheostomy.  A surgery where they put a tube in your throat so you can breath easier.  Now they are going to put another tube up your leg to check your pressures again.  After that they will decide what to do with your heart.  This is a great hospital though, and even though we are so far away from home, we are always together as a family.  I will write more after the doctors let us know what is up next. 
Meanwhile, tomorrow you turn 6 months old.  Mommy and Daddy are so proud to have such a brave and strong daughter.  We never knew that such a little baby could make us stronger and happier.  We love you baby girl.  Daddy.