Your very first Christmas!

Today was your very first Christmas.  There was a tree with lights and ornaments at the end of your crib.  Your crib was FULL of presents and stuffed animals.  You got toys, clothes, more stuffed animals and some blankets.  You even got a camera so mommy and daddy could take even more and better pictures of you.  You slept most of the day but when you were awake you were very surprised and excited to see all that you had got.  We Love You Baby Girl, and we will be home soon so you can take full advantage of all of those new toys.  Love mommy and daddy.

Almost your first Christmas!

Well it has been a while since I wrote, but you have kept me busy.  You were going to have your heart surgery, but you had a stroke the night before.  You also had seizures like your daddy has.  The doctors are giving you the right medicines for your seizures and your stroke.  You are almost off of the strong medicines and you are breathing on your own more than the machine is helping you. The doctors want to wait of your heart surgery for a while so we are now trying to get you back home to our "regular hospital" to finish your recuperation.  The most important thing is that you are getting healthier.
Meanwhile you have had a few visits from a man named Santa Clause.  He dresses in red and brings you toys.  He also has a big, fuzzy beard.  We all love you and people all over the world are praying and thinking about you.  Everyone loves you.  I love you and remember, no matter what,"it's alright, daddy's here".

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.

Back in Corpus Christi

We were only in your old room for one day when the doctors decided to send you back to Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX, where you went right after you were born.  This time you got to fly in an airplane and mommy got to go with you while daddy drove.  Mommy said that you liked to fly.  The day after you got here a surgeon put a tube up your leg vein to your heart to check your pressures.  They were too high.  A few days later another surgeon put a scope down your throat to see why you had so much trouble breathing.  It turned out that your throat below your below your vocal chords was really small, only about 3mm.  Tomorrow the doctors and surgeons will meet on what to do next and how soon.  Remember baby girl, it's alright, daddy's here.

WERE BACK

You were home for 4 days this time, then at your cardiologists office, you stopped breathing again.  They had to call 911 and you got another ambulance ride.  This time you went back to the hospital we all like and even got your old room back.  Let's hope you get better quick this time and we don't have to stay too long, but you are not coming home until they figure out why you keep coming back.  They do like you here, but it is a hospital and no one likes seeing you have to come back so much or stay so long.  Daddy is taking the first 3 nights this time though so mommy can get her rest, but she will come every day to see us.  I Love You Anita Rose Bushak,  Daddy.