Dear Sydney,
Everyday is a little better. You look a little chunkier. You laugh a little harder. You smile a little bigger. Your scar heals faster. And your muscles get stronger. The Doctors told us we would be amazed with the difference we saw in you after the surgery. I truly believed what they said but I just didn't think I would see THIS MUCH of a difference. So I guess they were right.... I really am amazed.

I've had a few random thoughts going through my mind tonight as I have been thinking about you. I was thinking about what the surgeon told me right before you went into surgery. He said that the type of surgery you were about to have was the same risk-rate of a hernia operation. Whoa! I started thinking- why didn't anyone tell me that before?! Then again, someone very well could have told me that but I probably didn't listen. I was so focused on the fact that my little 3 1/2 month old daughter was going to have open-heart surgery. A lot of people told me not to worry about it but I couldn't help it. You are my daughter. My child. How could I not worry? Now, in hindsight, I can see that everything really was going to be ok but you know...I can't help but worry sometimes.

I wanted to thank my cousin Emily Huber. She and her family have been so sweet to you. Her girls drew you pictures and made you get-well cards. Thank you, Emily, for being so thoughtful. I still have the cards. I will keep them with the rest of her "surgery stuff" as a way to remember the thing that happened. I also wanted to thank my in-laws, mine and Jordan's aunts and uncles, our cousins, our friends, our brothers and sisters, the readers of this blog whom I haven't met, our grandparents, our parents. Please accept this as a personal thank you. To you. There has been an incredible amount of support that has been poured into our family. You were apart of that. So, thank you.

These pictures were taken tonight. The rest of your bandage came off tonight so of course, we had to take pictures. Your scar looks great. I don't ever want you to be self-conscious of your scar. I want you to wear that thing proudly. Not that I am saying you are allowed to wear low-cut shirts... I am just saying that I hope you don't feel like you have to wear a turtle neck every day of your life. :)











You laughed harder than ever today. You used to just giggle or give little chuckles but today it was a full on laugh. Of course, you laughing made us laugh too. I love that you are becoming more interactive with us. It is so much fun. We love you so much it's not even funny even if you do wake us up evey half hour. The cardiologist says that we can't really let you cry right now. We have to let your heart heal. He says in a few weeks we can start re-training you to be on a regular schedule. So until then we all get to hang out together at all times of the night.

Maybe tonight you'll decide to get on a schedule all by yourself? I doubt it. But that is just my positive thinking hoping that it becomes a reality. I love you sweet girl.

Love, Mom