Dear Sydney,
I think you are getting more and more used to having more people around you than just me and Dad. You have started to warm up to everyone. You smile and laugh with those who try to talk with you. It's so sweet.

You've been doing good today. You've been eating just liked you should and you haven't been sleeping too much. This I love.

You had your first taste of a grape today. Your Dad was eating grapes and he decided that you should have a taste too. So, he bit off a piece and let you lick the juice. It was the cutest thing. You loved it. You've never tasted anything other than your bottle and your medicine so I am sure it was very exciting for you!

I think we figured out a way that you won't starve before your pre-op on Tuesday. On the paper that PCMC sent us that said you can't eat past 7 am it later says that you can have clear liquids up until 11 am (apple juice, Pedialyte, etc.). So, I called your pediatrician and asked them if you were too young to have clear liquids. They said to give you pedialyte on the day of the pre-op. She recommended that I give you the kind that comes in powder form that you mix with water because that kind isn't as sweet and you will drink it better. She said that this should have enough sugars in it to keep your tummy somewhat full during your pre-op. Learning this was like music to my ears. It immediately calmed my worries and I feel so much better. The pre-op won't be so bad knowing that you haven't been starving for 6 hours. I am so thankful!

It has been fun to get to know your cousins Claire and Dylan better. You are only 3 months older than they are. We are just missing your other cousin Ashley who is about 2 months younger than you. She lives out in Virginia.I wish she and her family were here to join the party. I can already begin to picture the trouble you 4 are going to make together.

Sam and Kallie are taking such good care of you. They will give me your binky if you spit it out, they will tell you stories, and they are always curious about why and how you do certain things. You have such good cousins.







Well, it is bedtime. I love you, Syd.
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
We made it! We made it through our busy weekend! Your Dad graduated, you were blessed, we packed up the trailer with all our stuff, we cleaned, we spent time with family, and we said goodbye to a town that has been so good to us for the past 5 years.

On friday night we went to your Dad's graduation while Papa babysat you. You weren't very nice to him. You cried the whole time and then once you calmed you down you barfed all over him! You really gave Papa a run for his money! So when we asked Papa to bring you to campus so we could take pictures with you you showed up in nothing but a blanket because Papa couldn't find new clothes for you to wear! So funny! I think this first picture does a good job of summarizing our crazy but fun weekend...









The next day was your blessing day. When we went to bed that night I told your Dad that "today was a perfect day." Everyone was happy. You couldn't have been any sweeter or more beautiful in your dress. The lunch was perfect thanks to so many. So many people offered their help to us and got us out of our apartment so fast. I will always look back on that day with happiness.











This next picture is just a random picture that I had taken over the weekend. You had fallen asleep on the couch and looked too cute. You just sprawled right out.



We leave on Monday to head down to Utah for your pre-op at PCMC. We got a thing in the mail from them the other day telling us that your pre-op is at 1 p.m. but they want you there at 12. They also said that you couldn't eat anything past 7 a.m. that day due to the fact that you will be sedated. They don't want anything in your stomach. For some reason I took this really hard. The fact that we won't be able to feed you for 6 hours was more than I could handle. The closer this surgery gets, the harder it is becoming. Yesterday I became so overwhelmed with fear I felt as though I was paralyzed. Being on my knees was all I had the energy to do. It was at that point that I began to pray and ask for the strength to make it through these next two weeks. Today, I feel better. I woke up this morning with peace in my heart and that is all I need.

If you are reading this, please continue praying. I will be the first to admit that we need them.

I love you, Little Sydney.
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
This is going to be a quick post but I just wanted to fill you in on what is going on in your life this weekend. Yesterday, your Grandma and Grandpa Moon, Laura, Cameron, and Brady arrived here in Rexburg for this weekend's activities. Today Mamo, Papa, Heidi, Anna, Gracee, Heather, Summer, Paige, Mattie, Shonda, and Sam all came for the same reason! Whew! What a party!

Tonight your Dad graduates from college! Yes, he earned his bachelors degree in Exercise Physiology. We are so proud of him. He has worked so hard to get to this point...way to go Jordan!

Tomorrow is your blessing day. Mamo made you the most beautiful blessing gown I have ever seen. I can't wait to have you wear it. It is something that I will treasure forever.

Tomorrow night we are packing up the trailer to move to Boise, we'll have sunday to relax, and then Monday to clean and be out the door by Monday night.

So far you have been doing well with all the hustle and bustle. You are loved by so many! Everyone has been really careful to not get too close to you. We have to be so careful with you especially now that we are getting so close to the surgery date.

We love you so very, very much!
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
The past two days have been nothing but Dr. appt! That's ok though, at least we know they are keeping a good eye on you. Let's start with the first appt with the cardiologist.

Her name is Dr. Judd. They always start off the same- an EKG and then they put the blood pressure cuff on your arm and squeeze the heck out of it! The Dr. checked you over and said that she wants to keep the surgery where it is. (If you were doing good enough, they were going to push the surgery back further.) She said that your social skills and your fine motor skills are right where they should be but your gross motor skills are behind that of other children. I had always wondered if you should be rolling around and reaching for things by now but I wasn't for sure just because you are my first baby. Now I know that yes, you should be doing those things by now, but your muscles just don't have the energy they need to do those kinds of tasks. She said that your liver is still a little big but the medicine is keeping it from worsening. I told her about your sweaty hands and feet and how sometimes when I touch them, my skin is very wet with your sweat. She said that that is attributed to your heart.

The Dr. told us that after your surgery you won't be so pale and that your sweaty-ness will go away. She said that your gross motor skills will catch up with the other kids within 3 months after the surgery. We have to continue to keep you away from large crowds until 2 months after the surgery.

Then today you had a weight check. You gained 4 ounces this week! Woo hoo! That means that you are now 9 lbs. 11 oz.

I finally charged my camera battery so that means I have more pictures to show. Both of these were taken today...so cute! You have such big eyes!





Oh, how I love my little girl!
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
Today you have been my little packing buddy. Every day we pack a few boxes here and there but today we have kicked it into high gear. Being that we need to have everything packed by Thursday night...we have a lot to do! So, to keep ourselves entertained while we pack you sit in your swing, I turn on music, you smile, and I pack. It's a great thing we've got going on! I wish I had some pictures to show just how cute you are but my camera has been dead for the past few days and I am yet to charge it. Hence the reason why I haven't been posting pictures lately. Sorry!

You go to the cardiologist tomorrow! Yes, we get to go see Dr. Judd again. This will be the last time we see her before your surgery...whoa. I remember when we scheduled this appointment with Dr. Judd about a month ago and I thought to myself, "By the time that appointment rolls around, your surgery will only be weeks away." Now that your appointment is tomorrow that means that your surgery really is only weeks away. 3 weeks from tomorrow, to be exact. In two weeks we are going down to Utah for your first Pre-op and then about 5 days after that, we are going back down to Utah for the actual surgery. Within the 4 weeks, we will be doing a lot of driving.

You woke up this morning at about 8:30. Then you went back down for a nap at 9:30. You didn't wake up until 11:30. Then you went down for another nap at 12:30 and woke up at 1:30. Now it is 3:30 and you are back asleep. This just goes to show how much you sleep in a day. It has just been lately that you have started to sleep this much this often. I wonder if you will sleep this much after your surgery?

I need to keep packing. I get the most done while you are asleep because when you are awake, I just end up staring at you or playing with you. Playing with you is much more fun than packing.

I love you, little lady.
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
Your good eating habits have dwindled. Ugh. Last week you were doing so good but this week you're back to how you used to be. You eat some of your bottle, and then you have to take a break before you come back for the rest. You threw up more than ever yesterday! Wow. It just kept coming. One spew after another. I can't wait for all of this to be over.

A lot of people ask me how I am coping with this whole thing. I think they expect me to be a miserable wreck that can hardly talk about it. Well, I'll admit, that was a pretty good description of me when we first found out about your defect. And it usually is a good description after we get back from your cardiologist appointments. It always takes me a few days to soak in what the Dr. told us and be ok with it. But for the most part, I am handling it pretty well. I feel very positive about this surgery and I know that it will be successful. I can't help but feel grateful that you don't have something worse. Knowing that your defect is curable gives me so much hope. This experience has brought Jordan and I closer than ever and it has bonded us even more with you. We have a stronger family because of this. You don't know how sweet life is unless you have tasted the bitter. I am not asking for seconds of this bitter taste but I am grateful for how sweet everything else tastes because of it.

Your surgery is in 3 1/2 weeks. Whew. You meet with the cardiologist next Tuesday and then you have another weight check next wednesday. Then your Dad graduates on Friday, you are being blessed on Saturday, and we move on Monday. You can say it...our life right now is a little bit...crazy. Your room has been over taken with boxes. Good thing you still sleep in our room.

Well, I am going to get ready for the day while you are still asleep. I love you, Syd.

Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
Last night and this morning you have been a little more congested than usual. Last week I couldn't hear any congestion at all but it is starting to come back, sadly. I wonder if the doctor is going to have to up your dosage of medicine even more? Hm.

The type of surgery you will be having is open-heart surgery. So that means that you will have a scar that runs from the top of your rib cage down to the bottom of your rib cage. This scar will be visible your entire life. Of course, at the beginning the scar will be dark red but over time, it will fade like any other scar. You will also have two little dots for scars. One below of each lung. In order to allow for drainage after the surgery, the doctors will insert drainage tubes below your lungs. Once these tubes are not needed anymore all they have to do is give them a gentle pull and they come right out. Not stitches will be necessary. You will have some pretty neat battle scars! You are a fighter, thats for sure.

The surgery itself only takes an hour but you will be in the operating room for 4 hours. Once they get you under anesthesia they will insert all of the IV's (one in your arm and one on your neck). Then they will open your chest cavity and have to saw through a little bit of your sternum to allow for easier access to your heart. Once that is finished they will connect your heart to the heart-lung machine. Because your heart cannot be beating while it is being operated on, something else must do the work. That's where the heart-lung machine comes into play. It will pump the fluids, sugars, salts, and blood that your body needs while in surgery. The technology we have these days is incredible. Once you are stable enough to move on, the operation begins. Whether they use a piece of your own tissue or a small piece of mesh fabric the process is still the same. They place the tissue inside your hole and your heart will just grow right on top of that tissue...thus, closing it up! (During this whole process, the heart is never brought outside of the chest cavity. Your heart will always stay inside of you.) Once they are finished, they will leave your chest open for a while to make sure everything is stable and then re-start your heart so it can now pump for itself. Then they begin to close you up. They start by reconnecting your sternum by using wire. You will probably only need one or two stitches with the wire. The Dr. says that in future x-rays you will be able to see those wires on your sternum...kind of neat! Then they close your chest with dissolvable stitches.

Afterwards, you are brought to the ICU for an hour where the nurses and dr.'s will do the required assessments. After an hour, Mom and Dad can come in to see you. We won't be able to hold you at that point but at least we can see you.

During the surgery only two adults are allowed in the "inpatient waiting room." Due to lack of space they must limit the number of people that can be there. Periodically, about once an hour, the dr. will come out to let us know how things are going. If at anytime we feel like we need another update, there is a phone in the waiting room that we can use to call into the operating room and check on your status. Once you are out of surgery we will move to a different waiting room.

I hope this answers more of your questions.

You're a fighter, Sydney. You always have been. I love you.

Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
We made our way to the Dr. this morning and were more than surprised by your weight gain! Before I say how much you gained I just want to take a minute to thank all of those who have even so much as whispered a prayer for Sydney or thought about her. The prayers are working. Your faith is mighty. Miracles can and do happen. God hears us. So, thank you. Thank you for exercising your faith and praying for our little girl. Every prayer counts and I can tell you this, I feel them. I feel the strength that is in this little girl. I feel her personal strength and I can feel Jordan, me, and her being strengthened each day. I know that added boost comes from all of you who have been offering prayers in our behalf. I am forever grateful. Now, back to the weight gain. We placed her on the scale and ta da! 9 lbs. 7.5 oz! WHOA! I know! She gained a total of SEVEN OUNCES in ONE week. I think this is a new record for her! Now, whether this means her hole is beginning to close- I don't know. The Doctors say it takes 9 months to a year for a hole to close on its own. We see the cardiologist next week so I am sure she will be able to shed more light on the subject. You are still in the 3rd percentile but that's ok. For now, we are simply grateful. I haven't been able to wipe a smile off my face all day.

You are asleep right now and you looked so cute I had to snap a picture. What a cute 9 lb. 7 oz. baby you are!


At the request of Grandma Moon, I am posting some of the information that I have about Syd's stay at PCMC (Primary Children's). Read closely...there's a lot!
*There is no visiting allowed (including the parents) during the hours when the caregivers are changing shifts and discussing the Syd's care. The shift changes happen from 7-8:00 am and 7-8:00 pm. Other than that, visitors can come at anytime.
*There can only be 2-3 visitors at a time when Syd is in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit). A parent or grandparent must accompany each visitor back to the PICU every time.
*No one under the age of 2 is allowed to visit the PICU. Any children under 5 can only visit if they are siblings to Sydney. (Being that Syd has no siblings, I guess that means that anyone under 5 can't come at all.)
*Visitors 5 years old and older may stay no longer than one hour. (Excluding the parents or gaurdians)
*Once Syd is out of the PICU and on to a regular floor of the hospital, the rules won't be as strict. I'll be sure to fill you all in when I know more about that.
*We are allowed to bring a favorite blanket or toy as long as we clearly label each item. The hospital provides pajamas and slippers for each patient. Which I think is kinda cute. They said to bring a loose fitting outfit for her to wear the day she goes home. This way her incision will not be irritated.
Well, those are the most important things for you all to know. If you have other questions, just leave me a comment and I will answer them in my next post.

Last night there was a 30,000 acre brush fire over at INL. Within minutes the sky was covered in smoke. Here are some pictures so you know what I am talking about. It was incredible. The sun looked especially cool.







I always tell you this and I'll never stop but I love you, Syd. You're such a good girl!
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
I just laid you down for a nap so now is my time to start writing or else I may never get a chance! Yesterday was full of fun. We went to the store in the morning and bought the things we needed to start packing (packing tape, storage bins, permanent markers, cleaning supplies,etc.) It is so weird to think that in two weeks we will be in Boise. Then, my friend called me and invited us to go swimming with her and her little boy. I was a little hesitant at first but she promised me that it would just be the 4 of us so there wouldn't be too many people there. So, we went. I got you in your swimming suit, drenched you in sunscreen, and we were on our way. Well, the second we pulled up you fell asleep. So you slept in your carseat while we were in the pool. I was hoping you would wake up so you could come splash in the water but you didn't wake up until it was time to leave. Maybe some other time, I guess.

You have been eating more lately. A while ago you would eat about 3 oz. then you dropped down to eating 2 1/2 oz. You have been eating 2 1/2 oz now for about a month and a half. But as of a week ago you've gone back to eating 3 oz. Maybe you decided that it is more fun to eat a lot than it is to eat a little? I don't know but whatever it was that made you change your mind, THANK YOU! This should help in your weight gain...or so I am hoping.

You have another weight check tomorrow. If all goes well you should weight 9 lbs. 3.5 oz. Cross your fingers! Ever since you have been born I think the people that see you the most are the doctors. My friends or our family rarely see you because we can't have you around too many people. Oh well! We'll do whatever it takes to keep you healthy.

We received a packet in the mail from Primary Childrens last week. It was so helpful! It walked us through what we will experience from day 1 of your stay all the way to the end. It told us what to plan for, what to pack, where we can stay, visiting hours, types of visitors we can have, it explained how the heart-lung machine works, everything! I have been so impressed with this hospital. How grateful I am for modern medicine and facilities that are as amazing as this one.

Today consists of more packing. My goal is to be all packed by the time family comes in town for your Dad's graduation and your baby blessing. Hopefully we can do it!

I love you so, so, so much. Mom

Dear Sydney,
Whoa, where have we been? Just call me a slacker! Well, actually, I haven't been writing because I haven't had a free minute to write! It's a good thing, really. I love being busy. You've been able to spend time with your Aunt April this weekend. She came over and babysat you while your Dad and I went out. I'm sure you two had lots of fun together! The next morning my cousin Ben and his wife babysat you while we went to a funeral. They said you did well until you threw up all over Ben! Oh well, I guess you are just giving him good practice for when their baby is born in two weeks!

I thought for sure since you threw up already that day that you wouldn't do it again. But I was wrong. Way wrong. Yes- you covered our couch in stinky throw up later on that afternoon. Don't you know that when we are trying to get you to gain weight...you aren't supposed to throw up?

Yesterday was a warm day so I wanted to dress you in a "summery" outfit. Well, you don't have too many of those just because you are still so small and you don't fit into the summer clothes that people had given you. But I decided I was going to make an outfit fit you. So I picked out an outfit that I LOVE (Ryan and Stacie Graham gave it to you...Thank you Stacie!) and I rolled the shorts around the waist and then pinned them in the back so they were smaller. There wasn't much I could do about the shirt but it didn't look too big. You looked so cute I couldn't help but take pictures. You are one smiley girl! We also have some good news to report....You have officially grown out of your first outfit! Yes, we are so proud. The other night I went to put your pajamas on and they were too short. Your shoulders were popping out the top. There was no way I was going to be able to keep your feet in the bottom and your shoulders in the top all at the same time. They were newborn sized jammies. Now I am just waiting for you to grow out of your other newborn clothes. I better not hold my breath.

Here are some more family pictures for you. Thank you Brandon for doing such a good job! The final product of these pictures are still in the making. He goes back and plays with the lighting and things to make them look really cool and they aren't done yet. So what you are looking at is just the raw photos. You sure do make our family look good, Sydney.


















We love you!

Love always, Mom

Dear Sydney,
You earned an A+ on your weight check today! Last week you were at 8 lbs. 13 oz. (only gaining one ounce from the week before) and this week you weighed......drumroll please........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 lbs! Yes, you were such a good girl! You gained the exact amount that we were hoping for. I was a little nervous because last week you didn't do as well so I was afraid you had lost weight this week. But, instead, we were all pleasently surprised! You are still in the 3rd percentile but at least you haven't gone down to the 2nd.

Your cousins were finally born today! Dylan came first weighing in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and then Claire came feet first weighing exactly the same amount you did at 6 lbs. 2 oz. We sure waited a long time for them to get here!

We walked to the grocery store today and of course, you slept. You seem to really love your stroller. I got to talk to a good friend while I was there. As frustrated as I get with Rexburg, I know I will miss it here.

I think that is all for today. I sure love you, Little Lady.
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
We took another video of you today. You don't say much...in fact I don't think you say anything at all but it's still cute. Just scroll down to the end of this post to watch it. You are 11 weeks old now. Wow. I can't believe it. It makes it even harder to believe it when you are pretty much the same size as when you were born! The outfit you are wearing in this picture is the exact same outfit we brought you home in from the hospital.

You have another weight check tomorrow morning. Lets hope that this time you have gained more than an ounce. Tomorrow you should weigh exactly 9 lbs. We'll see if you made the cut our not. You have been eating really well today and you haven't been as sleepy. If only we could have this kind of day every day! Hmm...I'm thinking that won't happen until the end of August. The doctors say that you'll be a completely different baby after the surgery. I wonder how different you'll be? It makes me a little nervous because you have been such an angel...what if that all goes away? Oh dear. I guess we are going to find out very soon!

Here you are in the video we took of you today at 11 weeks old.


You are a dream. I love you!

Mom

Dear Sydney,
We made it back from Twin Falls and we enjoyed the rest of our weekend here in Rexburg. It was so good to be in Twin with my Grandma. She is always so uplifting. Someday I hope you can have conversations with her and learn from her wonderful example. While in Twin we took a walk along the rim of the Canyon. Beautiful! The canyon rim looks down on two golf courses which Jordan was very excited about. You also see the snake river winding through the canyon walls. We kept you nice and bundled though because the wind was blowing a little bit of cold air and we didn't want you to get sick! We even watched as base jumpers jumped off the bridge that goes across the canyon. Boy, do they have some guts! I have so many good memories in this town. It is where Mamo (my mom) grew up and climbed the flag pole on a date with a boy! It's where she learned how to play the clarinet, waterski, and snow ski. It is where she got taped to the toilet by her brothers. Yes, Twin Falls has witnessed many important moments in my family's life.




We celebrated the rest of the 4th at Jordan's sister's house. Cori and Colin had as all over for BBQ chicken. So good. We watched fireworks and played card games. It was all very entertaining.You and Tyler slept through the firworks until you decided to throw up everywhere. You sure know how to crash a party! It's ok, we still love you.


You have been extremely tired these past few days. I know it is because of the extra toll your heart puts on your body. It is hard to see you sleep so much. Especially today. You have slept through almost the entire morning and afternoon except to eat and give us a few smiles. I can't wait for you to go to the repair shop and get a tune up job. Aw. How wonderful it will be.

I just have to mention one thing that life has taught me this weekend. Our time here on earth is precious. It is so comforting to know that life goes on after we leave this world and that our families can literally be together forever. Life isn't as frightening when we know what awaits us on the other side. Tell your family you love them but more importantly SHOW them you love them by Hugging a little tighter and speaking a little sweeter. Actions speak louder, so much louder, than words. So, now I am going to tell you, I love you. You are beautiful. You are an answer to so many prayers and yet the subject of so many other prayers. You are our world and we would do anything to keep you safe and healthy. And after I finish here I am going to go and give you and your Dad a great big kiss and hug. Don't be afraid to show people you care, Sydney.

All my love,

Mom

Dear Sydney,
After lots of brainstorming we figured out what we were going to do this weekend. We decided to go to Twin Falls to visit my Grandma. We got here last night and we will be staying until tomorrow afternoon. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Grandma "Crunch Crunch" loves you to pieces, Little Sydney. The name Grandma Crunch Crunch was coined by your cousin Sara who was unable to say "Christensen" so instead said Crunch Crunch. It has stuck ever since. Oh, how we love our Grandma Crunch Crunch. I could talk with her for hours and listen to her stories. She keeps me laughing and you smiling. Your Dad has even found a good golf course here and took himself golfing.

Before Grandpa Christensen died he used to call me "Nooners." No one is really sure where that came from but that is just what he called me. He nicknamed your Aunt Mandi "Moomers" and once again we don't know where it came from. I am pretty sure that if Grandpa Christensen were still here he would have nicknamed you "Mooners." I miss him. All he wanted to do was have some fun and he made sure of it. He loved curly fries and to go on roller coasters. I can still hear him whistling to his favorite songs and cheering for the BYU football team. I'm sure you two had quite a party in heaven before you came here.



Your cousins should be born any day now. Aunt Mollie is about ready to pop with her twins inside her little belly. We are all hoping that they are born on Monday but if they don't come then the doctor has set her inducement date on Wednesday. We can't wait!

This is your first 4th of July. I had bought you a cute little outfit to wear on the 4th a few months ago thinking that FOR SURE it would fit you by now but...it doesn't. Oh well, we can't go out anyways so it doesn't matter that you aren't wearing red, white, and blue. Maybe next year.

I love you. Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
8 lbs. 13 oz is what you weighed yesterday although right before I went to pull you off the scale it had gone down even further to 8 lbs. 12.5 oz. Not exactly what we were hoping for. I have to admit, I was fighting tears the whole time inside the office. I truly know that you'll be ok but its just hard to watch you go through this process of struggle. You are now in the 3rd percentile for weight. The nurse said to not let this get us discouraged. This kind of weight issue is to be expected with your heart defect.

We had plans to go to the Rexburg Parade on Saturday morning, swimming in the afternoon, and then to the Idaho Falls Fireworks on Saturday night but while we were at the Dr's we were told that it wasn't such a good idea. If Syd gets sick at all, even with a minor cold, the surgery will be cancelled. Her body has to be 100% healthy to do the surgery because all her body should be focused on is recovering not recovering and fighting a cold. It's just not worth the risk. So, we aren't sure what we are going to do this weekend but whatever it is it's going to be fun!

We got our family pictures back yesterday. He did such a great job. I am putting a couple up but there are more that I love. We did more pictures where we are wearing white shirts with jeans but I am too lazy to get off the couch and grab the disk that has those pictures on them so for now...you just get to see 2 of the 100 that were taken while we were wearing brown.





I sure do love you. Your Dad loves you.
Love Forever, Mom

Dear Sydney,
You have a weight check today at the Pediatrician's office. Our goal for today is 8 lbs. 15 oz. I am in high hopes that you beat that goal because yesterday morning you drank 4 oz! That never happens. All morning I waited for you to just throw it all up but nope...you kept it in! Good girl! After that, however, you only ate about 2 1/2 oz which is your usual.

You slept until 10 o'clock today. You were one tired girl! And then around 11:30 I sat you on the couch to make you a bottle and I came back and you were asleep. I hope this means you are growing and not because of your heart.

We took family pictures last night. I'm so glad we did them except I could have managed without the millions of mosquitos that were swarming around us! I came home and counted at least 20 bites on my body, you didn't get any and your Dad got 1. You and your Dad must have the kind of blood that mosquitos don't like. I was so glad you didn't get any, though. I would have felt so bad if you did. I am excited about the pictures. We should be getting them back pretty soon. I can't wait to see how they turned out.

I think we'll go for a walk today. It is so nice outside. After that- I'm not sure what we'll do. I've been working on a little sewing project so maybe I'll come and do that while you sleep. No matter what we do, I still love having you around. I love you so much.

Love Always,
Mom