Catching Up

It's been a while since we've updated this thing so we have some catching up to do.  After Abby's birthday she had her second trip to the hospital for ear tubes.  One had come out and the doctor wanted to put a bit larger one in.  Abby was a happy early riser for her tube replacement it was her shortest hospital visit yet.  She was under gas anesthesia and didn't require intubation so she was back to her happy self later on that afternoon.

Rise and Shine!

Curious Pre-Op

Post-Op

 Abby has really enjoyed being outside and the mild weather we have been having has allowed us some time outdoors.

Loving the outdoors!

Abby has been receiving occupational and physical therapy treatments in home since about the time she was released from the hospital.  The non-profit organization that has provided that service for Abby at a discounted rate is called Early Childhood Intervention, (ECI) and they are government subsidized.  Well, they have had their funding cut (no comment here) and Chris our great PT has moved on.  We were very sad to see her go as we felt Abby was really making strides with her instruction and encouragement.  We now make trips across town for her PT and it just doesn't feel quite the same.  The safe environment of Abby "working" at home and the positive encouragement Chris provided will be sorely missed.

Farewell to Abby's Physical Therapist, Chris

In early March we took a trip up to the Cook Children's NICU to say hello to some of Abby's nurses and try to deliver all of the donations for her birthday.  The first goal was a huge success, we got to visit Abby's primary nurse during days, Alex. 

Mommy and Abby

Abby and Alex

Abby and Alex

Abby and Alex

We also got to catch up with many of the other nurses that had Abby at some point or another.  These ladies love catching up with "graduates" of the NICU and you can tell that they just flat out love kids as they herded around Abby.

Saying hello to my old friends

We go way back! Like, 9 months or so.

Thanks for all you do ladies!

Abby and Gracia

Cook's opened their new NICU department, which was a massive addition, in September.  So some of the staff took us on a tour of the new areas.  It is very nice, not that we would want to experience any of that again, but if we had to it would be much easier for everyone involved.  The patients and their families have all private rooms now and before we were within a few feet of the next child.  Trust me, moments shared with a really sick kid are not meant for audiences.  There were times that we couldn't visit due to an emergency situation for another kid in the unit and they would have to close the whole unit down for visitation.  And for families that were from out of town I don't want to imagine how hard this was before. Well, gone are those days and bright is the future of the fantastic new facility.

Abby got a VIP tour

New Nurse's Station

Typical patient room

Shy saying bye bye

It was great to see you Alex!

The second goal to deliver the donations was a failure for now.  The unit director wanted to personally received the donations and we pretty much can't make it there during a week day when she is available.  So, we didn't deliver the items yet but we will get them to her at the NICU reunion coming up.

Here are the goods, to those who gave thank you so much!

We went for a sweet snack after our trip to the hospital.

A few days later we headed over to Fort Worth again to visit the animals at the zoo.  They were ready to get outside to because the weather was great.

Oure little animal

Flamingoes!

Creepy Critters

Squawk!

Back off Komodo Dragon!

Later in March we headed up to Gainesville to celebrate Aunt Lesa's (Lesa Guerin) birthday and visit with our cousins.  Abby had a great time playing with her cousins and we were happy to get to celebrate with everyone.

Cousins Reagan and Kate

Making music!

Cousins Elizabeth and Vanessa

Its been a good but busy few months around here.  We have much more to update everyone on but we will have to fill you in later.  It's time for bed around here.