She's a Trooper

If I'd have posted this last night, the report you're about to hear might have been a bit different than the one you're getting today. Today the sun is out and I am feeling happy, thankful for how well things have gone, and recognizing our many blessings. Last night I was exhausted, concerned and overwhelmed - and didn't have many pleasant things to say...

Anyway though, she did it! WE did it! Ashley was an absolute ANGEL and dealt with the proceedures and hospital stay like a pro. Phoenix Children's is the absolute greatest. In fact from here on out I am only interested in using doctors from there for my kids. It made all the difference!

Happy as can be in her new purple scrubs and with her new purple teddy they gave her!
Waiting to get started with daddy.
She traveled everywhere by wagon - so neat.

THANK YOU to all our dear family who sent cards and packages ahead of time for Ash to open there. Whenever things got long or hard, I had something special to pull out of my bag that made her feel like a million bucks. It was the best.


Tyler was my hero. Come bedtime Tuesday night I was so tired and we were in a shared room with a little one month old! Ashley konked right out, but we knew it was going to be a long night for one of us so Tyler volunteered to stay and cuddle her and sent me home to sleep. It was so nice!!

Wednesday I was back by 7am and did notice a little change in Ashley. The first day she didn't seem bothered a bit by the tube and was enthralled with everything cool that goes on at the children's hospital (art projects, movies, toys). But the second morning she was a little more touchy... and we still had yet to do some of the hardest stuff. We got through the teaching and practicing okay - poor girl. She just wanted to be left alone. But she is so sweet. I swear she is an angel dropped from Heaven.

Last night, like I said, both Ty and I were on a reserve energy tank and doing our best to rememeber everything they had taught us about safely administering the feedings through the pump. I must say, there is a lot more "fine print" associated with "feeding tube" than I ever expected. And when it's your precious child it's HARD!

She slept like a little lamb on the floor of our bedroom. The pump alarm went off four times for having a clog, which I found was only her lying on the cords. But of course, I slept lightly.


She woke up happy and headed right back to school this morning. I went with her just in case she changed her mind, but she didn't. Instead she got to be the "teacher for the morning" and led her class in the calendar, pledge, etc. for about 20 minutes without any concern for the tube taped to her cheek or what anyone else might be thinking about it. I love her so much!