Getting better.

This week has been so busy!  And I haven't even left the house!  Monday I think I pretty much walked around in a daze.  Some of Tuesday, too.  Okay, okay - I'm still walking around in a bit of a daze.  And boy was I grumpy!  It's been easier the past few days to feel mad than usual.

But, things are getting better.  Harlie is definitely happier.  She was actually giggling today and I have no idea what she found so funny.  But boy, was it CUTE!!!  I would have given anything to hear that sound with no trach.  One day... That girl never ceases to amaze me.  She has every reason to be grumpy herself, but she's not.  So, I need to snap out of it!

Of course, a bunch of visits from friends have really helped my spirits.  When you're in the hospital, it is so easy to become a different person - an advocate, a doctor, a nurse, and a lazy, unhealthy eater.  So, I think I kind of start to forget who I am.  So, when my friends come over and they make me laugh, I start to remember who I am again and I feel better.  So thanks, friends!!!

Mrs. Katie, Harlie's preschool teacher, came over on Tuesday.  It was her first home schooling session and she said it went great.  Harlie was completely cooperative.  I was a little nervous though, because she wasn't quite so happy then.  But, she did great.

My sister came by Tuesday night and brought Harlie a Color Wonder lap pad.  She loved it.

Look at the concentration!

She drew a rainbow.  I should have taken a picture of it.  It was really cute.  Then today she found another use for the markers.

And, she's eating!  But, her belly isn't ready for it.  Boo.  Yesterday she ate several ounces of peaches and several helpings of Pediasure.  All total for the day (Tuesday) she ate just shy of 20 ounces by mouth.  And all seemed okay.  So, this morning, I fed her breakfast - pureed cream of wheat, peaches and Pediasure.  She did awesome and only argued a bit at the beginning and finished it all - over 9 ounces!

But then her belly got hard and swollen so Jennifer hooked up a vent for her g-tube (in the picture above).  And that helped.  But it took a long time for the food to empty from her belly.  I guess she just wasn't ready.  Darn it!

Traci, Harlie's physical therapist came over today.  We've been struggling a bit with some things so I thought Traci might be able to help.  Plus, since the surgeon said that Harlie could bear weight when she was ready, I wanted Traci to tell me what she thought.

Jennifer, Harlie and Traci getting some fresh air.

She had some really good thoughts and she will be back on Friday with a taller walker (Harlie's outgrown hers) and a stander to see if they can help her.  We also worked on the whole car seat issue (wow have there been a lot of discussions about that!) and the potty issue.  Traci thinks that when pain isn't an issue anymore, that Harlie will be able to stand and possibly walk some.  Wow, wouldn't that be great?!

Well, it's late, and I've been up since 3:30am.  Harlie had a bit of a rough start to the day.

Good night and much more later!
~Christy