Daisys

I can still remember canvasing my neighborhood with a Girl Scout cookie form in my hands, the dream of going to Disneyland on those sales never fulfilled. I remember the "bridge" ceremony at brownies and learning the Girl Scout creed. And now, the torch has been passed along! I lasted about two years -- let's see how far our girl takes this.

Abby's first Daisy meeting included 14 girls, every girl in both Kindergarten classes (those boys are still ruling the school). I love that she now knows (most likely) every girl who she might be in class with for her entire elementary school career. Small town at it's finest.

Learning and coloring in the creed :

Sitting in the friendship circle after singing Make New Friends (this hasn't changed!)...

And their second meeting allowed all the girls to wear their vests to school. The local CHP officer visited and even showed off their K9. Next month -- off to Apple Hill to make apple pie on site.

1286.  still getting the biggest hugs and kisses from fordy

1287. abby's hand holding

1288. impromptu hugging with each other

1289. "it's good we are together, Abby."

Five Years Ago Anniversary

It seems like about 2 years ago that I wrote this post, the one from almost exactly one year ago.

This year was much less eventful. So uneventful, even, that I didn't wake up with the memory of that day, five years ago, bouncing around in my brain.

The very dark morning in which we took our baby who'd been fasting for hours and drove her into the depths of a hospital parking garage, not exactly knowing when we'd leave there with her.

The minutes that felt like slow-motion where they took her away through those operating room doors. Away from us. But toward a surgeon with large hands who somehow, by the grace of almighty God used her small tools to operate on a heart the size of a walnut. The oddly peaceful and strange hours where we hid in our car, trying to sleep, away from the hospital smells and sounds. The "coincidence" of needing to pump and accidentally running into our surgeon who finished early declaring, "Yes. That was a very large hole. She's going to be doing much better now." And then, relief.  Fingers that couldn't text fast enough and call quick enough to spread the good news. The news I was secretly afraid we'd never hear.

And then this smile on day two post surgery...

And the long days of quick recovery that followed. Being discharged realizing that other babies in our room never would be. Those would spend all of their fleeting days in that hospital. An entirely new level of thankfulness spread over us then. And then leaving -- where Grandma and Grandpa back at our house sanitized the whole place. This guy looked like this -- and that was without an Ebola scare. :) Can you imagine if it was today? Hazmat suits would be at the ready.

And here we are currently -- awaiting the whistle for the Dolphin Dash at school. 

And to be honest, on the days when I want to ring her neck, I try and remember how hard I fought for her to live. And it puts things all back in perspective. 

1282. health

1283. not syringe-feeding her the breastmilk fat

1284. no crying during eating

1285. growing, running, sweating